Cooking and eating are vital threads that bind us. We all need to eat, and the food we choose has the power to lift us up and impact the world around us. I’ve spent the better part of my life trying to make sure the food I eat and cook for friends and family uplifts and nourishes everyone.

My thoughts and feelings about animal products have evolved to become so much more nuanced than the ‘Save the Animals’ pin I wore as a teenager. Having the freedom to choose what I do and don’t put on the table is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I firmly believe no one should ever be made to feel guilty or ‘less than’ for their food choices, nor do we need to pick a label and measure our success against it. We all need to eat.

What we can all do is make more good choices, more of the time. We can choose to eat a wide variety of plants that provide interesting meals and sustain our health. We can choose to minimise animal suffering to a level that works for our circumstances, whether that’s a few veg meals a week, a commitment to vegetarianism or veganism, or something in between. We can be mindful about where our food comes from, how it’s produced and how it gets to us. As our planet warms and struggles to feed us all, living gently and with respect for our resources will only become more important. What we eat is a choice we all make daily; it matters and impacts the world around us. Variety is everything; for most of us, eating more veg more often will only be positive.

In fact, what’s not on the plate isn’t a hot topic in my household when what is on the plate is so abundant and varied. There’s never been a sense of missing out on anything. Feeding my family is an ongoing love letter and act of devotion. I’ve spent so many hours trying this and tinkering with that, coming up with meals that will both be loved and make them feel loved.

And that’s where this book comes in. Simply Veg is for people who love food, love to cook, love people and the planet, and want to include a wider range of plant-based meals in their everyday lives.

Eating well is always worth it.