I received a great email last week from a Vegan Living reader:

"I read your articles all the time online, and I would like to try to become vegan. Where can I turn for enough beginner advice to get me a whole week's worth of support?"

In 2008, I said I was an "aspiring vegan". I still ate my ice cream and ate pizza and cheese. Yet I loved the idea of veganism, I wanted to try it and excel at it. I didn't want to just test the waters, I wanted to jump in and be immersed in something that I saw as more than throwing paint at ladies in fur or eating tofurkey. I wanted to understand why one would avoid eating meat, dairy, byproducts.

I embarked on my own part-time journey of veganism, avoiding meat and eggs at first. I gradually gave up fish and then dairy. I was not an overnight vegan sensation. Not long after, I realized it's not about avoiding, it's about consciously choosing otherwise. It's questioning yourself at times you may not have questioned yourself before – why am I eating three hot dogs at this barbecue, and do I know exactly how a hot dog is made? Why am I eating eggs, cheese, bacon on a roll at 7 a.m. as the jump start of my day? How it is benefiting my body?

Questions that unfortunately led me to checking out some PETA sites, as that was the first thing I associated with veganism. However, after forcing myself to sit through a few horrific videos full of cruel and unthinkable ways in which our food is raised and produced, I made a decision not to be overcome with negativity.

Instead of avoid and lecture, I would choose and inspire while educating myself. I chose to change my veganism and began reading Thrive by Brendan Brazier, received a copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World and subscribed to VegNews. I visited an animal sanctuary to come face to face with what most people eat for dinner and had my children hug a turkey and kiss a pig.

My veganism is about understanding and fueling the body as well as respecting all life during my journey. Here's five get started tips to avoid the negativity and find your own way:

1. Nutritional info and answers to questions like, 'Where do you get your protein?': Vegetarian Resource Group (VRGdotCOM) has extensive info on health, environment and ethics in a neat, easy to read/find/search format and Vegan at Heart (dotCOM) is a free, step by step vegan coaching email sent once a week to your inbox. Love-love Marisa the author.

2. Meal plans that are simple and low fat: Lindsey is the Happy Herbivore (HAPPYHERBIVOREdotCOM), offering simple, delicious and nutritious meal plans with shopping lists. It doesn't get much easier than that to try a few new recipes.

3. Hi, I'm Kale, have we met? Get to know kale and find three great ways to prepare it (sauté, massage and bake crispy). Kale is a superfood and contains the highest level of antioxidants that any other vegetable, not to mention chlorophyll, calcium, b-vitamins, fiber. Learn one new vegetable a week and how to prepare it at least two ways. Start with kale and then move on to squash which are in season, brussels sprouts, etc. We will be featuring a superb brussels sprouts recipe for our Thanksgiving article next week.

4. KEEN-wah. Quinoa. A beautiful seed that has a nutty texture and has a complete set of essential amino acids making it a complete protein source. It's gluten-free and is a phenomenal addition to energy bars, baking and of course, as its own main course with little preparation. Get to know quinoa and your health and body will thank you.

5. Incorporate, don't bother aggravating yourself. A common quote I hear is "It was too difficult" to go vegan. I disagree, of course, however I have made it my responsibility to read, review, watch and interview as much and as many people as I can. The best way to go vegan is ask yourself why. Your motivation for health, environment, ethical treatment of all life or simply because you are tired of the political scene tied to the food industry in our country, whatever it is, run with it. Incorporate what you can at first. Subscribe to a fabulous vegan glossy magazine like VegNews or start following some veganists in your twitter feed. Perhaps start with changing up your morning breakfast so it is completely whole foods rather than poured from a box or dripped into a cup or going meatless on mondays.

Don't forget to pick one favorite junk food from the Peta vegan snack foods list that is your go-to naughty treat – mine is Oreos. Accidental vegan heaven!