The vegan diet has made it into the mainstream.

No longer does the word conjure up images of pallid sandal-wearers munching on dispiriting mounds of bland vegetables. These days all sorts of celebrities and sports people are embracing a diet and lifestyle free of any animal products.

Back in the day, you would be hard pushed to eat out if you were avoiding meat, fish and dairy, but now lots of eateries have vegan options and more are joining in all the time. It is no longer the preserve of cranks, with 168,000 people signing up for Veganuary this year, committing to a single month of vegan eating. Many decide to continue after the month is over.

Motives for choosing a plant-based diet vary, but often include a concern for animal welfare, the environment and eating for health. I have been eating a plant-based diet for a year, so I am still very much at the beginning of the journey, with plenty to learn.

I was a pescatarian for around twenty years, avoiding meat but eating fish and dairy products. It was a good first step and very straightforward.

I have two daughters, and while one reached adulthood and decided to add meat to her diet, the second took another direction and became a fully-fledged vegan. After a couple of years thinking about it, taking inspiration from what she was doing, I decided to follow suit.

It has not always been straightforward. Yes I sometimes worry if I am getting all the nutrients I need - including calcium for strong bones, or vitamin B12, which isn’t available from plants and you have to consume as a supplement or additive.

But the NHS declares that with good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs.

Some people adopting a plant-based diet speak of enjoying boundless energy, weight loss and increased well being. Well, I have not found that to be the case though I have felt just as well as before.

I have tripped up from time to time too, eating products that contain animal products after all, or finding myself in situations where I had no alternatives, but gradually I am finding my way.

More and more interesting products are coming onto the market - you can even get dairy-free croissants and plenty of dark chocolate is vegan, so that’s two guilty pleasures I don’t have to sacrifice.

But best of all, you can eat lots of bright, colourful, healthy fruit and vegetables, beans, nuts, grains and lentils, and you put them at the heart of every meal.

In this column, I’ll be sharing information, ideas, news and products I discover on my path as a novice vegan.

Any tips or recommendations, please do send them in to sarah.singleton@newsquest.co.uk.