In 2015 Nick Knowles felt overweight, unhealthy and was feeling every one of his 53 years. He travelled to Thailand for a retreat and after fasting for a week, and then adopting a purely vegan diet, Nick returned a changed man.

Now slimmer, healthier, and eating a vegan or vegetarian diet (with the odd day off), Nick wants to share what he has learned with everyone else who wants to look and feel better, but isn't sure if the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle is for them. As Nick says: I'm 6' 2" and 16 stone - I need hearty meals not thin weedy plates and I often work outside in cold and wet conditions - a salad won't cut it - so here's a vegan and vegetarian cookbook for meat eaters full of hearty filling healthy recipes.

Why feel bad about the cake you have with your coffee at elevenses when you can have a healthy raw chocolate cake with your coffee? There's posh meals to impress, puds to make your loved one swoon and surprisingly yummy options that are easy to throw together with ingredients we can all get hold of. Why skimp in winter when you can have a thick hearty chestnut and vegetable stew and dumplings. Or Vegan shepherds pie, a proper chunky vegan burger and lots of veggie options too. And if I can do it - then you can do it.