The biggest thing I have learned about eating vegan is that you shouldn't strive to replicate your meat/egg/dairy dishes and have the result be a perfect replica. It isn't going to happen. In fact, if you make something, and then eat it, expecting it taste exactly like Dad's meatloaf or your Mom's morning omelet, you are going to be disappointed. Not because what you make is going to be gross, but because you have created some cognitive dissonance. Kind of like when you reach for a coke but get water instead. Alone, each of these beverages is pretty yummy, but when you drink water expecting coke, or coke expecting water, the cognitive dissonance just makes you scowl in disappointment and confusion.
Instead, I suggest using your favorite non-vegan dishes as inspiration, or jump off points. For example, using the same spices that you've used before may help along a tofu dish. Use the transition to a vegan diet as an opportunity to explore all the other food ingredients out there that you haven't even thought of, because you've been concentrating on the same 6 things (meat, dairy, eggs, bread, and sugar) most of your life.
Here are some places where you can get some structured guidance on transitioning to the vegan diet:
PCRM's Vegetarian Starter Kit
PCRM's 21 Day Vegan Kickstart Program
Oprah's Vegan Starter Kit
PETA's Vegetarian Starter Kit
Happy eating!
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