You’re hitting on all the same points I looked at when I went vegetarian a while back. I wasn’t successful over the long haul because I tried to make the shift all at once instead of gradually reducing my meat intake; the resulting cravings were quite intense.

I highly recommend Mark Bittman’s latest cookbook, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian as a one-stop introduction to meatless cooking. A purist might argue that the recipes aren’t truly vegetarian because many include dairy and eggs (vegan variants are included), but I think that’s more personally sustainable than going completely vegan. All of the recipes I’ve tried so far have been yummy; you won’t even notice the meat is missing.

I’d also recommend looking at Asian cuisines for inspiration. I’ve got a ton of cookbooks you’re welcome to look through, just let me know.