Diet problems

balkanone

Hi all. After an emotionally traumatic experience in my life I gained lots of weight to my already overweight body so now I stand at 100kg as a 176cm tall guy in my early 20s. I adopted a mostly vegan diet some years ago. I have no problems abstaining from eating eggs, cheese, butter, milk, and other dairy products but when it comes to meat, I sometimes really need to eat some so I resort to chicken breast.
The problem is that for me it's easier to have a tasty meal with dairy & meat but I would like to keep them out of my diet. Because of that, I often eat processed foods and foods with lots of carbs (pasta, bread, etc.)
With dieting (mainly chicken breast and salads) and exercise I've managed to get my weight down to 78kg in the past and that's my current goal.
Please give me some advice on how to cook healthy and tasty vegan meals at home as a student on a tight schedule. And some general advice would be appreciated. I fear I won't get enough protein if I combine a vegan diet with exercise. Should I buy a vegan protein powder?
Thank you for your answers!
P.S. I go to the gym but not on a schedule, so maybe 2-3 times a week.