National Vegetarian Week kicks off next Monday 19th with a host of events taking place up and down the country, designed to show people some of the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle.

Now in its 17th year, the event has seen a massive shift in society’s attitude towards the vegetarian diet, with meat-free food becoming far more widely available and more socially acceptable than ever before. It’s all about supply and demand - around 4 million people in the UK have now cut meat, fish and slaughter by-products from their diet, a number that’s doubled in the last ten years.

National Vegetarian Week doesn’t aim to turn the world vegetarian overnight, but encourages people to take part by making a Veggie Pledge by “trying a veggie meal…going veggie for the day, week, month, year…or even for life!”. And cutting down on the amount of meat you eat isn’t just about the animals - people get a good deal too. Eating fewer portions of meat per week and going organic or free range not only has health benefits but, long term, could have a positive effect on world hunger by reducing the amount of grain fed to animals instead of humans. With sustainable living at the forefront of peoples’ minds, now could be the perfect time to give it a go - and you don’t even have to do any cooking!

From casual cafe to upmarket eaterie, the range of vegetarian cuisine on offer these days is impressive. Manna is one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in London and a big hit with paulash134 who recommends that “If you like the finer things in life then this is the place to take your friends for a lovely intimate meal”. Mediterranean restaurant Carnevale in Barbican comes endorsed by PaulMiller, who comments on the “Lovely atmosphere” and “great seasonally changing menu and friendly staff”. Gordon Ramsay would be pleased!

Out of town, Brighton’s famous Terre A Terre has our trusty reviewers queueing up to sing its praises. Says mazphd, “This is not bland vegetarian food; these are sophisticated flavours with the added hint of a seductive presentation…Why can’t all food be like this?” Meanwhile up in Edinburgh, Urban Angel is the place to go for vegetarian haggis according to belinda, who says “The food is fantastic; it is fresh and organic and the menu is exciting and inventive”

Why not make your own Veggie Pledge to visit your local vegetarian eaterie, try something new and review it for us here on Trusted Places? We’d love to hear how you get on!

Photo credit: 100_4278_edited-1 by incurable hippie (CC License)