More Meat Free Menus! - Healthy Life Essex

There is a lot of scientific evidence to show that one of the ways to reduce carbon emissions and climate change is to reduce meat intake, or to stop it entirely.

This is an excellent way to help the environment. But the problem I encounter is that there are no strictly vegetarian cafés or restaurants in Essex; thus limiting the encouragement to live a greener lifestyle if you wish to choose it!

Most eating establishments offer just one vegetarian option, or if feeling generous, two, on their menus.

I have to travel as far as the depths of the Suffolk countryside to find a veggie haven. This is The Veggie Red Lion pub at Great Bricett. It is known as; “East Anglia’s first and only exclusively vegetarian pub.” (www.theveggieredlion.co.uk) And it was such an enjoyable novelty to know that you could eat anything on the menu!

I know of a couple of cafés in Norwich, including the Pulse Café, but Norfolk is even more of a distance to travel!

The closest places to a meat free café or restaurant in Essex I have found, are a couple in Colchester. The Minories Art Gallery have a café where they offer a good range of vegetarian or vegan fare. And the newly opened “Timbers” which appears to also offer more than a couple of options.

What I would argue is that Essex desperately needs at least one strictly vegetarian place in which to eat out. Considering the close proximity to London; a mecca for non meat eaters, it seems like someone is missing a huge gap in the market here!