Brits are cutting down on their meat intake, but restaurants have some catching up to do

It’s official: Britain is eating less meat.

More than 160,000 people signed up to Veganuary – thereby committing to go vegan in January – this year, a 183% increase since 2017.

For those who don’t want to cut out animal products altogether, others are also looking to cut down on their meat intake while remaining omnivores.

According to a new study by More Than Carrots, almost a third (28%) of us identify as ‘meat reducers’ – also known as flexitarians – and half (51%) of us have decided to become one in the past six months.

Which isn’t too difficult an adjustment when we’re cooking for ourselves at home.

But eating out? Restaurants have some catching up to do, according to new figures.

The restaurant guide quizzed 2,000 vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, meat eaters and flexitarians about their dietary habits and dining experiences.

And it found that Britain’s meat-reducing citizens aren’t satisfied with the range of meatless options available while eating out.

Seven in 10 said they have avoided, or would avoid, restaurants due to a lack of meat-free options and participants said they spend 13 minutes on average researching restaurants before choosing one.

And in (supposedly trailblazing) London, less than 25% of restaurants’ main dishes are vegetarian.

Remember the National Restaurant Awards back in June? When the study was conducted, just five of the restaurants to make the top 10 had a single vegetarian main dish on their a la carte menu.

Your move, restaurants.

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