To the editor:

In honor of the 20th annual Great American Meat-Out last week, I thought this would be the perfect time to bring up some ideas to local restaurant owners/managers.

After going vegan three years ago due to the abuse of animals in factory farms, I find eating out is extremely frustrating. With millions of people going vegetarian/ vegan every year, there should be plenty of healthy vegan meals to choose from, but unfortunately in Lawrence, they are few and far between.

I know the word “vegan” is misunderstood and often scary. However, my husband and I still eat the same delicious meals we ate when we were carnivores such as fettuccini, BBQ riblets, spaghetti and meatballs, tacos, chicken and noodles, etc. The list is endless, thanks to all the meat and dairy substitutes available. Not only are these substitutes delicious, they are full of protein, low in fat and have ZERO cholesterol, unlike their meat counterparts. Remember, the absolute only way you can ingest cholesterol is through animal products (meat, dairy and eggs), which the public rarely hears about.

I strongly encourage Lawrence restaurant owners to respond to all the vegans and vegetarians in our community the same way you have responded to people on the high-fat, high-cholesterol Atkins diet. We may be in “cattle country,” but there is no reason people can’t have healthy faux meat options available instead of just a plain salad or veggie burger.

Ann Wilson,

Lawrence