Meat Eaters to Thank for Rise in Vegetarian Dining

Columbus, OH may not have made the list of the top 10 veg-friendly cities in America, but the metropolis’ reputation as a veggie hotspot is growing among meat-eaters. Local media outlet columbusalive.com reports curious omnivores are dabbling in meat-free dining. “If it’s a really nice restaurant, I find the vegetarian meals are a little more creative,” revealed Bexley resident Christine Rinehart. Jay Cheplowitz, owner of local vegan bar Hal & Al’s, also noted his clientele is rounding out with more meat eaters. “With the exception of a few products, it’s really hard to tell [we’re vegan] … overall, I’d say meatless eating is definitely more on people’s minds.” Recent reports reveal that the growth in worldwide meat consumption and production is declining, and meat consumption in the United States alone has fallen 12 percent from 2007.