Oct. 1 was World Vegetarian Day. To mark the occasion, USA Today devoted its front page to the huge increase in vegetarian eating. The paper reports the number of vegetarian adults has increased 300 percent in the last 18 years. In the last 21 years, the number of vegetarian restaurants has increased by 800 percent. Nearly half of adults now eat a vegetarian meal at least once a week.

The popularity of tasty plant-based eating is skyrocketing, with help from notable vegetarians and vegans like James Cameron, Michelle Pfieffer, Samuel L. Jackson and Ellie Goulding.

Bill Gates is funding researchers at Beyond Meat and Beyond Eggs to create healthier, environmentally friendly plant-based versions of animal products. Twitter cofounders Evan Williams and Biz Stone are also investing in a meat-free future.

Everyone who chooses healthy fruits, vegetables and whole grains over meat and dairy greatly reduces their own risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity; helps reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by animal agriculture; and saves about 100 animals every year from suffering.

Michelle Kretzer

Norfolk, Va.

Continue reading here:
Letter: Eating vegetarian