SANTA MONICA - Real Food Daily and Toi restaurants have helped to establish Santa Monica as one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities in the United States this year. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has ranked Santa Monica as the fifth most vegetarian-friendly small city in the nation.

“Santa Monica is a mecca for people seeking healthy and delicious vegetarian,” said Bruce Friedrich, Director of Vegan Campaigns. “More and more people are making the switch to a vegetarian diet,” he added. “Santa Monica restaurants and other businesses are responding by offering more delicious vegetarian food that appeals to everyone,” he remarked.

PETA’s national survey of vegetarian-friendly cities took into account the number of vegetarian restaurants, non vegetarian restaurants with vegetarian selections, top vegetarian and vegan product sales.  Santa Monica got high scores in each category this year.

A member of PETA Media Center said, “Vegetarian food sales have doubled since 1998, and the market is expected to grow another 60 per cent by 2008.”

PETA officials state that twenty-four per cent of college students ask for vegan options in school cafeterias, indicating that vegetarian diets are growing in popularity among young people. The American Dietetic Association has endorsed vegetarian diets, noting that vegetarians have lower rates of heart attacks, diabetes, cancer and obesity.

The Los Angeles School District has also changed their cafeteria choices for their students. Since a great population of school age children are obese, the schools have eliminated cokes and other drinks with sugar. There is also less fattening food offered. The students were disappointed at first, but they seem to have adjusted to their new healthier way of living.

Moo Saaib, the manager of Toi on Wilshire Blvd. says that the restaurant has been around for 10 years. David and Dana Ellis, customers, are very pleased with this vegetarian restaurant. Ellis said that he became a vegetarian because he disagreed with animal cruelty such as slaughtering, butchering, etc.

“Being a vegetarian is feasible and satisfying,” he said.

His wife, who is not a vegetarian, supports her husband’s eating habits. She commented, “It has helped him stay healthy--void of aches and pains. He is probably the only 44 year old I know who does not complain the way his body feels.”

Johnny Vy contributed to this article.