Before I went vegan, I never had a huge problem when eating out at restaurants with my family. Sure there were some places we just couldn’t go to because there were no vegetarian options on the menu, but in general I could usually find something (albeit smothered in cheese).

Then I became a vegan and the list of restaurants got way shorter, so much so that you could count them on one hand. Every time my family would invite my husband and I out for a meal I felt really guilty because I knew it was going to be either difficult for me to find something to eat, or it would limit their choices massively. It wasn’t a pretty picture. So to avoid any awkward situations, I started “declining” their invitations to dine out just so there would be no awkward situations.

Then one day I suddenly said to myself, “Why should I be deprived of spending time with my family because I choose not to harm animals!?”

Now don’t get me wrong, there are some places in Luxembourg that are happy to cater for us herbivores and carnivores alike--Independent Cafe is one such place. However, if you ever fancied trying out one of the Michelin starred restaurants in Luxembourg and you are vegan… forget it!

Then I heard about petition 478 launched on 13 February, asking that vegetarian and vegan choices be available in all Luxembourg restaurants.

Camille Muller of Vegan Society Luxembourg is the brains behind the petition. “A new generation of consumers is on the rise in our society,” notes Camille. “The way we eat affects all aspects of concern to the consumer who seeks a more responsible and sustainable lifestyle.” The petition is really quite simple, asking for restaurants in Luxembourg to offer at least one option for non-meat eating folk. It’s not a massive request and, as I personally see it, in no way a “hassle” for restaurant owners who already have vegetables, beans, legumes and grains somewhere on the menu!

More importantly, scientific study after scientific study has manifested the benefits of eating a plant based diet as it firstly, significantly reduces your likelihood to contract some cancers, heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses. It also: benefits the planet; is the most compassionate diet, saving millions of animals each year; and could help to end world hunger. The petition requires 4,500 signatures to be heard by the Chamber of Deputies. At publication time, there were around 33% of signatures needed and the petition closes on 27 March 2015.

If you would like to participate, you need to be a Luxembourg resident and over the age of 15. You can sign the petition, anonymously if you wish, on the chamber’s website (“Pétition publique n°478”). You will be sent a confirmation email which you must respond to in order for your signature to be noted.

If the required 4,500 signatures are received, the petition will then be formally heard by the Chamber of Deputies, with many Green and Liberal party members already voicing their support.

To quote Albert Einstein: “Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” It would be testament to his brilliance, if tiny Luxembourg could lead by example.

Alix Rassel is an animal activist and environmentalist; she writes for www.orlacollective.com.