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Does the above conversation ring true with you?!

From the lens Pescetarian - A vegetarian who eats... what?.

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  • MaisyMoo Dec 13, 2011 @ 6:18 pm | delete
    hey guys, what is it called if i eat meat but i dont eat any kind of seafood??? Ive been searching the web for an hour and still nothing!!!!
  • Leo Dec 7, 2011 @ 12:27 pm | delete
    I do not eat meat or fish normally, but I'm not a vegetarian. If I would starve if I don't eat ham I'd eat ham. I just don't see the point killing an animal for stuff that's not really tasty nor healthy in a society where you can eat healthier food cheaper.
  • xxScenexGirlxx Nov 28, 2011 @ 4:46 pm | delete
    I turned into a pescatarian yesterday :\ so anyways Idk how my family will take it my parents are huge meat eaters :( poor animals
  • lin Nov 25, 2011 @ 3:30 pm | delete
    if you really are a vegetarian, the most strong smell you will not able to handle is the smell of fried fish.

    http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111121005706AAszcL5
  • juliavm Nov 23, 2011 @ 4:25 am | delete
    I love seafood, more than meat. Never knew of or met any pescetarians before. This lens is very informative.
  • sarah Nov 19, 2011 @ 12:00 pm | delete
    i am still in school and people don't understand what a pescetarian is so i call myself a vegetarian its so much easier
  • remy_and_pokey Nov 1, 2011 @ 7:08 pm | delete
    Haha! I get this a lot too when people ask me questions about being vegetarian...whenever they bring up the "so you only eat fish" bit, I just smile and say "since when did a fish become a vegetable?" :)
  • casey Oct 14, 2011 @ 7:53 pm | delete
    i am just now becoming a prescetarion i like it so far i think i dont like eating animals
  • Ty Boogie Nov 29, 2011 @ 8:23 pm | delete
    Nice I just became pescetarian too a few weeks ago and I feel great. Although its still a battle to not eat meat. Every time I drive by a burger joint I'm like man I could really go for a juicy burger, but then I think about how horrible it is. Anyway keep up the good fight.
  • pollo vegetarian Oct 5, 2011 @ 8:32 pm | delete
    i have been a ovo lacto vegetarian for two and a half years, but my parents convinced me to become pollo vegetarian so my diet will be more balanced until im 18. plus i will only eat chicken every once in a while, because i have grown to love my vegetarian ways so. i will still call myself a vegetarian but i will say that i eat chicken every once in a while.
  • Leana Sep 17, 2011 @ 10:34 pm | delete
    I'm a pollo pescetarian. I feel like vegetarians hate me lol because they're like "pollo pescetarians are just vegetarian wanna-be's." Anyway, thanks for not hating me :)
  • verkeerd Sep 11, 2011 @ 10:52 am | delete
    These people ruined my trial to becoming a vegetarian. I'll try again soon, with different tactics - I won't tell people a lot about what I eat, it will surely be easier!
  • katy929 Sep 7, 2011 @ 4:05 pm | delete
    haha that convo is hilarious! I have been a pescetarian for about 6 months now and I dont even bother saying the word anymore ...when I do try to explain it, it then becomes a debate and an interview of some of the stupidest questions I have ever heard of one time I was so annoyed I said "google it and figure it out for yourself I already know what it is" lol
  • mellex Aug 20, 2011 @ 2:54 am | delete
    I've been vegetarian for at least ten years and if I tried to think about how many times I've had that exact conversation my head would explode! It usually doesn't end there though, there's the inevitable... "so, what about chicken?"
  • sallypmoore Aug 14, 2011 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    I've had that conversation many times too, nice one!
  • G Jul 16, 2011 @ 5:45 pm | delete
    Oh lordy... I just had to go pescetarian after inexplicably losing my taste for other meat. I'm just going to LOVE having these conversations with people, I can tell...
  • michaeljshaw Jul 15, 2011 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    Ugg! I hope you've had no more than a couple conversations with this type of brain-dead folk! I was a pescatarian, now am a vegetarian...people i've encountered seem to have at least heard of the former, though they occasionally needed to ask...
  • mnewhall Jul 13, 2011 @ 11:25 am | delete
    Love this lense. I think my daughter and I had the same conversation when she told me she was pescetarian and I think I was Dumbo......but now I get it ;)
  • jeff Jul 5, 2011 @ 3:26 pm | delete
    what do call a person that doesn't eat meat, fish, egs but will eat chesse . also cucumber. chips fried in wat ever, drinks coke, eats yogarts and only eats white cabbage. eats yorkshire puds, cakes , ready salted, salt and viniger and chesse and oinion crisps. garlick bread, margretta pizza.all types of biscuits and sweets and chocolate. so which group does he come under.
  • Joe Jul 12, 2011 @ 5:02 am | delete
    Lacto-vegetarian, if they stick to lacto-vegetarian versions of all the products you listed. Otherwise, omnivore.
  • Mika Sep 14, 2011 @ 2:03 pm | delete
    lacto-ovo vegetarian b/c they eat eggs too
  • veggie-pesci-whatever Sep 19, 2011 @ 8:15 pm | delete
    a Pudding Vegetarian. ;)
  • Michael Dale Jul 3, 2011 @ 11:17 am | delete
    Perhaps one or two quotes to add to the end would be, "I must go now Clarice, I'm about to have an old friend for dinner". Hannibal Lecter.
    "I'll have the roast beef and yorkshire pudding please", waiter, "what about the vegetables madam" "they'll have the same." Maggie Thatcher.
  • PeaceLoveHarmony Jun 29, 2011 @ 12:19 pm | delete
    Hilarious. When I tell people I'm a vegetarian, they sometimes also ask if I eat chicken? Huh? Who knew chickens are vegetables. God forbid what these people think if you tell them you are humanitarian.
  • Autumn Gabrielle Jun 9, 2011 @ 1:08 am | delete
    I have this conversation a LOT and I'm a pescetarian. At this point, I just laugh it off and ignore the completely ignorant questions.
  • Beloved Sweetness Jun 2, 2011 @ 6:51 pm | delete
    Screaming over here! This is hilarious....
  • heili Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:44 am | delete
    There is missing 1 kind of name, not that it would be necessary :) ...For example,
    Dont eat meat, meatproducts (but if would eat diary,eggs) - VEGETARIAN
    Dont eat meat and no diary , eggs - VEGAN
    Dont eat meat but DO fish and diary, eggs - PESCOTARIAN
    I Dont eat meat, NO diary or eggs, but eat fish - so I dont know how to call me...FISHEGAN?or PESGAN? :D
  • knichole May 31, 2011 @ 1:28 am | delete
    I have been a "vegetarian who eats fish" for about ten months now and was not aware of the term pescetarian. This was very helpful. As some of my vegetarian friends give me a hard time when I try to tell them I'm a vegetarian. Nice to know there is a proper term. Very funny and educational :)
  • dwl May 24, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
    i'd eat more fish it is didn't cost a fin a pound
  • blonde_snowboard Apr 21, 2011 @ 6:04 am | delete
    LOL, this cracked me up.... the "convo" part especially... so true! Check out my first lens, also on vegetarianism :)
  • nicole Apr 19, 2011 @ 8:54 pm | delete
    i love this..... i don't feel alone....my people!! i stopped eating all meat except fish/seafood last may for my digestive health and everyone i run into looks at me like i have the plague :o... my kids are even starting to adopt this life-style on their and they're 2 and 4. i guess with my friends i should be more clear im a pescetarian aka vegetarian who eats fish/seafood in lay terms lol
  • Maria Apr 12, 2011 @ 9:52 am | delete
    Pork IS a red meat, and the dirtiest of all animals! LOL

    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_pork_red_meat_or_white_meat
  • Christine Doty Apr 11, 2011 @ 11:30 am | delete
    I had the exact same conversation, word for word, every other day when i was in high school.
  • DeAnna Apr 10, 2011 @ 4:21 pm | delete
    I have to point out one thing... Pork is not a red meat. It is indeed white meat. The ideology behind pollo-pescetarianism has nothing to do with "red" meat, it has to do with not eating mammals as they are the animals we have the most in common with. I used to use the term octovarian to describe myself before they came up with the term pollo-pescetarian. I guess the health theory is that these are the animals with the least fatty meats...
  • Elle Apr 6, 2011 @ 4:00 pm | delete
    I eat fish (salmon, tliapia and maybe sardines soon). I dont eat anyother meats or shellfish. Looks like I do not fit the criteria for vegetarian or pescetarian. I'm just a person that only eats certain foods. =)
  • RaleighRob Aug 22, 2011 @ 9:14 am | delete
    I'd say you are indeed a pescetarian...just one who happens to not eat shellfish. (Seeing how common it is to be allergic to them, I'm sure you're not that unusual in doing so.)
  • Elle Apr 6, 2011 @ 3:53 pm | delete
    Wow! Just stumbled upon this article and these comments...very interesting. I have stopped eating all meats except for fish 2 years ago. I only eat certain kinds of seafoood (salmon, tilapia and maybe sardines soon). I think I am just someone that does not eat certain foods. I don't fit in the definition of a vegetarian or pescetarian. = )
  • Amanda A Rismeyer Mar 30, 2011 @ 12:13 pm | delete
    Who cares!!!!! Why do people have to have a name for themselves??? Eat what you eat and get over it! It's just too funny reading these comments.
  • Leana Sep 17, 2011 @ 10:38 pm | delete
    Because it feels awesome to say, "I'm a vegetarian."
  • careermom Mar 30, 2011 @ 10:32 am | delete
    I love it. I've been a vegetarian almost 29 years and I still know "vegetarians" who tell me they eat either poultry or fish. Hello... didn't they ever see a rerun of Gomer Pyle... animal/vegetable/mineral. It really is that simple.
  • Steve Mar 25, 2011 @ 2:57 pm | delete
    I call myself a vegetarian that a few times a year indulges in fish and chips from my local tavern. If that disqualifies me from being a vegetarian in someone's holy book, so be it. I have my reasons as to why why I'm a vegetarian that allows for the occasional fish meal, and that's all anyone needs to know. I detest fundamentalism and ideologies, and have no tolerance or patience for people that try to foist their particular dogma on others, or that try to belittle others because they don't meet their definition of a true believer.
  • @MissTolsie Mar 2, 2011 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    We’ll I’m pesceterian and here’s my usual convo;

    Me: I can’t eat that I’m pesceterian
    Dumbo: Your what???
    Me: A pescetarian
    Dumbo: A pest-a-trian
    Me: No…. Pesce
    Dumbo: What the hell is that?
    Me: Someone who excludes meats from their diet apart from seafood
    Dumbo: So why don’t you just say you’re a vegetarian that eats fish
    Me: Then I wouldn’t be vegeterian
    Dumbo: Okay, What about fishyterian
    Me: ….Really… just really?
  • DeAnna Apr 10, 2011 @ 4:08 pm | delete
    I hate having to correct the idiots that assume just because you don't eat certain types of meats that you are a vegetarian. I am a pollo-pescetarian and my conversation usually goes like this.

    Me: I can't eat that I don't eat mammals.
    Dumbo: Oh, so you're a vegetarian...
    Me: No, I just don't eat mammals. There's a term for it but that would just make this conversation too confusing.
    Dumbo: But you're eating chicken.
    Me: Chickens are birds. I can eat chicken
    Dumbo: Birds are mammals, they're warm-blooded.
    Me: Seriously?!?
  • verkeerd Sep 11, 2011 @ 10:57 am | delete
    Epic!
  • Dee Aug 12, 2011 @ 1:26 am | delete
    I know exactly what you are talking about. I live in a very conservative society (Salt Lake City, UT), and it's just easier to explain that I am a vegetarian who occasionally eats seafood. People don't know what a pescetarian is most of the time.
  • They just don't. Feb 24, 2011 @ 9:45 am | delete
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vegetarians-Dont-Eat-Fish/133219446733732
  • MoonandMagic Feb 13, 2011 @ 8:26 am | delete
    Very good point, I know many vegetarians, vegans and pescatarians and it is annoying when people don't understand the difference! I can't believe anyone would class themselves as Vegan when they eat fish...that's just backwards. Great lens
  • Pescy Kid Feb 11, 2011 @ 10:52 am | delete
    A.G., your friend calls herself a vegan and eats fish!!! Amazing. Pescatarians like myself will often describe ourselves as vegetarians when offered beef or chicken because (as seen above) the word 'pescatarian' takes some explanation. Being a vegan takes dedication.
    But, seriously: you eat fish, you're a carnivore. Just because it doesn't have legs doesn't mean it isn't meat.
  • 'vegetarian' May 10, 2011 @ 5:47 pm | delete
    Agree. I was a "vegetarian." A lot are not really familiar with these terms so to make life simpler for us, pescatarians (I'm more of pollo-pescatarian), we just say that we are "vegetarians who eat fish (more particular for me, seafood)." No offence to the real vegetarians.
  • Scott Feb 3, 2011 @ 5:57 pm | delete
    Check out this link: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t045400.asp

    and I quote,

    "12 Frequently Asked Questions About the Vegetarian Diet
    Veggie Resources
    4 Steps in Raising a Little Vegetarian
    12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN DIET

    3. What's so good about a vegetarian diet?
    Here are six reasons:

    1. Vegetarian cuisine is naturally low in saturated fats, and foods of plant origin contain little or no cholesterol."

    What, may you say, vegetarian foods have "little" cholesterol? ? ?
  • Nia Feb 2, 2011 @ 9:25 am | delete
    I am not a vegetarian. I eat fish. Once upon a time I was.. I was even a vegan for a period of time.. My diet is based on preference. I currently prefer fish. I may return to eating only veggies again at some point. Probably when I have more time and money to be sure I can keep myself on a healthy balanced diet.

    I stumbled upon this site trying to defend my position of not being a vegetarian to my friend who insists that I am.. also that he is.. oh well. Nothing I say will make him see that a vegeterian doesn't eat fish.. I tried the dictionary, wikipedia.. etc.. (oh well)

    I rather enjoyed this article, and agree wholeheartedly that a fish is not a vegetable. Kudos! And thank you for the laughter and enjoyment received from your fun and insightful post.
  • A.G. Jan 31, 2011 @ 5:10 pm | delete
    I hate that my friend calls herself a vegan when she eats fish. When i said she is a pecetarian, she said, "oh pecestarian they eat eggs."Okay, but vegans don't eat anything living thing!
    I am a vegetarian turned vegan. I eat no dairy or meat and I just find it very hypocritical. She really doesn't understand the definition of what vegan is.
  • Mel Jan 26, 2011 @ 11:41 am | delete
    According to the actual ADA (American Dietetic Association), vegetarianism occurs on a continuum. Therefore there is no black and white crap about "real" vegetarians vs. "not" vegetarians (except of course if one does eat all types of meat and then they are obviously not vegetarian). If you are at the vegan/vegetarian end you just happen to be further down the contiuum than us pescetarians or lacto-ovo vegetarians; but officially we all fall under the group of "vegetarianism". I also get a lot of backlash from vegetarians about "Oh you're not a real vegetarian because you eat fish", and I'm quite frankly sick of it. Let's just stop competing to see who can be the "best vegetarian".
  • Becca May 4, 2011 @ 8:51 pm | delete
    I just switched from eating all meats to being a vegetarian. Because of a lack of Iodine in my system, I have to continue to eat fish. I don't believe that this means that I am not a vegetarian, as I don't eat any other animals and would prefer not to eat fish either. I have friends that tell me that I am not a vegetarian because I must eat fish. I found your comment very useful! It's nice to find someone that agrees with my views, vegetarianism has many different levels to it, but it's still vegetarianism. Just like your 5th cousin is still your family member, a vegetarian that eats fish is still a vegetarian. Thank you!!
  • Joe May 12, 2011 @ 7:43 am | delete
    I'm sorry but you're NOT any kind of vegetarian whatsoever. The weakest form of vegetarianism excludes all types of meat and fish. As you travel down the continuum you exclude more animal products like eggs, milk etc. You are a pescetarian - pescetarianism is outside of the vegetarian definition. You get backlash from vegetarians because you claim to be part of their group when you're not, and because perpetuate the Vegetarians Can Eat Fish misconception. Most vegetarians should have no problems with you if you're honest and say that you're a pescetarian. (In case you're wondering, I'm an avid meat eater).

    I'd like to see this ADA source that you have which claims that vegetarians can eat meat, because the only ADA source I can find (http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/adapaper.htm) only ever mentions that meat is excluded - including fish.
  • Dee Jan 25, 2011 @ 10:47 pm | delete
    So; a Pescetarian is a fish eater who also eats vegetables?

    Personally, I use the word 'hypocrite' when describing a "vegetarian who eats fish".
    Or more appropiately: a carnivore. Duh!
  • DeAnna Apr 10, 2011 @ 4:16 pm | delete
    The definition of a carnivore is something that ONLY eats meat... VERY few people are carnivores. I think those that are just had a heart attack... The people that eat both meat (whether restricted or not) and everything else are omnivores. Just like vegetarians get sick of anyone who restricts the meat in their diet being classified as vegetarians by meat-eaters, everyone who dares to eat meat hates getting lumped into the category carnivore by vegetarians! I get that most of you have very idealistic reasons for your lifestyle and I respect that, but just because I eat certain meats doesn't mean that all I ever eat is meat! I like most people am an omnivore. Please don't confuse the two.
  • MonkeyGirl! Jan 20, 2011 @ 4:50 am | delete
    It seems to me that you dont like people being judgmental about your eating choices, and yet some of you are so quick to pass 'judgment' on others! I have been a pescetarian for over 15 years (and this is the first time I have heard the word 'pescetarian'!) I went on this 'diet' when I had cancer, it didn't have the 'p' label then, but at the time I believed I was doing the best thing I could for my health and indeed my life. After spending a couple of years eating no red meat or chicken, I could never go back to it. So to this day the only 'meat' I eat is seafood (and then not all of it). I'm so sick of explaining myself to people. I have no problem with ANYONES diet choices, because they are just that, CHOICES. It's not a competition guys, like who's the 'real' vegetarian!!!!!!
  • Maree V Feb 20, 2011 @ 5:56 pm | delete
    Hey Monkey Girl
    THANK YOU for saying what was need to be said!
    There are a lot of Hypocrites calling people Hypocrites on this site !!
  • KeenanSteel Jan 9, 2011 @ 10:41 pm | delete
    I've more or less given up on putting a label on my eating habits, but I'm down with the pescos and especially the pescas :)
  • CCGAL Jan 6, 2011 @ 11:45 am | delete
    This was a new one on me - I didn't know there was a word for vegetarians who ate fish ... but it makes good sense to me that there would be one, since vegetarian didn't fit as far as I could see. I had heard of lacto/ovo vegetarians, and vegans, but "pescetarian" is a new word to me. Now I have to commit it to memory and use in in conversation somehow today. Nice job on this lens - I laughed at the "fish aren't vegetables" line.
  • visitor bing Jan 4, 2011 @ 5:21 pm | delete
    I'm not alone! This is so exciting!!!
  • jonsjewelry Dec 24, 2010 @ 8:15 am | delete
    Hi, in many restaurants you can only eat a green salad if you don't like to eat meat or fish. If you don't like to eat meat, fish and milk products (like me) that it is better for you if you learn cooking!
  • goatlover_and_pescetarian Dec 23, 2010 @ 10:22 am | delete
    pesceys roooock!!!!
  • scss Dec 17, 2010 @ 4:29 am | delete
    Ha! Ha! "I'm eating a slow learner1" ..... I have to re-think my occasional fish indulgences too now!

    I call myself an "eclectic vegetarian" as that usually stops people asking questions.
  • guitarchair Dec 10, 2010 @ 3:26 pm | delete
    I was vegetarian for six years as a child, but then found out I was diabetic, and just beans and rice were not good enough protein resources. So I stopped for a while, but still hated meat.. Now I am pescetarian, and love every moment of it. Fish is meat, yes, but I see it as a different kind.
    Me being vegetarian had nothing to do with saving the cute little animals, but to justify eating fish, you can make a connection with a cow, with a chicken, with a pig, but you can't exactly make that same connection. Many fish are proven to have but a 3 second memory span, and are extremely stupid. They were put on this earth to eat, just as fruits and vegetables were.
  • ChrisDay Dec 10, 2010 @ 2:50 am | delete
    I have no resentment against pescetarians - I just hate people telling me to eat fish (and, yes, even chicken!) when I ask for vegetarian food. Fish is just another form of meat. At one conference where I was teaching, we were mostly vegetarians and we were served a turkey pate for starter - we were assured it was a vegetarian turkey!!! Needless to say, we didn't eat it.
  • scss Dec 17, 2010 @ 4:30 am | delete
    "vegetarian turkey"... now THAT is truly priceless!
  • Ashley Jan 6, 2011 @ 2:27 pm | delete
    Why not just serve tofurkey?
  • Dezi the killer-queen Nov 30, 2010 @ 1:24 am | delete
    i have have that some talk with my best friend lol
  • goatlover_and_pescetarian Mar 13, 2011 @ 10:55 am | delete
    my sort of friend is a complete carnivore - yet she calls me fish murderer! im not allowed to stop eating fish 'til im 16. poor little tuna!!!
  • artgoodman Nov 28, 2010 @ 8:55 am | delete
    That conversation looks very familiar to me. It never gets old to me. Thanks for sharing this great lens
  • dagsmith Nov 25, 2010 @ 2:32 pm | delete
    Why I have a good friend who is a n Episcopalian Pescetarian - and no I never tire of saying that or teasing him ;-)
  • Adam Nov 22, 2010 @ 10:31 pm | delete
    I have recently got inspiration from a lovely vegan lady at a Health & Wellbeing Festival in Melbourne, Australia. She had such an affect on me that from one 20 minute discussion I turned from an excessive meat eating creature into what I have discovered is called a pseudo-vegetarian or pescetarian.

    What I don’t understand is why all the resentment from vegetarians towards pescetarians?? My motivation behind doing it so to save the suffering of thousands of farmed animals for the remaining years of my life, meat chickens, egg chickens, lamb, sheep, cows etc & hopefully encourage some friends, family & future generations to consider– what is so wrong with that..!!? I am not doing it for a status, or to join the vegetarian club. I grew up on a farm & eating a lot of red meat. However I have always loved all animals, it’s just taken me 30 years stop disassociating the meat from the live individual animal.

    I also love fish (I am a shocking fisherman as I always have to throw it back in) but I can’t see myself going without it.

    I am actually yet to eat any seafood but I’m sure I will have at some stage, at least until I get my diet worked out. We are also thinking of buying a chicken coop & placing somewhere in the 5 acres of my parents house so we can use eggs from happy chickens. Is there anything wrong with that also….??

    I wish some vegetarians would get off their high horse. If more carnivores were encouraged to become pescetarians & not judged & mocked by vegetarians/ vegans & ignorant carnivores then the world would be a better place.

    Adam - Disgruntled Pescetrian
  • Mandy- Pesce Feb 5, 2011 @ 11:56 am | delete
    You get it. Vegetarians/vegans like to act like God's gift to animals, but they could have a much bigger impact by encouraging any changes away from eating animals instead of demonizing everyone who isn't "as good" as they are.
  • Amy Jean Feb 28, 2011 @ 6:45 pm | delete
    thank you Mandy - Pesce and Adam! I have recently backed away from my vegan style of living and now living as a pescetarian. I have been beating myself up and feeling like I will be judged. I grew up and live on the Chesapeake Bay. I grew up fishing and crabbing. It has been a difficult enough journey switching to this lifestyle and vegan was quite difficult and expensive for me where I live in the winter time. I don't know what diet I will have in the future but for now this is fitting me and I'm at least helping the farm animals. Better than no change is how I have to look at it. All animals feel pain but they are being tortured! The chicken coop is such a great idea and my mom is thinking about doing that so we can have eggs. My best friends parents already do. Amy
  • TSummer Nov 21, 2010 @ 8:32 am | delete
    Hi nice hub! Yeah I've had that conversation many times before as well. I'm vegan now actually, and my experience of it, is that just as I found a much richer and more interesting array of foods to choose from when I stopped eating meat, I've discovered a whole amazing landscape of foods now I'm vegan. Never thought I would go there, but I did. Enjoyed your hub!
  • Ella Nov 18, 2010 @ 6:21 pm | delete
    I know a trio of sisters who are into animal rights, abhor fur, call themselves vegetarians...
    and eat fish.
    I've never been brave enough to say, "You guys know fish isn't a vegetable, right?" but I always want to!
  • sunny :) Nov 18, 2010 @ 2:01 am | delete
    here it goes...
    my name is sunny. i have aneamia and am currently a pescatarian. ( 3 years )
    my mum wants me to become a meat eater again but i just cant do it.
    all the times ive tried then either looked at it and seen the live animal or vomitted after ( either by force ( which u should never do) or by the actuall fact that i just cant eat meat )
    ive tried telling mum that my stomach cant handle it but she doeesnt believe me...
    HELP!!! if anyone has a clue to how i can handle this tell me please!!!
  • Stephanie : ) Nov 29, 2010 @ 9:15 pm | delete
    Hi Sunny- you have a very interesting dilemma. I feel concerned for the vegans/pescatarians out there who don't have all the info they need to have a well-rounded diet. It can be achieved!! First it would be good to understand what kind of anemia you have. Do your labs show a deficiency in Vit B12 as well? Not to alarm you but you may be missing intrinsic factor which is necessary for the absorption of Vit B12 (an extremely important compound that is needed in the production of blood.) Other anemias are auto-immune related, it would be helpful to discover if it is simply diet related or if other measures need to be looked into too.
    Commonly anemia is caused by a lack of iron which fortunately can be found in many plant sources. Dark greens such as spinach, bell peppers, and broccoli are just a few of the many vegetable. Lentils, beans, peas and tofu are some others. Dried fruits such as apricots, raisins, and prunes also contain iron. Vitamin fortified cereals often have iron; look at the nutrition facts on the side panel.
    How is your diet? Are you eating your leafy greens and fruits? Perhaps you could invest in a inexpensive nutrition book that gives you information concerning the nutrient content of foods.
    Perhaps your mom might be persuaded to let you not eat meat if you came up with a diet plan that was well balanced and allowed you to ingest iron-containing foods to bring your Hgb/Hct levels up to within normal limits.
    The most helpful resource would be a nutritionist in your area!!
  • sunny Dec 2, 2010 @ 4:06 am | delete
    hey Stephanie -
    ummm i have an aneamia where i dont eat enough iron.
    im allergic to ALOOTTA things meaning no fruits ( most of em anyway )
    nuts or even cabbage...
    yehh gotta go byee x
  • Stephanie : ) Dec 3, 2010 @ 8:34 am | delete
    Hey Sunny, sorry to hear that!! That must be very difficult. : ( It's good to know though that you don't have a more complicated type of anemia. I wonder perhaps if you could take an iron supplement.
    Sorry if I came across wrong in my first post. Best of luck to you!!!!!
  • Makalah Nov 7, 2010 @ 6:34 pm | delete
    i am thinking about being a pescetarian i like the fact that you can eat seafood because i love seafood
  • goatlover_and_pescetarian Feb 12, 2011 @ 7:05 am | delete
    Hey malakah!! R u a pescetarian yet?
  • Casper Nov 3, 2010 @ 7:41 pm | delete
    Hi! My name is Casper, and I have been a pescetarian for... hold your breath... nearly 27 years.
    I was born and raised like this. Shortly before I was born, my father decided to take this course and he have stuck to it ever since. A lot of people think it's a little weird, that I haven't moved on to meat, or that I don't got any particular reason for eating like I do, but for me it just feels normal. During my childhood, it was a little tricky with birthday parties and answering odd questions in school. For instance, a kid once asked if we used electricity in our home.
    Although, I do love fish but there are situations where I go for the vegetarian dish and not a dish with fish when out dining.
    People still ask odd questions about why I eat fish- and seafood, and not just go all the way and eat regular meat. So far, I haven't been able to come up with an answer that people understand, but it's usually no big deal.
    My mother have gone back to her old habbit again, so christmas in our family is usually a bit funny.
  • Scully Jan 7, 2011 @ 1:33 pm | delete
    You have moved on to meat. Fish is a type of meat. You are just selective of what meats you eat. I am all for more people not eating land animals though so rock on!
  • me - who else? Nov 2, 2010 @ 4:40 am | delete
    i'm 13 and a pescetarian :)
    i would be a vegetarian, but i really like fish, so i can't.
  • andaluana Oct 25, 2010 @ 11:42 am | delete
    I'm familiar with this kind of conversation :))
    Great lens!
  • jewelkid87 Oct 22, 2010 @ 2:13 am | delete
    Hi Lewis, thanks for this funny lens :) I am a vegetarian and have had this conversation a few times with people who think vegetarians eat fish (and sometimes chicken).
  • Syida Sep 12, 2010 @ 3:58 am | delete
    Hi, my name syida and i'm 19..Currently i'm study and stay away from my family.
    Everyday I buy food at the food court and of course i will buy chicken, meat or seafood. Look delicious because i didn't have time to cook and just buy food to eat. After one months my weight increases. My friends said that i look chubby. It's really hurt because their advice make me sad and didn't support at all. Suddenly when i read about my favourite actress, she follow her husband to be pescetarian. It's look difficult but she can go through. Actually i don't understand how to start being a pescetarian. Should i just eat bread and others except meat, chicken and seafood?
  • tenley Sep 21, 2010 @ 7:23 am | delete
    A psecetarian can eat fish and all other seafood. I was one for two years, and am considering going back to it. It's simple. Just eat salads, steamed or stir-fried (with extra virgin olive oil) veggies, there are many recipes. Cans of tuna mixed with a little light mayo, chives, and chopped tomatoes, grapes, or apples make a delicious quick meal!
  • Jess Aug 30, 2010 @ 11:17 am | delete
    Hi, My names Jess and Im twelve, I became a pescitarian about 2 years ago, I decided pescitarian because I love Crab sticks and tuna, most people think it’s really hard to not eat meat but it is very easy. My parents are happy that I am making my own choices about my life but I have a promise that I eat meat for one week a year, over the Christmas holidays. I do not eat different meals to the rest f my meat eating family, I just either pick the meat out of ready made meals or if my mum makes the meals from scratch, she gives me everything put the meat. I eat fish obviously and quite oftenly eat seafood, my family’s diet haven’t changed over this time and I visit the doctors recently and am healthy despite the fact I don’t eat meat.
  • Valency Oct 12, 2010 @ 12:40 am | delete
    I'm a pescitarian too, and I'm the same as you, my family are all meat eaters except me, though i just love crab sticks, they are my favourite food. Ps. I'm also twelve and have been a pescitarian for 2 years :D
  • Stephanie Aug 11, 2010 @ 12:20 pm | delete
    I need some advice and I think there may be people here who can help me. I gave up all animal products about three months ago. About that time, for a totally unrelated reason, my doctor tested my cell health. Not great, but not horrible - just needed improvement. About a week later I gave up animal products. I met with my nutritionist yesterday and found out that my cell health has dramatically decreased - and I've made sure to eat lots of vegetables, brown rice, beans, quinoa, Ezekiel Bread and other good-for-you stuff, but the lack of animal protein is not working for me. I'm considering (and I all but decided) to move to a pescetarian diet instead to see if that helps, but I'm not sure how great I feel about it. Any advice would be appreciated.
  • MrLewisSmile Aug 16, 2010 @ 5:52 pm | delete
    Hey Stephanie,

    There is a small chart of some high protein foods about half way down this page: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html

    But, if the nutritionist says you shouldn't be a vegetarian for health reasons, I'd listen to her! Everyone is different. Don't feel bad!

    Just do as much as you can without hurting your health ;)

    - Lewis
  • wency Oct 12, 2010 @ 12:41 am | delete
    i just ate tofu :D
  • Steffo Nov 9, 2010 @ 12:07 am | delete
    Hi my name is steffo, I have been a vegetarian for about 2 1/2 years and I love it. I eat tofu, and prodct's by Morning star, Boca and Quorn these are all company's that sell food Procducts that are meatless and you can find these in your local grocery store or coop . All of these company's have great veggie burger's and fake ground meat and chickenless chicken. Also a good show to record and watch is Emril Green, He has a cooking show that he cook's with a person in a Grocery store and cook's food that is really healthy and alot of times he cook's a all vegetarian dish or a fish dish. Also I own a book by Alcia Silverstone called The Kind Diet that talk's about becoming a vegan or vegetarien and tell's you all about it. It's a great book. Thank's for listening :)
  • Seb Jul 29, 2010 @ 7:17 pm | delete
    I don't get it ... why can people just not eat, or "not" eat what they want? They get categorized and labelled to have certain lifestyles, causing groups of different "lifestyles" rivaling. Do we get the same with people that eat and don't eat bananas? Where is the point?
    hehe ... my security word was "birdlust" ... what irony as pescetarian ;)
  • MrLewisSmile Aug 16, 2010 @ 6:09 pm | delete
    Birdlust! That's brilliant!

    Oh, and didn't you hear about the great banana wars of 82..? ;)
  • Hiedi Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:04 am | delete
    I just don't understand people anymore. I eat seafood, turkey, and yes chicken. I don't eat beef, pork, or any other red meat, just because I know it's bad for you. I feel that if God can eat fish so can I.
  • Unmei Jul 27, 2010 @ 11:12 pm | delete
    I have not eaten meat since January. I was aiming for vegan, but I could not live without crab meat. x.x Haha! And I don't want to eat cow, pig, chicken, turkey, etc. because I love animals and feel guilty eating them. I am a pescetarian because the animals killed for seafood are not tortured. I may try shooting for vegan again later. ^^ I don't eat plain out fish either, as they are tortured.
  • MrLewisSmile Aug 16, 2010 @ 6:10 pm | delete
    I thought you wrote " I may try shooting a vegan again later" - I was rather shocked!

    Then I re-read what you wrote.. phew :)
  • Jennifer Barber Oct 29, 2010 @ 6:41 pm | delete
    I read that the same way!
  • Tolga Jul 27, 2010 @ 3:58 pm | delete
    Hey, I'm 14 and I have become a lacto-ovo-pescetarian about a week ago I guess. I'm writing 'I guess' because it was something that I found quite normal and I didn't bother remembering the date. I watched a video of PETA, where they interviewed Lea Michele of Glee and Broadway. It really affected me, and I declared myself semi-vegetarian for the second time. :P But this time I am honestly serious.

    I still guiltily eat fish and seafood. It pains me each time I think about it... But it is just something I cannot give up... Meat has many adequate replacements, but unfortunately the flavour of fish is practically impossible to find in any other food. They will probably invent or discover a sort of proper replacement for fish. There may already be one, but the fact that I'm living in Turkey doesn't make it easier. I haven't seen tofu ANYWHERE!!! But I'm not giving up. I have found a cheese which is similar to tofu which I can easily make, it is called paneer. I would even like to become a vegan in the future. But I will have to live somewhere where they have more choices and also some 'dairy' products' other than soya, because I know that it contains a type of plant oestrogen, and as a male, I think I don't wanna take in too much of that. If anyone has any suggestions and tips they are most welcome and they will be deeply appreciated.

    I also have another problem. It is the fact that my dad won't accept my choice not to eat any meat (except for fish). He gets really angry... Help please! :)

    Thank you very much!
  • Ellie Jul 19, 2010 @ 10:50 am | delete
    im 12 and i wanna be a pescetarian
    i am ready for the commitment as i am a huge animal lover
    however, i dont know how to approach my mom and/or dad with my goal
    my friend has recently become a vegetarian, but on a different start;
    she doesnt like the taste of meat anymore
    my brother made fun of her and i know he would make fun of me too
    i got past that part, but i still dont know how to talk it through with the cooks in the house
    i had a conversation with my mom the other day and she said that although it can be very difficult, vegetarianism can be healthy.
    my aunt is a pescetarian and my other aunt is a vegetarian every thursday
    anyone have any ideas on how i can talk to my mom and dad about my goal without seeming. . .unprepared?
  • Amanda S Aug 5, 2010 @ 9:28 pm | delete
    I became a vegitarian at 11 and it lasted about a year in a half to two years, and then my parents felt that I needed to eat at least chicken or turkey since I was still growning. So I did! I didnt care when I was vegitarian that any of my family made fun cause they already did with other things just being a kid and having other siblings. So mind how you feel on the situation not how everyone else feels, you r not forcing them to be that way. When my mom cooked meals she always cooked veggies, etc and I would ask her to put it aside for me without the meat and gravy it wasnt that hard for her to make minor changes to the meals for me. I was strick though, no leather on shoes etc, no starbursts or skittles because they contain geletin and so on. I became vegitarian again, im now 29! I have been reading so much on health and I called my mom the other day and was like why did you guys make me eat meat again???? It was a healthy choice that I made and wish that I kept it, only with a balanced way of eating. You need to read well and make sure you eat well, fruits, veggies, legumes, fiber.
  • MrLewisSmile Aug 16, 2010 @ 6:12 pm | delete
    Hey Ellie,

    It looks like you're in a very vegetarian-friendly family! Just dive right in! Parents always like it when they think you're asking them for advice, so you could just say "What do you think about me being a vegetarian?" and see what happens :)
  • Evelyn Sep 12, 2010 @ 4:14 pm | delete
    I had the same issue, and for me the solution was to go prepared. Look up information about vegetarianism in general, some specific pescetarian information, recipes, health facts about fish. Be prepared for them to ask why, and for them to think you're wrong. At first, my parents didn't understand, and my mom still seems to think I never told her why, but they adapted. My brother is the least understanding and he loves meat. Often, if we have a completely veg meal, he wants a sausage on the side, and I just ignore it. It is a personal decision, and if he's really bothering you, you can always talk to your parents about it. They may be your parents, but they can't FORCE you to eat meat if you don't want to. Have more than one reason as well: you don't like the way the meat industry operates and how they treat animals, the thought of eating something that has been treated that horribly is abhorrent, organic or not doesn't make a difference, because organic meat is still part of the meat industry, you have been thinking about this for a long time and you're very sure of it, etc.
    Good luck!
  • sunny :) Nov 18, 2010 @ 1:57 am | delete
    i dont know if this is a bit late or not but meh!
    when i became pescatarian, my mum HATED it absolutely loathed the idea.
    she has to ccok she says. she basically came up with the ideas of on wednesdays i can cook whateva i want and they have to eat it ( meaning mum and dad ) on other days ( monday, tuesday, thursdays and fridays. we always eat out on the weekends ) mum will cook a meal and serve mine just before she puts the chicken or so wat in the meal. it has become a healthy lifestyle and everyone is happy..
    on the subjects on friends and brothers...
    brothers, its only ur brother ur meat to disagree remember! u should be ur own person and have ur own thoughts.
    friends, ull know if they are ur true friends if they stick by u and dont pay u out.
    when i told my friends i was becoming a pescetarian they all looked at me in shock, i used to LOOOOOVE meat. i explained to them that i watched a movie called FOOD INC and that they should watch it, cos they will understand where i am coming from.
    next thing i knew ( NO JOKKE ) 90% of my friends are vegetarians,pescatarians, or any other type of non meat eating ppl's.
    and i have lotts of friends maybe 80 all up so yehh they didnt pay me out and now its not even a big deal, unless like the other day u go o a party of a friend u havent seen in 3 years and they have roast for dinna...
    less lets just say i didnt eat bread or potatoes for 2 weeks.
    ok well good l;uck. if u have already approached them tell me how it went.
    ok well bye sunny x
  • Lisa Jul 17, 2010 @ 4:50 pm | delete
    i'm ten, i'm a vegetarian and i do not hate pescetarians and i do not hate meat eaters. it's a person's choice, and this could make a nice reality TV show
  • Jane Jul 15, 2010 @ 12:56 am | delete
    I'm 19 years old. I've been a Pescetarian for 12 months now and I won't lie it was difficult in the beginning. I used to make ham sandwiches every morning for lunch and breakfast. I must say, finding a substitution for ham wasn't easy. However, I grew up watching my dad struggle with high blood pressure and all sorts of heath problems. I wanted to be different and pursue a healthier lifestyle so I decided to take baby steps by trying out a pescetarian diet. Through out those 12 months, my dad started to see my determination and how serious I was with eating healthy and cooking healthy food. I noticed that he started to change his eating habits later on after 4 months. He still eats meat and that's okay too. I'm not against the idea of eating meat. Even though my dad continues to eat meat, he consumes meat moderately and approaches it with a healthier mindset.

    All in all, for those of you who are thinking about attempting a pescetarian lifestyle just be aware that it's okay to cheat. It's difficult at first, but it's fun at the same time because you will start to become more creative in cooking dishes and sometimes choosing places to eat out at.
  • storm Jul 13, 2010 @ 10:28 am | delete
    i'm peskatarion 'caus i've SEEN turkey and chiken are made a returaonts, but i LOVE sushi. i consider everything that can have NONE of there body above water for an hour a fish.
  • the name is jasmine.... >))))')> Jul 8, 2010 @ 5:39 pm | delete
    hello everyone,
    im 15 years old and i have decided to try to be a vegatarian.
    the thing is, i didnt know that vegatarians dont eat fish.
    so, i guess im a pescetarian.
    i tried to nt eat meat last year when i went to texas to my grandfathers place.
    its kind of like a farm. but, i noticed that the animals werent properly taken care of...
    i was really upset and would always complain to my mom about this...
    i would try no to complain to my grandfather cuz first of all i probably wouldnt be able to start an arguement in spanish with him.
    yes, im hispanic.
    meat is cooked like everyday in my home.
    but, anyhoo...
    back to my story...
    one day, i noticed a chicken that had a broken leg...
    she was just laying there!
    i ran to the house and started crying!
    i yelled at everyone to go and take the chicken to the vet or something to go and fix her leg.
    PSHH! they didnt want to waist money on a chicken to go and fix her leg! D:
    the tried putting a stick on it and tapeing it.
    it was hurting the chicken! so, i told them to stop!
    they put her in a cage and told me that her leg would get better...
    like, seriously?!? WTF!!! im not stupid! her leg is broken! its not going to magically get fixed!...i felt soo bad that i wasnt able to do anything!!!... T.T
    everyday i would go outside a feed her.
    then, one day i noticed she wasnt in the cage...
    i freaked out and asked everyone where she was.
    they told me she got better and pointed to another chicken.
    IM NOT THAT STUPID!!!
    then, from that day i tried to not eat any type of meat.
    it didnt really work...
    like i said, meat is always all around the dinner table.
    when i was visiting his house we would still visit msore family over there and they would make food with meat. i would have to eat it because i didnt wan tto be rude and get introuble later by my mom...

    this year, like a few weeks ago, i visited my grandfather again. i ate meats sometimes but, then i stopped eating meat.
    now, im back home, and i actually gave in to meat once because my mom made some ribs that looked so good at the time...
    i ate a bit and noticed...
    it SO wasnt worth it!!!
    it didnt even tase good to me.
    now, when i smell meat being made...its like, "eww..."
    the other dye i ate some fish because everyone told me that its okay to eat fish as a vegatarian. >.>
    so, today i wanted to look it up and see if thats true.
    i havent ate meat (not including fish) for a few weeks now.
    its not the longest time but, i think i can do this.
    i want to be a vegatarian but, fish is really good for you.
    i know that dolphins get caught in the tuna nets and stuff.
    thats why i make sure that on the can it says, DOLPHIN SAFE!!!
    i know that tuna and other fish have feeling to so, my plan is that one day i will become a full vegatarian...
  • It's Oscar Jul 13, 2010 @ 1:51 pm | delete
    I Kinda Don't Eat At The Dinner Table Anymore. My Mom Understands How Hard It Can Be. I'm Also Hispanic. My Dad Is a Bitch Always Giving Me stuff Saying It Isn't Meat, But It Really Is. Do You Eat Gelatin or Rettin? You Can't When You Are A Vegetarian Because Of Cow, And Chicken Fat in Gelatin (Read Millions Of Labels On The Back Of The Package) And Cow Stomach Enzymes In Cheese (Labels). So No Jello, Marshmellows, Or Anything Of That Sort Okay?
  • SpleenlessD Jul 7, 2010 @ 11:21 pm | delete
    Hello, my name Dan. I am 30 years old and just recently became a pescetarian. Very recently. I'm on day 12 now. I just douldn't do it anymore. I've been telling my wife for years now that one of these days something like this was going to happen. I don't think she believed me, and I don't think that I believed myself either. So far I'm not missing meat. Even though I enjoy cooking and grilling. It just seems like I need to come up with and/or modify many of my personal menu options. Meanwhile having a wife that supports my decision, she has not joined my newfound lifestyle. And I can't blame her. It's the way we were raised. Anyway, good luck to us all. And may this be an evolutionary step in the human race.
  • Toy Jul 7, 2010 @ 11:33 am | delete
    I've been a pescatarian for all of 3 days. I'm not a big meat eater, so this was not hard for me at all. I'm doing it strictly for the health benefits. I started a blog, sharing my first thirty days as a pescatarian and I also have a lens. Nothing heavy, just me talking about how I'm feeling and the effects and changes that I've seen so far with my body. Pescetarian Diet Newbie
  • Kathrryyyyyynnnnnnnnnn Jul 6, 2010 @ 8:39 pm | delete
    Hi guys! I have been a pescetarian (or pesco-vegetarian) for about 4 months now, and I feel great about it! When presented with the question, "Why are you a pescetarian and not a vegetarian?", I tell whomever the multiple reasons for my choice.

    One of the reasons being that, I don't feel a connection to fish like I do to humans, cows, sheep, chickens, pigs, etc. Yes, fish are put into terrible conditions that I for one, would not condone for any animal, but these conditions are not nearly as bad as with any other animal. I have kind of built up an "immunity" to feeling bad for fish since I made my decision, and recently when my betta fish died, my step-siblings (who are somewhat close in age to me, and are NOT pesco-/vegetarians) were very upset, while I wasn't phased by it at all.

    Another of my reasons is that, being a 15 year old (therefore, still living at home), I need to make my lifestyle choices in consideration of my family. This way, we could still go out to a seafood restaurant together (as my family is from the East Coast and LOVES seafood), and I would be able to join them. Also, almost all restaurants offer a meal that is either lacking meat, or has some sort of seafood on it, so there is always something for me to eat.

    The last of my most-important reasons is that I indeed, LOVE seafood. I have eaten seafood all of my life, and have rarely had a seafood dish that has disappointed me (not to say I have ever picked out a dish that looked bad).

    Some more information about me is that I also do not eat eggs, but do consume dairy (although, I do eat eggs if they are in baked goods and such, but I avoid them if I am baking the food myself). So I guess I would be titled a lacto-pesco-vegetarian if need be. My reasons for choosing not to consume eggs but to consume dairy are as follows:

    One of my choices for not consuming meat is that all animals like livestock and chickens are fed hormones and such that are unnatural, resulting in unhealthy weight and many other terrible (and unnatural) attributes. So, if chickens are fed so many hormones, then they must end up being eaten by their chicks, correct? Now, if that is my reason for not eating chickens, why would I go and eat eggs? The answer of course, is that I wouldn't.

    One of my main reasons for consuming dairy is that, just like being a pescetarian, it helps make my lifestyle choice easier on my family. My other reason being, that I LOVE cheese (well hey, I'm part Swiss, Italian, and French (as well as part Irish and Australian, with a few parts that I don't even know of), so how can I help NOT loving cheese?!?!). I also need to consume dairy because I am still growing, so I find it perfectly acceptable. (:

    Also, I am 5'7”, 120 lbs, and a female, and I was told by a nutritionist to consume a minimum of 80g of protein a day (although I find it very difficult to do so, but try my best). I try to consume a 2,000 calorie diet and, just because I like to be healthy, less than 50g of fat a day(which is what I've heard most adults should have daily as well). I take daily multivitamin/multimineral (Teen for Her Advanced Vitamins from Target) supplements that contain (in percent daily values): 50% Vitamin A, 200% Vitamin C, 200% Vitamin D, 100% Vitamin E, 31% Vitamin K, 153% Thiamin (B1), 153% Riboflavin (B2), 150% Niacin, 150% Vitamin B6, 100% Folic Acid, 150% Vitamin B12 (a must-have for vegetarians, as a deficiency can cause anemia), 100% Biotin, 100% Pantothenic Acid, 30% Calcium (elemental), 100% Iron, 13% Magnesium, 100% Zinc, 29% Selenium, 100% Copper, 100% Manganese, and 100% Chromium.
  • Danie Oct 15, 2010 @ 1:00 pm | delete
    I felt like I needed to clarify a few things in your post, and maybe provide you with somethings to consider also...

    1) Pescatarians ARE NOT a form of vegetarian. Yes, there are lacto-ovo vegetarians, as dairy and eggs are not meat. On the other hand, you can't be a "pescatarian-vegetarian" as you stated above. Vegetarians don't eat meat. Period. Fish is a meat, therefore, you are not a vegetarian.

    2)There are many, many versions of non-dairy cheese available on the markets, I would encourage you to do your research and shop around until you find one you like.

    3)There is no reason that you need dairy just because you are still growing. Many other food items are fortified with calcium nowadays (such as orange juice) and there is always the option to take a supplement (as you already said you were doing.)

    And, finally...

    4)You don't need meat to get protien, unless you are specifically told that you need heme protien. Beans, tofu, and many different plants have protien, it's just different than the protien found in meat (non-heme protien vs heme-protien.)

    Hope you find all this helpful:D
  • bridget Jun 26, 2010 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    hi! my name is bridget and i am a 13-year old pescetarian and i am a little nervous, but this article really let me realize that i can do it! my mom is supportive and so, is my best friends who are also a pescetarian and vegan!
  • lauren Jun 12, 2010 @ 12:25 am | delete
    hey i'm lauren and i'm a pescetarian at 14. surprisingly, my friends freaked out more than my mum. mum basically told me about what i'd have to eat to supplement the meat and whats going to happen if i didn't. my friends on the other hand got mad. which was kinda weird but sweet to think that they care about me. <3

    the reason why i became a pescetarian was because i think its cruel to kill animals for food when there are so many other foods we can use to substitute it. but when i tell people that they always ask "so don't you think fish are as important as animals like cows and sheep?" and that sets me off. it annoys me so bad. so i tell them that the only reason why i eat fish is because of school. fish has omega 3 which is good for your brain and i need that brain food for school. but i'll probably stop eating it once i've done uni. then they look at me like i'm a freak. like they would if i said that i'm a pescetarian coz they wouldn't know what it means. i didn't even know what it meant until about 5 minutes ago when i visited this site.
    sometimes i get worried that i'm going to become anemic which i don't want coz i do dancing comps and then i freak out coz i think about how much energy you use in that one day - you got your adrenaline rush, excitement, nerves, and all the energy put into that 3 min. dance. it gets scary.
    but what i really don't like is that people (especially my grandma) are constantly telling me that i'm going to be unhealthy because of this. i just want to scream in their face that its MY decision. people are always telling me that i'm old enough to make my own decisions and now that i have, they are telling me that its wrong. so to all you meat-eating-baggers out there, leave us pescetarians/vegetarians/vegans alone! its what we believe in and what we believe is right. don't get in our faces and ask us why we did it. thats personal and not everyone is willing to share that.
  • Dulce-o_O Jun 25, 2010 @ 2:24 am | delete
    Thank you Lauren ! Hi :)). My name is Dulce, and I'm also a pescetarian at 14. I've only been meat-free about four months, and I'm hoping to become vegetarian as soon as I finish with my education. But I do feel like I'm betraying fish sometimes by consuming them and not other animals. So, I'm trying to find other non-meat products that contain the same fatty acids omega 3 does, but I've had no luck up until now :(.

    I became pescetarian because I realized how selfish and harsh it is to take the lives of innocent animals for our own benefits. It's more the way they are killed than the fact that animals are murdered for food that bothers me the most. If you're going to eat red meat, at least get it from the animals that are naturally dying, or don't kill them like if they were inferior to you. I mean, vegetables and fruits exist in this world, there is no need for the animals to suffer. What if the situation was switched around? I'm sure most humans wouldn't like to be cruely killed, only to be eaten by another animal.

    About everyone telling you that this is unhealthy for you, well there are several other products that contain many similar vitamins and nutrients as the ones found in meat. Take peanut butter for example. And aren't vegetables and fruits supposed to be some of the healthiest foods out there in the world, anyway? If everyone cared about the animals and our planet, we wouldn't be in the critical situation we are in now. Therefore, everybody nagging about vegetarians, vegans, pescetarians and all other forms of vegetarians, please do consider that if you tried it, you would be helping our world more than you can ever imagine. It's possible ! Take it step by step, that makes everything easier ;D. Before judging anyone, take a look at yourselves and understand that every person in life is different, and they could easily judge as well you for your own beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion :D. Thank You :)) !!
  • Danielle Jun 28, 2010 @ 9:31 am | delete
    I am thinking about becoming pescetarian but I don't know what other protein to eat( other than fish). and how do I tell my friends about this new diet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!
  • v Jul 19, 2010 @ 7:42 pm | delete
    Tofu, Soy beans, beans in general, grains contain a lot of protein. Also, try to replace milk with soy milk.
  • Dulce-o_O Jun 25, 2010 @ 2:24 am | delete
    Thank you Lauren ! Hi :)). My name is Dulce, and I'm also a pescetarian at 14. I've only been meat-free about four months, and I'm hoping to become vegetarian as soon as I finish with my education. But I do feel like I'm betraying fish sometimes by consuming them and not other animals. So, I'm trying to find other non-meat products that contain the same fatty acids omega 3 does, but I've had no luck up until now :(.

    I became pescetarian because I realized how selfish and harsh it is to take the lives of innocent animals for our own benefits. It's more the way they are killed than the fact that animals are murdered for food that bothers me the most. If you're going to eat red meat, at least get it from the animals that are naturally dying, or don't kill them like if they were inferior to you. I mean, vegetables and fruits exist in this world, there is no need for the animals to suffer. What if the situation was switched around? I'm sure most humans wouldn't like to be cruely killed, only to be eaten by another animal.

    About everyone telling you that this is unhealthy for you, well there are several other products that contain many similar vitamins and nutrients as the ones found in meat. Take peanut butter for example. And aren't vegetables and fruits supposed to be some of the healthiest foods out there in the world, anyway? If everyone cared about the animals and our planet, we wouldn't be in the critical situation we are in now. Therefore, everybody nagging about vegetarians, vegans, pescetarians and all other forms of vegetarians, please do consider that if you tried it, you would be helping our world more than you can ever imagine. It's possible ! Take it step by step, that makes everything easier ;D. Before judging anyone, take a look at yourselves and understand that every person in life is different, and they could easily judge as well you for your own beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion :D. Thank You :)) !!
  • Andre Robinson (also on Facebook) Jun 11, 2010 @ 12:40 am | delete
    Sigh, it is my wish that people would be less hostile towards others, regardless of their personal ethics or ways as long as within reason of the law ( since ethics are entirely personal and opinionated, therefore unreliable as a stance for the entire world to follow).

    There is alot of hypocrisy involved and much insecurity here, and i will explain. Many vegans are vegan because of their obvious inability to stomach the idea of death in animals, because they often times believe them to be innocent. However, it is common knowledge to most that animals are killers of other animals and humans as well, depending upon the species. However, all is relative, especially in this case.

    People who think it is cruel to deliver death to any creature, often dont consider things creatures if they are too tiny to matter, in Their eyes. Insects for instance are killed by many, but many do not have problems with that because of their belief that they do not feel pain. However, if that is the case one could argue that anesthetic and a quick shot to the head should be humane, but even then, the root lies within a childlike inability to truly handle the actuality of the circle of life as it is, and therefore what the real problem is, is simply a fear and hatred of death all around them because of its ability to make them see it as an inevitability for themselves as well.

    So i say OK, why use anti-bacterial soap? Those are living organisms you are killing. This is usually at which point the survival instinct kicks in and they say "but they are offending me and could harm me", and so murder is suddenly justified.

    But thats the key, the yearning to survive is what allows them to feel OK about it, just as killing one for another's sustenance is an instinct as well. There are animals all through nature slaughtering fish or animals or insects, but because we are able to choose not to, it is often automatically considered that we simply should, because we can.

    Now, i do not agree with the breeding of mass amounts of animals purely for incredibly unnecessary and unhealthy meat consumption ... but remember, there are even people who think eating plants is cruel, because they die to feed us. So before you step up on that horse, give some unbiased thought a try, even if it takes your case down a notch, it may give you more ground on which to speak to your fellow man ... and thats got to count for something. After all, they are the ones that do the farming, which makes MY no fish full vegetarian life more possible.
  • Danielle Jun 28, 2010 @ 9:28 am | delete
    watch the movie Food inc.(very gross)
    That's what made me become pescetarian
  • Indignant Pescetarian girl from shropshire (13) Jun 2, 2010 @ 10:22 am | delete
    Hey

    I'm a Pescetarian and, well, that's what i am! I don't like it when people try to make me eat meat, or convince me that i should. This is my desicion, not there's, i don't force my beliefs down there throat and i certainly don't wave a quorn sausage in front of there nose going "Yummm quorn" Meat holds no draw from me and i think it's cruel to kill these animals so early on in there life. I will eat eggs and drink milk though. Milk is produced naturally once the cow has had a calf, and unfertalised eggs are layed all the time. Don't force your beliefs down my throat, and i won't force them down yours.
  • Moon May 18, 2010 @ 12:08 am | delete
    I've ben cld many thngs but don't label myself. I eat 4 health reasons only... I am lactose intolerant & I adapted a veg type lifestyle eatn salmon once a wk cuz I can't stand the aftertaste of omega 3 supplements, & I luv ocean fish. Don't eat shellfish cuz of cholesterol but will cook w/ eggs occasionally mayb 1ce a wk. My diet resembles a lower end macrobiotic. It's annoying at times cuz people ask if I am vegetarian & I say no, duh. Most of my main meals come from vegan recipes. But like I said, 4 health reasons.
  • Pescetarian/Vegetarian Girl May 16, 2010 @ 9:39 pm | delete
    Hi
    I am a Tennage girl who is a Pescetarian. This page offends me. I call myself a vegetarian as you get less stares and questions. Most people wont have a clue what a Pescetarian means. I would not eat fish if it didn't have brain power omega 3 and many other nutrious things. I do not eat anything other than fish. Don't be mean to us, we still are in the same boat as you with Dumbos out there. We understand, we are non-meat eaters to!!!
  • Nicole May 12, 2010 @ 1:16 pm | delete
    If we didn't drink cow milk, it would dry up. They wouldn't die from being in pain. That's moronic. The reason cows have milk is the same reason all mammals have milk; to feed their babies. It is supply and demand. We milk them or their calf suckles and they produce more milk, we stop milking or the calf stops suckling and they stop producing milk. Simple concept really.
  • Rina Gabryella Aug 10, 2010 @ 5:39 pm | delete
    Hey,
    I'm rina and I'm 13 and I have decided just yesterday that I absalutly do not
    want to eat meat, but suddenly the idea of my favorite Chinese buffet
    popped into my head "boy I could never give up grab, shrimp
    ect. . . So I seached for ways a vegitarian could eat fish, I posted on my facebook wall asking: "can a vegitarian eat fish?" it seams like a stupid question now after I read this because I asked if a vegitarian, which ad you know vegitarian, limmits
    to vegitables, not fish and vegitables. So my best friend replys: " sure
    if your a pescetarian." so I change my fb from vegitarian to pescetarian but it's hard to achive my goal with my parents telling me to eat meat and get the propper neutrition, the that night my parents forced me to eat lasanga after I tell them my plan. . . And tonight we're having meat loaf. Uhgg.
  • Tobytobytoby May 8, 2010 @ 2:03 am | delete
    Firstly "And if we didn't eat eggs, hens would be laying them for nothing."
    no they would be laying them in order to make new chicks, the natural way of life u kno?

    Recently in mcdonalds I asked for a veggie burger and wen I got it it had a full fillet o fish in it! Excuse me but this should be called a pescetarian burger!

    Fish r still treated horrible wen they're alive and web caught, they still hav the same nervous system that makes them feel pain u no! And shrimp fishing, millions of innocent fish including sharks and dolphins r caught along with the shrimp and killed in the net or slaughtered on board an thrown bak into the water, that's just wrong man!

    Fish hav feeling too!
  • Rebecca May 2, 2010 @ 4:06 pm | delete
    Well, im 14 and i want to go vegetarian, but my mom is totally freaking out. she thinks that any restrictions from eating meat is stupid. however she agreed that i could eat no meat except fish, chicken, and turkey. she says because its so healthy for you. anyway, maybe i could compromise by becoming pescetarian. still i dont even LIKE red meat or even fish so naturally i dont eat it. so that leaves me no farther than before. anyway, i wish she would just let me become a vegetarian. plus when people ask, i cant just say im a vegetarian- everyone knows what that is. instead i would have to explain that i dont eat meat except fish, chicken, and turkey. that just sounds stupid. anyway, i have this one friend who says she is vegetarian but while we were at our dance studio, she was eating a tuna sandwhich and i was thinking like wtf? she says she is vegetarian but she eat fish, so i clarified with her, so you're a pecetarian? not a vegetarian.
  • Know how ya feel (idignant girl from shropshire (13) in an earlier post) Jun 2, 2010 @ 10:27 am | delete
    It took ages for my mum to come round and let me become a Pescetarian. I think you just need to sit down and talk camly with her. She has no right to take your views from you but she might just be doing it for your health. With no meat in your diet, you need to make sure you're getting enough protien from other sources. She might just want you to be old enough to understand that. She will come round eventually though. For now, why not make a compramise, like, If someone puts it infront of you, you ought to eat it, but if there is a choice, your allowed to chose not meat. I had to do that for a while.
  • sera030 Apr 30, 2010 @ 12:36 am | delete
    "I am also sad for the little fish lives that will come to an end so they can go in my mouth."??? wtf?? they get eaten by larger sea life species anyway... um has it not occurred to u they were put there to eat.

    And if we didn't eat eggs, hens would be laying them for nothing.

    Same thing with cows on a worse level; if we didn't drink milk and milk them, they would get sick and die in pain! That's cruelty!

    I think Some people need to see the bigger picture here. It's great that we can eat less poultry and give FARM animals a better lifestyle, but when people start going on about vegan ethics and sea creatures, it just gets out of hand.

    I am and am proud of myself for being pescetarian (mainly because I didn't like the taste of meat) and have been for seven years and try to help others to accustom to the same way. There's nothing wrong with eating dairy products or seafood (unless you're pregnant) There's a reason these foods were created to be here for us to consume. If people simply go without these things just because they don't like the taste or they have side affects, then fair enough. But if people go on a vegan or vegetarian diet just because they think it's the "right way", then I'd advise to visit a scientist or a nutritionist and see how these diets are a waste of time.
  • Jasmine May 16, 2010 @ 11:37 pm | delete
    cows only generate milk when they are pregnant, and nursing. cows are given hormones to fake a pregnancy, so that they produce more milk. so if humans did not drink milk, then cows would actually not get sick and die of pain, they would live their lives normally.
  • jasmine Jul 8, 2010 @ 5:08 pm | delete
    omg!.? really?... D:
  • my name isn't important Jul 17, 2010 @ 4:53 pm | delete
    so fish don't feel? other bigger sea creatures HAVE to eat them, or they would die!
  • Sophie Apr 29, 2010 @ 11:40 am | delete
    Well i want to go pescetarian, but my mom is totally against the idea, which sucks... so i think i might go totally veggie... but m not sure..... help?
  • pxi Apr 28, 2010 @ 2:14 pm | delete
    As a vegetarian I have also had people ask me if I still eat fish. Another thing that I hate is when people assume that being a vegetarian also means that you eat eggs. Even some meat eaters don't like or want to eat eggs. Yuck.

    Lately I'm flirting with the idea of becoming a pescetarian for health reasons. I am totally for the vegan diet and I do believe it to be perfectly healthy. Unfortunately as a new mother I have not had a lot of time for cooking vegetarian meals and I have been lacking nutrients. This is my own fault.

    It has been very difficult to ease myself into eating fish. Fish is actually the only "meat" that I have ever missed when I became a vegetarian. I made myself eat some canned smoked mussels which used to be an old favorite of mine. I have been unable to try anything else so far.

    I have always loved being a vegetarian and am sad to leave that lifestyle behind. I am also sad for the little fish lives that will come to an end so they can go in my mouth.

    I want to be able to call myself a vegetarian and then eat fish secretly, but that would be causing more people to think that vegetarians eat fish.

    Hello pescetarian and goodbye vegetarian. *tear*
  • YuMmY sUsHi! Apr 26, 2010 @ 1:14 am | delete
    <> <>
    (__)
    ____
    ------ YUMMY SUSHI!!
  • nomeatbut... Apr 25, 2010 @ 11:17 am | delete
    so howcome we still have canine teeth?? shouldn't eveloution have flattened them by now?
  • Jasmine May 16, 2010 @ 11:40 pm | delete
    humans have no need to tear into raw flesh, which is tougher to chew, and break through, so technically 'evolution' should have flattened them out once humanity started cooking meat. all i see is a flaw in the evolution theory.
  • sera030 Apr 23, 2010 @ 9:21 pm | delete
    Plus! Fishing has got to be one of the most exciting sports ever!
  • sera030 Apr 23, 2010 @ 8:58 pm | delete
    I'm a pescetarian but I don't see it as inferior side to the vegetarian ethic, we - as well cut out the Major poultry section from the everyday diet. Seafood is in no way a poultry food. It is a completely different life-form; would you befriend a sea critter the way you would to a farm animal? No. A Pescetarian diet is what should be considered the most beneficial diet you could take up. As It's been proven by science.
  • Jasmine May 16, 2010 @ 11:41 pm | delete
    so just because you cannot pet a fish, it is okay to eat them. interesting.
  • Sick of pomous vegetarians. May 21, 2010 @ 2:54 pm | delete
    The preditor eats the prey. Fish are do not live just for us, they have a life. Survival of the fittest. This is completely different to how cows, pigs chickens...etc live. It may seem harsh but it is how things go in this world. Not everything is perfect. There are much more pressing things to worry about than what everyone is eating. You cannot change people. Get over it!

    and then get on with your pathetic, patronising life.
  • candice! Apr 21, 2010 @ 5:29 pm | delete
    i'm a pescetarian because i can't stand the taste of meat or poultry, but fish is a huge part of my diet. it's lighter and less...chunky...than meat (ew).
    a lot of my meals are completely vegan, too. i don't eat eggs much but i do like dairy.
  • sushilover4eva Apr 18, 2010 @ 12:14 am | delete
    animals are cool but i exclude meat from my diet because of superficial reasons. if my superficial reasons saves a life then thats even better.
  • Tsuki Apr 17, 2010 @ 9:33 pm | delete
    i hav the same conversation again and again
    lol
    itz annoying but this page made my day XD
  • mr0no Apr 14, 2010 @ 3:42 pm | delete
    I have same conversation sooooo often :DD
  • be better not bitter Apr 14, 2010 @ 1:43 pm | delete
    i love sushi <-- that's all i have to say ^_^
  • Anna Jun 18, 2010 @ 12:34 pm | delete
    Well, I was vegan for around two months, and believe me, it was quite easy! Veganism isn't an issue in an Indian lifestyle. Most of the food we eat is vegetarian, high in protein (as a result of legume consumption) and low in unsaturated fats (derived from mostly non-vegetarian/non vegan products). However, I'm constantly travelling and it's really really difficult to be vegan. Honestly, I was vegan because of a few health concerns.
    So, I've decided to try pescetarianism for now. I think it will much, much easier. However, I do not eat eggs (I hate the taste), use soy products (I've become addicted to them!), rarely consume butter and do not touch meat. I eat locally sourced shellfish quite often. What one of the commenters mentioned before was how dolphins, fish, etc. get caught in these fishing nets...Well, I do not consume fish brought in by commercial fishing trawlers because
    1) I believe they are responsible for taking away the livelihood of indigenous fishermen.
    2) There are innocent fish that get trapped in these MASSIVE nets.
    I eat fish twice a month, but I try to restrict myself to freshwater fish as much as possible.
    I definitely keep away from places like McDonald's, Wendy's, and other fast food chains. They're an absolute abomination and they way they process their food is absolutely disgusting.

    I think, that as a pesc., I have the mind and paranoia (in a good way!) of a vegan, but the flexibility of a pesc.! So don't hate on the pescs!
    We're as ethically and morally responsible as you vegans :)
  • theendlesssummer90 Apr 9, 2010 @ 2:17 pm | delete
    who cares what we call ourselves? pescetarian, vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian (haha sometimes veg, sometimes not)....we're all trying to help animals in our own ways. we have no right to tell other people what they should or shouldn't eat regardless of our own opinions on it.... no one is better or worse-it's only a personal choice! glad to be in the same boat with all you guys committed to the cause! :) peace!
  • cassidy Apr 16, 2010 @ 12:27 am | delete
    i agree, well said! :)
  • iEatFishOKAY.? Apr 6, 2010 @ 5:37 am | delete
    well i'm 13 and me and my mum are pescetarians. i'm considering going vegan but i'm 13 and do you know how hard that would be?! we've been pescetarian for almost 2 years now and my mum still checks EVERY label in the supermarket, even on the things we buy regularly.

    She saw this video about how KFC treat the animals...and, from what she told me, it was horrendous.

    i find it most hard when i'm in school and all my friends are sat at lunch with their chicken and god knows what else. and in class when the teacher is talking about animals and habitats and stuff like that, then they go on telling you about them getting slaughtered! it's like they don't give a damn at what they're going on about.

    i eat fish because they're not treated as badly as the cattle. well, in my opinion anyway. i would definatley become a vegetarian, but i'm a fussy kid, just ask my mother!

    so...yeah.
  • dave K Apr 4, 2010 @ 7:07 pm | delete
    Each to their own. A friend of mine went to America and she was a veggie- she was asked why she could not eat chicken???????

    I stopped meat and bird Jun 09 and my family and mates are amazed I could. Especially as I was a Steak (blue) guy.

    I love fish and am a very happy pescetarian.

    Vegetarians dont agree with it Vegans dont agree with Vegetarians. So we dont agree I love veggie food ie Curry, Chilli etc and many times my family now eat no meat at all so total result.

    But I cannot say no to seafood .
  • icare Apr 2, 2010 @ 11:06 pm | delete
    Oh my god, I so agree with you!! I am a vegetarian and I DO NOT eat fish. Vegetarians do not eat meat and in my eyes, I regard fish in the same category as farm animals. I believe fish suffer when killed and I am against animal suffering -- including fish and other marine creatures like crabs and lobsters. I think pescetarians are a joke!!!!!!!

    http://findyourcompassion.com
  • cassidy Apr 16, 2010 @ 12:24 am | delete
    why would you think that? the people who decide to become a Pescetarian are at least trying to save some animals from an unnecessary death. Much more so than normal meat eaters. I think that they show just as much passion towards animal rights as full vegetarians and vegans do.
  • Pescetarian and proud! May 21, 2010 @ 5:24 am | delete
    Frankly, I think you're a joke! You think you're better than pescetarians. For that, you are not. You do not eat meat or fish, that is your choice! You cannot tell people what they can or cannot eat or even make them feel guilty! I am a pescetarian and get so much stick about it. I'm sick of it! Fish have a chance of getting away. That is survival of the fittest. Birds/mamals do not, they are farmed for us. Fish are not.

    You certainly are not better than us, it's our choice. Leave us alone and you might want to look at yourself in the mirrior because you are full of hypocrisy.
  • hey Mar 30, 2010 @ 10:31 pm | delete
    oh my god, that conversation is basically what i get asked every time someone finds out i'm a vegetarian. my life does not revolve around meat. f***************ck
  • Summer(: Mar 26, 2010 @ 2:05 am | delete
    Well I'm 14 and I want to become a vegetarian.. someone told me I can be a vegetarian and still eat fish.. I looked it up and everyone says otherwise.. I only eat fish like once every 3 months... if that.. I really want to call myself a vegetarian but I don't want to give up fish all theway... I don't want to become full vegan.. maybe someday but like I said I'm 14.. I have been a "vegetarian"(as you would say) for a while now.. but one of my teachers at school is a vegetarian but he eats chicken like about the same amount as I eat fish.. can we still say we are vegetarians when people ask?
  • ProudlalalaPescetarian. May 21, 2010 @ 5:27 am | delete
    It is easier to say vegetarian than get into the whole pescetarian thing. People don't know what it is then they ask why and what's the difference blah blah blah. It is just as annoying as the conversation up the top.
  • Ticked off Pescetarian Mar 22, 2010 @ 4:08 pm | delete
    You guys treat different diets as if they were levels!

    LEVEL ONE: Pescetarian
    LEVEL TWO: Vegetarian
    LEVEL THREE: Vegan

    Does it really matter what you eat? And why do you vegetarians and vegans act like people who eat meat are lesser beings than yourselves? I gave up red meat because I really don't like it, but I still eat seafood because I actually like the taste of it. I could give up seafood if I wanted, but I won't. Are you guys going to splatter me with paint now and point your noses up like pompous poodles? Seriously get over yourselves.
  • theendlesssummer90 Apr 9, 2010 @ 2:13 pm | delete
    soooo you believe the solution here is that you should make broad generalizations and be rude? YOU should get over yourself. not all vegetarians are extreme and judgemental.....jeez.
  • Not as ticked off pescetarian. May 21, 2010 @ 5:30 am | delete
    Not all are, but most i've met are. It's just like any other prejudice. A lot of vegetarians on here are mean and pompous.But then even meat eaters think they are better than pescetarian. I know I get a lot of stick and, frankly, I just snap sometimes.
  • SEAYA Mar 20, 2010 @ 2:21 pm | delete
    Gave up meat 3 years ago. Got grossed out when I found out how long it sits in the stomach before fully digesting. Felt better right away. Then I gave up pork,Turkey,% chicken. Since I've been in the seafood business for over 33 years I am now a full on pescetarian. My
    daughters started way before me. My hubby still eats it all & I even break down & cook him meat occasionally. Still educating my friends & family as to what a pescatarian is. I'm healthier . Try it & see
  • spickle Mar 15, 2010 @ 5:58 am | delete
    I love that i now know that I'm called a pescetarian, i was getting so annoyed at not having a name. I hated the day i told my family i was not eating land animals or birds then possibly going vegetarian. They spent the whole night making jokes about how next i would be worried about the feelings of fruit and how could I justify eating anything and bla bla bla...whenever the issue of my diet comes up again its the same thing. My partner eats meat and i have nothing against meat eaters but i wish people (including my meat loving family) would stop judging me for my eating choices.
  • sarah Mar 8, 2010 @ 9:54 am | delete
    amanda, that comment was absolutely pathetic, are you that small minded that you find it so offensive that not everyone in the world wants to go around explaining any minute detail of there diet to anyone that will listen?! its not lazy at all, we don't eat mammals, fish are in a totally different catorgary as mammals therefore i don't see them as meat, i'm guessing then if you think every pesquatarian should let everyone know they eat fish, you tell everyone exactly what you eat? i mean if you didn't that would just be stupid and lazy wouldn't it? :)
  • Sarah92 Mar 6, 2010 @ 8:57 am | delete
    The thing that annoys me the most about people asking me if i eat fish or not, after they find out i'm a vegetarian is that when i say 'no' they say 'but it's not meat'. So i ask them 'if fish isn't meat then what is it?' and no one ever has an answer. I also think it's terrible that people somehow think of sea dwelling animals as lesser creatures than other animals, but they're just as important to ecosystems all over the world and moreover to the identity of our planet.
  • Proud Pescetarian Mar 1, 2010 @ 10:47 pm | delete
    Get over yourself!! If you value life so much than any effort to preserve it should be applauded...
  • amanda Mar 1, 2010 @ 3:28 am | delete
    some people we're leaving comments and saying that they don't say they are pescatarians because it's too complicated to explain what it is. that's stupid and lazy. if you are going to eat a poor helpless fish that can feel all the pain that is inflicted on it you should say that you eat them. don't say you are a vegetarian because you are not. that just messes up the reputations of true vegetarians like me. and also i have a friend who sometimes eats white meat but mostly says away from meat and calls herself a vegetarian. if you are like that just say you are not a vegetarian and admit that you eat totured and murdered dead animals
  • :) Mar 26, 2010 @ 7:01 pm | delete
    if she rarley eats meat she can call her self a vegeatarian for the months she doesnt eat me..I gave up meat but i do eat prawns and scallops..and I am sorry they do NOT feel pain so i am still calling myself a vegetarian..im not ruining your rep...and dont look down on people that eat meat. they themselves are not torturing and murdering animals it was how everyone was raised and should not be looked down upon that is very immature to each his own..being a vegetarian should be a life choice to better yourself and the world..dont think your "cool" because your a vegetarian.This isn't highschool. I can honestly say I have read so many forums in my life and have never responded..but you "amanda" dont make the rules. I have never read a post where i actually wished the person was infront of me so I could smack some sense into them..you must be a child theres no way you could be an adult
  • Mai Mar 29, 2010 @ 5:25 am | delete
    I didn't know people become vegetarian to gain "reputation". WOW. Thanks for letting me know :)) Shouldn't your love to the earth be priceless?

    I have nothing against vegetarian or meat-eaters. I am a pescetarian myself, and I don't go around criticising meat-eater or vegan or whoever else. I think people just simply have different choices, and at the end of the day you should love and respect everything.
  • julia Apr 5, 2010 @ 11:55 am | delete
    That comment epitomizes the stereotype of who vegetarians are. Congrats on being the reason why people judge and dislike vegetarians. Besides if you are a vegetarian for the right reasons you should not be offended by others who are not up to YOUR vegetarian requisites. It’s sad that you probably think that because you are a vegetarian you are a better person, but clearly someone who leaves such spiteful comments about people who are making an effort to do good, such as your self, does not have their priorities straight.
  • Got Meat? Apr 10, 2010 @ 1:10 pm | delete
    I want a huge bloody rare, bacon-wrapped steak right now with lobster...Mmmmmm sounds soooo delicious
  • C.J. Feb 20, 2010 @ 6:01 pm | delete
    I've had been eating meat all my life (Im 18) but last october I went vegan without even trying to be a vegetarian first 4 months later I ended up being a vegetarian 2 months later I started being a pescetarian I still don't drink regular milk or eat eggs though I just eat fish and fresh fruits and veggies and drink soy milk I try to stay away from sweets unless there vegan sweets when I first became a vegan people were wierded out by it they thought I was crazy.......
  • bren Feb 20, 2010 @ 10:49 am | delete
    I am a 40 some person that has moved away from eating red meat and poultry to eating mostly vegetables and beans, although I do occasionally eat an egg, or cheese. Maybe 6 or 7 times a year I will still have some sort of seafood. I am still proud that I have managed to go from a totally carnivorous diet to this pescetarian diet. I fee as though this has been a major change in my life. I hope to be a complete vegetarian and then maybe a vegan, but in due time. I quit smoking and feel the body has 30 years of damage to clean up so this is the reason I am doing this at a slower pace. I do not want to overshock the body. I think you vegans and vegetarians rock, but you should not be hatin, that is not the best way to change the world.
  • Taylor Gill Feb 16, 2010 @ 6:16 pm | delete
    Hahaha this is my everyday conversation.

    Me: I'm a vegetarian.
    Them: Do you eat fish.
    Me: Umm, No, I'm a vegetarian.
    Them: But some vegetarians eat fish.
    Me: Thats a Pescetarian.
    Them: Isn't that a religion?
    Me: omg . . . no. thats presbyterian.
  • Becky_Smith Feb 14, 2010 @ 7:35 pm | delete
    It is hard to avoid Chocolate Cake!
    http://www.squidoo.com/VegetarianDietCentral
  • Emanon Feb 12, 2010 @ 12:30 pm | delete
    I'm a meat eater and proud of eat
  • Lauren :) Feb 12, 2010 @ 10:02 am | delete
    Im a pescertarian, But i dont eat shellfish or prawns and stuff Just Cod, tuna and Haddock, I used to only eat white meat like chicken and turkey but i saw a program on channel 4 and it completly put me off any Red or white meat so i turned to fish which i love completly. I only eat organic fresh caught fish that can be baught in the local supermarket and any veg i eat is organic, Its not anyone elses decisicion what i or any other person eats, Its personal chice and people should not judge other people! xxLaurenxx
  • Victoria Mar 26, 2010 @ 12:45 pm | delete
    Careful with the tuna. The FDA has made a statement that it is not safe for pregnant women to eat tuna because of its high mercurial content. It makes me think..if they've already ruled out pregnant women, should any of us really be eating tuna?
    http://www.center4research.org/tuna.html
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1544488
  • Ink Feb 8, 2010 @ 6:32 pm | delete
    A lot of you guys seem to be unnecessarily mean towards what you would call "carnivores". They're people, usually with good intentions, they're not murderers, and they have doubts, just like you might have, because you're human too, not a superior entity who must look down to other people because they're life style is not the one you chose for you, and I think it's your "duty" to inform them, for they haven't ever wronged you (probably) and I'm pretty sure they weren't rude when they asked you regarding your diet; not everyone knows about vegetarianism and how a vegetarian's life is like. By answering politely, you might just get them interested on this thing that is so important to you and maybe change their life style. So, the next time, think about it before you answer, they're humans you're dealing with, just like you.
    Respect for all species is a value that is, or at least should be, very much present in the hearts and minds of vegetarians, so why not live by those values?

    Thanks for reading and have a nice day, month and year.
  • Harri Feb 6, 2010 @ 2:35 pm | delete
    ive been a pescetarian for about 5 years now and i love it! i have been eating fishcakes which are made with cod and cheddar cheese, just from sainsburys and they are soo nice :) tuna-pasta-bake is also really nice :D
    xxx
  • Kellie Jan 14, 2010 @ 1:03 am | delete
    im 15 yrs 6months old and i have been a vegetarian now for three years but lately have been thinking about becoming a pescetarian by eating fish maybe once or twice a week and i was wonderin what types of fish i should eat because basically i have the same issue whether im a vegetarian or otherwise because i dont want to support animals being killed inhumanely please any advice would be appreciated x
  • Jane Jan 12, 2010 @ 4:00 pm | delete
    Vegan for 3 months, after a 44 years of eating meat. I feel wonderful. I don't want to go back at all. I do think about cheese a lot! But resist.
    I just learned the term pescetarian today. Very interesting, I love learning new stuff!
    My conversations range from my friend putting a hunk of beef in her mouth and making strange, purposeful, emphasized loving groans to poke fun at me. I don't laugh, to my mom's husband's claim that red meat is the sole source of L-carnitine and that we have to eat red meat to live. I proved him wrong. Just a quick internet search and voila!
    Education and tolerance is the key. Omega-3s exist in many foods, flax seed being the most potent, fish running a close second. Just 2 tbs of flax seed provides more than daily allowance suggested. However, according to this chart, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=84 , and others I have found you can come very close to the daily allowance of omega 3 by eating veggies and soy beans everyday and the fibrous benefits are not to be overlooked. That being said, I am not trying to talk you out of eating fish. No, no, I am just saying that you can get the same nutrients in other non meat foods.
    On diet, yessssss, you can be an unhealthy vegan, Oreo cookies are vegan. I eat grains and greens at every meal. This can be boring, but can also be flavorful. I throw beans in every third meal or so. I do not eat white flour or refined sugars, however, I feel full and satisfied after eating. A treat for me is sprouted bread with peanut butter and bananas.
    I started this dietary lifestyle to feel good. Very selfish! I am slowly learning of all the other benefits on the environment and I like it.
    Living green. What do you call a vegan who drives a Mustang? IDK. A gas guzzling, leather loaded vehicle is not nice to the environment, but I still drive it. Alas, I am human and I am flawed, but I do what I can.
    BTW, I started by reading Alicia Silverstone's book "The Kind Diet" and here is a link to her site if you are interested. http://www.thekindlife.com/
    Thank you!
  • Living Dead Girl Jan 12, 2010 @ 5:47 am | delete
    Vegan for 3 months, after a 44 years of eating meat. I feel wonderful. I don't want to go back at all. I do think about cheese a lot! But resist.
    I just learned the term pescetarian today. Very interesting, I love learning new stuff!
    My conversations range from my friend putting a hunk of beef in her mouth and making strange, purposeful, emphasized loving groans to poke fun at me. I don't laugh, to my mom's husband's claim that red meat is the soul source of L-carnitine and that we have to eat red meat to live. I proved him wrong. Just a quick internet search and voila!
    Education and tolerance is the key. Omega-3s exist in many foods, flax seed being the most potent, fish running a close second. Just 2 tbs of flax seed provides more than daily allowance suggested. However, according to this chart, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=84 , and others I have found you can come very close to the daily allowance of omega 3 by eating veggies and soy beans everyday and the fibrous benefits are not to be overlooked. That being said, I am not trying to talk you out of eating fish. No, no, I am just saying that you can get the same nutrients in other non meat foods.
    On diet, yessssss, you can be an unhealthy vegan, Oreo cookies are vegan. I eat eat grains and greens at every meal. This can be boring, but can also be flavorful. I throw beans in every third meal or so. I do not eat white flour or refined sugars, however, I feel full and satisfied after eating. A treat for me is sprouted bread with peanut butter and bananas.
    I started this dietary lifestyle to feel good. Very selfish! I am slowly learning of all the other benefits on the environment and I like it.
    Living green. What do you call a vegan who drives a Mustang? IDK. A gas guzzling, leather loaded vehicle is not nice to the environment, but I still drive it. Alas, I am human and I am flawed, but I do what I can.
    BTW, I started by reading Alicia Silverstone's book "The Kind Diet" and here is a link to her site if you are interested. http://www.thekindlife.com/
    Thank you!
  • Mellie Jan 10, 2010 @ 12:34 am | delete
    Ive been a pescatarian now for just over a year. Ive found my health has improved dramatically, most likey due to the omega 3 (have fish 2 - 3 times a week) I tried going full vegetarian but found I was getting sick for some reason. Am happy to still eat fish.
  • sarah Jan 7, 2010 @ 7:25 am | delete
    i'm a pescetarian, and i have been for 5 years now, i was brought up in a meat eating house hold and so it was quiet a struggle for me to convince my parents to let me become a vegetarian, through years of attempt i cut out different types of meat, eventually agreeing to keep fish as part of my diet, and now i believe this was the best choice for me personally, i still believe that i am doing my part, as i have cut out all other meats except fish, i am proud of my diet and i do not see why people are getting so uptight about what other people decide to put in there mouths? at the end of the day we are all origanlly meat eaters, thats what we are made to do, now because of the inhumane way in which meat ends up on our shelves alot of people decide to become vegan, vegetarian or pescetarian. However, i think it's pretty damn ignorant to think that you are wrong for not cutting out vital foods from your diet. We need a certain amount of nutrients to be healthy and basically survive, fair enough you can buy vitamins from your supermarket etc. but i personally would prefer not to survive on a handful or tablets! also, you could have the strongest willpower in the world, but i doubt you can honestly say you don't now and then crave meat? eating such foods as fish can help to supress these needs as such things as texture are quiet similar, because lets face it most local supermarkets/restaurants/takeaways dont stock a great variety of vegetarian options! being a pescetarian is an easier option if you ask me, still as forfilling, but less hassle and better for you. On to the arguement of pescetarians calling themselves vegetarian, which is what i do all the time! alot of people get questioned on there dietary habits and simply stating that you are vegetarian is basically an easier option than having to describe your precise diet, it's tiring and boring constantly having to listen to people slating you or trying to argue with you just because of what you choose to put or not put in your mouth, there is absolutely no need to become heated up over the matter, fair enough your passionate, but at the end of the day every1s doing there bit no matter how extreme it may be, there is no need to patronise pescetarians just because they enjoy eating meat, it's there decision!
  • maddivegefruit Jan 7, 2010 @ 5:53 am | delete
    I have been a vegetarian for 6 years (im 14). But a year before I became a vegetarian I was a pescetarian and on weekends i am a fruitatarian (look it up if ur not sure). Anyway i totally get where ur coming from, these total dumbasses who just dont get it and ask the same questions over and over.
    My conversations:

    Someone: Maddi's a vegetarian
    Dumb one: Omg is that hard? what do you eat?
    Me: Theres lots of food that isn't made from meat products, theres pasta, lentils, rice, all vegetables, curries, salad sandwiches, things like that.
    Dumb one: How can you eat pasta its got meat in it
    Me: I have it without the meat and with the pasta sauce.
    Dumb one: ewwww is that even possible. I wouldn't be able to live without meat!
    Me: So your totally comfortable with eating poor helpless animals?
    Dumb one: It's yum and its too hard to stay away.
    Me: (sigh, give up walk away, never bring it up again.)
  • Alex Jan 6, 2010 @ 6:38 pm | delete
    Being a pescetarian is potentially a much healthier option than being a full blown meat eater or a vegetarian. There's too many pretentious vegetarians out there who know fuck all, and probably haven't thought it through enough. To get the right amount of protein as a vegetarian you have to eat a shit load of seeds.
  • Georgia :) x Jan 3, 2010 @ 8:51 am | delete
    Ivew just had the same sort of convo with my mums mate and he is saying that if u eat fish then u are still a VEGETARIAN but i no im right with saying that if u eat fish and no meat you are a PESCETARIAN and its so annoying when you know your right but people dont believe you!!
  • Melinda Dec 29, 2009 @ 4:09 pm | delete
    It's been said many times-there are idiots everywhere. Many people who aren't a part of the vegetarian life or have a direct conection with it don't really understand that diffderent levels of vegtarinism. Now playing Devil's advocte for a moment-there are some vegetarians who don't react well to people who call themselves vegtarians and still eat a kind of meat, while there are meny who do react well, it's the ones who don't that are more memorable. And there are people who don't react well to non-vegetarians or former vegetarians. Being a former vegetarian myself I can say that the reason I stopped was not that I stopped loving animals but that nomatter what I did I simply could not get enough protien and I became severly anemic which was complicated by a genetic blood disorder, but I digress. The point I am trying to make is that people are people and everyone different things that are important to them, and while that is all well and good, what is important to one may not be important to another. Someone who is ver passionate a about the vegetarian lifestyle will know more than someone who does not care for that lifestyle, and it becomes easier to use the blanket term vegetarian to describes one's self even if they eat a certian kind of meat because that is the termmost people most. Really, i guess it all boils down to respect, respecting those who don't eat animals, and respecting those who do.
  • ana Dec 23, 2009 @ 11:43 pm | delete
    lol, so funny, im pescetarian, id ont eat any land meat, just salmon twice a week thats it, just 2 nights and i dont eat eggs or milk eighter, i drink soy milk 3 glasses a day, i want to become a vegetarian thats what i trying to do whit this diet
  • Manon Jan 7, 2010 @ 2:23 pm | delete
    That sounds perfectly fine and reasonable today. Why do people knock other's lifestyle choices? It's much healthier to be a pescetarian than eat red meat. For most, it's a stepping stone to becoming a vegetarian or vegan. What is wrong with that, people? Too much negativity out there. Chill.
  • LeChole Dec 17, 2009 @ 9:24 pm | delete
    Hahaha this is FUNNY! Iam a Pescetarian and all i eat is either sea food of fish... :)
  • helen Dec 15, 2009 @ 8:57 am | delete
    I have been strict veggie for 17 yrs and am considering starting to eat fish for a year ( going pescetarian ) as I am trying to get pregnant - I didn't realise there were so many arguments going on until I started researching about which fish to try - blimey people get quite angry don't they! Surely this is so much about personal choice that these arguments are irrelevent. The only issue I have experienced over the last 17 yrs is that when I say I am veggie people seem to take it as a slur against their choice to eat meat and an open invitation to debate it - it is such a mute point. My main worry about trying to eat fish for this period of my life ( hopefully quite an exciting one! ) is ensuring that what I do eat is ethically caught/killed and is not a fish that is being rapidly depleted as this is quite a big step for me personally. I know I will have to start small as my body will not be used to the proteins. I'm off to hunt down some ethically obtained chocolate and a lovely cup of tea, hope eveyone enjoys eating whatever they have chosen to and have a good Christmas, nutroast or no nutroast
  • Chi Dec 14, 2009 @ 1:24 am | delete
    I also sometimes refer to myself as a vegetarian when I don't feel like explaining to someone what a pescetarian is. I know it's pretty lazy of me and encourages the "misunderstanding"...but I'll leave it to someone else to be a broken record. I feel what is most important is that one stays true to one's self and healthy. I must admit, I do feel much, much healthier since I've eliminated fowl and mammals (:-X) from my diet...after a couple of weeks, I began eating seafood due to the lack of funds and availability of fresh veggies. The featured mock conversation was kind of funny, but a little unrealistic...surely the "dumbo" was just pulling your leg...next time, don't entertain...he/she will get the point.
  • nikki Feb 12, 2010 @ 1:28 pm | delete
    i do the exact same thing! most people know what a vegetarian is and can equate that to something they've experienced before. if i threw the word pescetarian out there, people would look at me with dumb expressions on their faces and i'd have a lot of explaining to do. i frankly don't have the patience or time to explain so i just say vegetarian. it's a time saver really.
  • tim Nov 29, 2009 @ 2:35 pm | delete
    are we talking free range fresh water/salt water fish, or grain fed, raised for food fish? Most fish raised for sale, have chemicals injected in them before they are frozen and shipped.
  • Jacinda Nov 28, 2009 @ 9:15 am | delete
    Surely this website is to express opinions and gather information, in an adult and polite manner. Not a place for vegetarians to slag off and try to be little pescetarians. If we all had the same opinions and thoughts life would be rather boring.
    There are studies in to omega 3 from fish effecting moods. I will not comment any further but i''m sure you get my hint!
    Life is about free speech.
  • anna b Nov 26, 2009 @ 5:11 pm | delete
    Just because people don't know what a pescetarian is doesn't mean you have the right to call yourself a vegetarian.
    You're not.
    Explain to them what a pescetarian is.
    It's because of people like you that a site like this exists to clarify.
    Vegetarians don't eat meat.
    Fish is meat.
    Pescetarians are not vegetarians.
    End of story.
  • Joy Jan 2, 2010 @ 3:02 pm | delete
    Rude.
    End of story.
  • Taylor Gill Feb 17, 2010 @ 7:04 pm | delete
    He's RIGHT thought. the same way someone who is allergic to gluten doesn't call themselves a vegetarian. its not the same thing. its a wast of time to say your something your not. i dont eat eggs or milk or honey but i eat cheese. i dont call myself a vegan. because IM NOT. i still eat cheese. if i stopped eating cheese i would call myself a vegan. if you want to stop eating fish you can call youself a vegetarian.

    Id like to see someone who only eats BEEF call themselves a vegetarian.
  • Emma Nov 25, 2009 @ 5:16 pm | delete
    I am not actually allowed by my parents to become a vegetarian, so I think it is worth finding out why someone is not a full veggie, before calling them a creature.
  • JenL Nov 19, 2009 @ 1:39 pm | delete
    I've only been a pescetarian for about 6mos now, but I am noticing that my taste for fish isn't there anymore and I only eat it when I am forced, but I just ate it last week and threw up so I think my body is telling me to be a vegetarian right? Has anyone else expeienced this?
  • Jacinda Nov 13, 2009 @ 3:43 pm | delete
    I turned vegetarian at 11 through my own choice. But after only a couple of years i converted to being pescetarian due to doctor reccomendations and lack of choice in the vegetarian market. Admittedly the vegetarian market has come on leaps and bounds in the past 15 years.Living in a meat eatting household vegetarians items are still not appealling enough for them to join me. Diet is a personnal choice and each to there own on what they do or don't eat. I will admit to calling myself vegetarian when dining out for many reasons, firstly it stops a person looking and talking to like you have just arrived from mars often takes more the 10minutes to explain when you say the term pescetarian. Secondly fish choices in resturants quite often content meat, I also feel you are taken more seriously when you question a menu when you say vegetarian I would love to be able to say pescetarian but i feel until vegetarianism is taken more seriously and understood i don't think the term pescetarian has any hope. Pescetarians aren't looking to upset vegetarians we are just trying to keep it easy for the carnivores they get confused easily.
  • Shelby Nicholle Nov 12, 2009 @ 11:33 am | delete
    I've been a vegetarian for 2 1/2 years. Kudos to you for showing everyone the stupidity of SOME carnivores! :D
  • butterfly Nov 9, 2009 @ 6:13 pm | in reply to Charlotte | delete
    i agree 100%. ppl say to me that im not a real vegetarian, and why do i eat fish. i tell them that i wouldnt be healthy if i didnt because fish has lots of protine. im 15 and ive been a pescetarian 4 one year, and im happy being one 2. its good that i can find other ppl like me
  • Charlotte Nov 2, 2009 @ 1:05 pm | in reply to Jade | delete
    i am exactly like you. i eat fish but no meat and people are constantly asking my why fish but not meat? if i didn't eat fish i just don't feel i'd get all the nurtients i need but i do plan on becoming vegetarian some day when i know i'll be able to stay healthy at the same time.
  • Pri Oct 25, 2009 @ 10:55 pm | delete
    I'm 14 and have been a Pescetarian for 2 years. My most annoying conversations usually go like this:

    Them- Is it hard to be a Pescretarian?
    Me- No. Why would it be?
    Them- So you don't eat bacon or eggs?
    Me - I'm a Pescetarian. I DON'T eat meat and I DO eat dairy.
    Them- What about fish?
    Me- Yes. Yes I believe I do eat fish.
    Them-Is it hard?
    Me-...(glares, ignores them and walks away)

    As many people know it isn't hard to do what you believe in. After reading everyone's responses I've decided to try to be a Vegetarian. Everyone on this page knows how annoying most people are about Being a Pescetarian, Vegetarian or a Vegan. So if everyone who reads this will please spread the word of what they mean, we will all be eternally grateful to you and worship the ground you walk on(: Thank ya'll.
  • BuffyL Oct 15, 2009 @ 5:37 pm | delete
    I am pretty much like Chiso. The only animal product I would eat is Wild Salmon. For the past 2 days, I have tried going completely vegan (yet again). I have done this many times - going completely vegan... so cutting out the Salmon all together. Day 1 was fine. And I was totally psyched about it. But I work out ALOT! My work pretty much requires it. I am in the gym about 4 hours a day - and alot of that is resistance training. And I have alot of dietary concerns and severe food allergies. I have celiac disease, so no gluten for me (bread, oats, rye, etc.). And I am extremely allergic to all dairy products including eggs. And I am extremely allergic to peanuts, which causes me to be severely allergic to soybeans and all other legumes as well (chickpeas, navy beans, peas, etc.). I also have some other allergies - sunflower seeds, oranges, cucumbers, etc. My protein options are limited. Therefore I feel I would be doing harm to myself by staying completely vegan.
  • Dev Oct 11, 2009 @ 3:48 pm | in reply to Ben | delete
    im a teenager and im vegetarian, and i havent got a deficiency in protein. in fact, im quite tall for my age and i think that saying "i need it to grow" is just an excuse for people who cant control themselves in eating fish. i also know quite a few people who havent got any deficiencies, and theyve been vegetarians their whole lives.
    you can get protein other ways, like using substitutes - thats what theyre there for!
  • Carolyn Oct 8, 2009 @ 11:21 am | delete
    I just recently gave up meat along with my husband and in-laws. People seem to be under the impression that because you don't eat meat anymore you give up so much but that couldn't be more wrong. I still enjoy everything I used to without meat, I just use the wonderful substitutes that are available now. I love most of them. I usually will order seafood when we go eat somewhere but having it at home is a rare luxury. I come up with ideas often on how to use the substitutes, like I used Morningstar sausage crumbles to make stuffed peppers last week and they were incredible. My husband loved them! I made meatballs with Gimme Lean Sausage rolled in breadcrumbs and they were terrific too. The Gimme Lean stuff holds up nicely so you can anything with it you want really.
  • Chiso Oct 6, 2009 @ 6:50 pm | delete
    I am a pescetarian.
    Although I did test out the life of being a "proper" vegetarian, and was successful for a long while, I realized that I was not consuming enough protein for my years of adolescence.
    The reason I decided to become a vegetarian in the first place was because I felt bad every time I consumed meat-thinking of how the creature's life had to end so that I could consume it. I have no problem with other people deciding to eat or not eat meat-but what does bother me is the animals (if it was bad) living conditions.
    As horrible as it may seem (or not), I do like the taste of meat, and I still do crave it now and again.
    I grew up in a family of fishers-they always fed me seafood. And so I have decided that I would eat fish-but get this, the only seafood I eat is Salmon.(because it's the only type I care for at all.) So that restricts my seafood intake as well as the fact that I would typically prefer not to eat meat.
  • K Sep 30, 2009 @ 9:46 am | delete
    They only reason that I eat fish and not other meat is because my mum did and I just picked it up off her. It doesn't bother me that animals die because they are meant to be eaten, it's just cruel if they are kept in bad conditions. Plus it's just easier to call yourself a vegetarian so nobody gives you any animal meat, even if you're technically a pescetarian, but I don't see why we should be thought of any less because we eat fish; surely the fact we cut some meat out our diets should be enough to please proper vegetarians.
  • Dan Sep 24, 2009 @ 1:37 am | delete
    Being a pescetarian isn't something for "real" vegetarians to get so worked up about lol.

    Its just a diet... not something to start a war about. There's no need to call them "creatures". It just makes you "real" vegetarians seem immature and petty.
  • Sarah Sep 20, 2009 @ 8:03 pm | delete
    I am a pescetarian but I usually just say "vegetarian" if I don't feel like spending 10 minutes explaining it. I use "pescetarian" with people who would understand, but seriously it is not a big deal don't get so worked up about it.
  • Ben Sep 19, 2009 @ 3:46 am | delete
    I was fully vegetarian for about 2 years, but then I decided that it was about time I ate some fish, otherwise I wouldn't be getting enough Protein as i'm a teenager. Now I don't eat meat, but I do eat fish.
    I hate the term Pescetarian, it makes you feel like i'm not a proper Vegetarian, and believe me I know i'm not, however I still stand for the same values as I always have.

    People consider it as almost being a competition, but if you really care about animals you'll simply do your best to try and not eat as much meat and fish as you can. When I'm older i'm sure i'll return to not eating fish.
  • Beth Sep 12, 2009 @ 11:41 am | in reply to Jade | delete
    I am exactly the same!!
    I reallyyy want to be a vegetarian, but I eat so much rubbish if I didn't eat fish/prawns I would waste away..
    have you had any success in becomeing fully veggy yet??
  • Pescetarian Sep 10, 2009 @ 8:45 pm | delete
    I always refer to myself as a pescetarian, but since no one but other pesces, and veg*ns know what I'm taking about, I just tell them I don't eat mammals or birds. When I'm out to eat, I will try to make sure if I order a seafood dish, it is vegetarian friendly other than the seafood itself....or I just order the vegetarian dish.

    I just started a forum for pescetarians at http://pescetarians.lefora.com/ since we have no place on vegetarian forums without ticking off the veg*ns, lol
  • kendra Sep 8, 2009 @ 8:14 pm | delete
    yah...i live in the middle of "hicktown" so i have those "dumbo" conversations ALL the time. i have been a pescetarian for 5 years now and rarely eat chicken. i refer to myself as a vegetarian when i don't feel like having a 2 hr. conversation about the food i digest. Alot of people ask me why do i still eat fish, to be honest i don't really have an answer it's just what i choose to do. It's like if a person doesn't want to eat squid, I'm not about to be like "so why don't you eat squid, no i really want to know" lol
  • Dan Sep 6, 2009 @ 11:43 pm | delete
    I too have gotten the "oh, but you eat fish right?" It just baffles me every time that people think fish isn't meat somehow. Oh and Dumbo, though yeast is eukaryotic, it isn't an animal.
  • Danielle Aug 30, 2009 @ 3:50 pm | delete
    There are alternatives to dairy and eggs, so you can still eat cake and be a vegan. :)
  • ddell Aug 27, 2009 @ 7:46 pm | delete
    I had this conversation but I was dumbo.
    dumbo: so what is a vegetarian?
    vegan: I do not want to go though this again .
    dumbo: I really like to know.
    vegan: ok,go to the book store get a "VEGETARIAN TIMES" then subscirbe for one year. Read the mag from cover to cover.
    I did it, love the food.I found this site because person kelp telling me. they had friends who are vegetarian who eats fish.
    By the way I am not a vegetarian, I am a organic gardener.[in reply to aj2008]
  • Jade Aug 27, 2009 @ 2:54 pm | delete
    I'm pescetarian. I have been since the beginning of the year. Occassionally, I refer to myself as a vegetarian depending who I'm speaking to, otherwise I'd have to explain to the dumass I'm speaking to what a pescetarian is.

    I really really really do wish I could become vegetarian properly, but I know that I don't eat enough good stuff to get all the nutrients I need. I'm only 15, so there's time for me to gradually get off fish too :)
  • Ener-G Aug 18, 2009 @ 9:41 pm | delete
    One of my favorite scenes in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding is when the nongreek son-in-law to-be announces to the Greek family of his fiance that he didn't eat meat.

    "You no eat meat!!??" exclaims the Greek aunt. "Why not?"

    "I just don't like it," responds the white groom-to-be.

    "No problem," says the same Greek aunt, "I'll fix you some lamb."
  • daniela Aug 14, 2009 @ 9:38 am | delete
    hi! by the way i'm plannining to be a vegan but it took me so hard to try or even think it cause i can't stop eating fish....hmhmh by the way i'm a pescetarian would you give me advice how to stop it .....
  • christopherrr Aug 4, 2009 @ 1:11 pm | delete
    well i was a pescetarian before college but now i am mostly vegan. about once a week i will eat something with dairy or egg in it, but i never eat geletin or wear leather or anything like that. when i was a pescetarian i did it because i thought fish didn't have feelings and emotions or really feel pain on the level of cows and chickens, but now i realize that there is hardly any difference (though i do wonder about shrimp, clams, crabs, and lobsters sometimes.) honestly, if you want to live a cruelty free life, why not cut it all out just to be safe. i mean you can get enough protein (sometimes too much) with a vegan/vegetarian diet.
  • Veganwannabe Aug 3, 2009 @ 3:11 am | delete
    I was vegan for about a year then I recently began eating seafood again...so I guess I am a pescetarian or whatever. I want to be vegan but it is just too difficult living here in Japan. 99.9% of Japanese do not have any concept of veganism/vegetarianism as you can see from hoshi87's completely ignorant comments below.
  • aj2008 Jul 29, 2009 @ 5:51 am | delete
    Your conversation with "Dumbo" made me chuckle!
  • hoshi87 Jul 28, 2009 @ 5:52 am | delete
    Well as someone living in japan I can tell you the definition of vegetarian here includes eating fish. If you ask for a dish without meat (as some I studied abroad with did) it will contain fish. And that's true for Buddhist monks that are vegetarian too. Seriously you vegans and vegetarians need to get off your high horse and just realize you are human and are an omnivore which therefore should consume meat. You can still respect and work towards humane lives while consuming animal products.
  • NAGEV Jul 27, 2009 @ 11:43 pm | delete
    listen, its quite simple really. DONT DO IT. Its not hard to be Vegan, Ive been vegan for three years, and I had a vegan pregnancy...yes...even with all the cravings...there is an alternative to just about everything.

    I work at a bar...and live...in TEXAS...dont preach to me about how hard it is. Our main food source in this state is the cattle in the back yard.
    I usually end an argument like this..
    Person:God put animals here for us to eat
    Me:No, animals were adam and eves companions...BEFORE SIN.
    Person:so....
    Me:It wasnt untill after sin, our punishment was to eat our companions...
    BEFORE SIN we were vegetarian. Your simply embracing life after sin.

    for the record, Im atheist and an individual anarchist.
  • bubbles Jul 27, 2009 @ 5:14 pm | delete
    I am a pesectarian. I've been one for almost 2 years. I only eat farm-raised fish...nothing wild. Being a pesectarian is a great way to transition to a vegetarian. I'm not happy to kill fish to eat them, because they are living organisms who have lives, feelings and souls, but by rule of my meat-eating parents i am not allowed to become a vegetarian till I'm no longer living in their house....therefore....when i got to college I'm free to be the vegetarian i want to be!!!
  • whocars2 Jul 26, 2009 @ 6:32 am | delete
    -continued: so you can't change that in a couple of decades. the other problem with vegetarians and fish is people don't seem to see the link between fish and your regular meat dish and even the so-called 1st vegetarian 'aristotle' used to eat fish occasionally so in theory the origins of vegetarianism is pescetarianism. the canadian vegetarian society used to regard pescetarianism as a 'variant' of a vegetarian diet till recently when that was change due to protests from the always angry vegetarians. and by the way fish are scientifically-proven not to feel pain because they lack the pain receptors in their nerve system..do your research first. that doesn't matter anyway because the pescetarian morale is either health or environmental. it seems in recent years vegetarianism has become a romanticism swoony emo teens club more than health/or animal welfare concerns. finally vegetarianism is not a natural choice..here;s your proof: http://news.nbbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8161616.stm
  • whocares Jul 26, 2009 @ 6:20 am | delete
    pescetarians normally do not refer to themselves as vegetarians but sometimes on occasions they do refer to themselves as such to ensure their food does not contain animal byproducts like chicken stock or gelatine, bovine products or rennet-based cheese.. it's not that they are telling people vegetarians eat fish, it's just making sure they get proper food and the reason for that is because not people know what a pescetarian diet really is. the 'pescetarian' term is quite new even though the dietary practise is ancient and even before 'vegetarianism' existed as several ancient communities embraced that diet whether for cultural/religious reasons or simply geographical reasons.one of the other reasons eating fish is not considered as meat consuming is due to cultural and religious beliefs where fish was not regarded as meat - christian fasting for instance. people over centuries for various parts of the world have just come to accept fish as a non-meat product. -continued:
  • Pondspider Jul 21, 2009 @ 4:59 pm | delete
    Most vegetarians don't hate pescetarians. They respect other people's rights to eat the diet of their choice. Most vegetarians become exasperated with pescetarians who claim they are vegetarians or vegetarians who eat fis.

    The reason is simple. Vegetarians often have a very limited choice of menu items. Sometimes the choice is further limited by the fact that a fish dish is offered as a vegetarian option. I have had many versions of the following conversation....

    Me: Excuse me, but your baked trout is not a vegetarian option.
    Waiter: Yes it is, my sister/girlfriend/wife is a vegetarian and she eats fish.
    Me: Sorry, but your sister/girlfriend/wife is not a vegetarian because vegetarians don't eat meat or fish.
    Waiter goes off disgruntled thinking me a stroppy cow.

    I respect people'swishes to eat what is right for them BUT ask that those who are pescetarians don't call themselves vegetarians because it makes vegetarians' lives more difficult.
  • Felix Jul 17, 2009 @ 1:05 pm | delete
    I am currently converting to pescetarianism and I agree with this article, a pescetarian is a pescetarian and not a VEGETARIAN fish is a meat, and fish do feel. If you eat any kind of meat you are not a vegetarian. Therefore, I am a pescetarian and not a vegetarian. I hope that other pescetarians will stop calling themselves vegetarians so that vegetarians don't feel hostility towards pescetarians. And that's all. :)
  • Home-Interior-Designer Jul 15, 2009 @ 8:11 pm | delete
    I'm a vegetarian which means as you correctly pointed out, I don't eat meat or fish. However, I consume dairy products, so not a vegan, that would be difficult.

    In my home country of England, it's very easy to be a vegetarian but I found it more difficult when living in Germany.

    The conversation snippet rings very true. I have often had to explain that fish is just another meat. However, this is not helped by those pesky Pescetarians.
  • Tamara Jul 14, 2009 @ 11:32 pm | delete
    I am a pescetarian, but my diet closely resembles that of a gluten-free vegan. No eggs, no dairy of any sort, but I also don't do soy, or gluten. The only meat I eat is fish/sea food, and mostly in raw form. I guess there isn't a name for how I eat, since I am not quite vegan, and not quite pescetarian.
  • legit Jul 14, 2009 @ 11:08 pm | delete
    i was vegetarian for awhile and i'm currently a pescetarian. it's ludicrous how hostile vegetarians are to pescetarians. "The Vegetarian Society, which initiated popular usage of the term vegetarian as early as 1847, condemns the association of semi-vegetarian diets as valid vegetarianism; the organisation points out that the consumption of fish is not vegetarian." from wikipedia. i eat fish but only on occasion, doesn't that make me a semi-vegetarian? isn't semi-vegatarian diet a valid vegetarian diet? doesn't that still make me a vegetarian?
  • VeganGirl Jul 8, 2009 @ 10:21 am | in reply to SOMEONE | delete
    Yeah they do. Sharks, especially, have complex social networks and ties to other sharks. Something as small as a Lake Trout also has a social order of some kind. Just because the fish can't reach up, unhook it's mouth from your fishing pole and say "OUCH!" doesn't mean it can't feel.

    Grow a brain, already, SOMEONE.

    VEGANS RULE!
  • MrLewisSmile Jul 2, 2009 @ 1:03 pm | in reply to Dumbo | delete
    You should read the intro again. You seem to have misunderstood!
  • Squidoo_girl Jul 2, 2009 @ 10:24 am | delete
    I'm a pescetarian for about 10 years now, started when I was a teenager.
    I know that guy you spoke to, by the way, I meet dumbo all the time...lol.
    Most of my friends are meat eaters and I get so much interrogations into my eating habits that it used to annoy be big-time, but by now I'm used to it.
  • Dumbo Jul 1, 2009 @ 1:47 pm | delete
    Um chocolate cake is not a vegetable buddy sorry, eggs, milk, and cake

    oh yeah even the yeast is an animal so ummm.....get off your high horse
  • Vegetarian Mar 8, 2010 @ 2:03 pm | delete
    Yeast is not an animal, it is a fungus.
  • SOMEONE Jun 26, 2009 @ 12:26 pm | delete
    FISH DON'T HAVE FEELINGS....
  • seamus Jun 25, 2009 @ 5:47 am | delete
    [iin n reply to Swisstoons] is someone who eats chicken and fish called a cacklepescetarian?
  • Reira Jun 7, 2009 @ 10:23 am | delete
    I'm a pescetarian.. it sounds like you hate them or something... I only eat fish because they are killed more humanely- I don't eat farmed fish, only caught wild fish who were killed instantly so they didnt suffer,and I only eat them because I cant get essential omega oils in other ways as I'm allergic to flax seeds.
  • tasha Dec 29, 2009 @ 7:19 am | delete
    i have been a vegetarian since i was 6, through my own choice. fair enough no one should have a go at you for eating fish.i ate fish for a year for my own health. so all i can say is rock on pescatarie s
  • Swisstoons Jun 4, 2009 @ 8:03 am | delete
    Had I read your next module before posting my last comment, I probably would not have posted it. I had assumed you were a vegetarian for health reasons and didn't consider the other possibilities.
  • Swisstoons Jun 4, 2009 @ 7:58 am | delete
    I was a vegetarian for about a year and a half in the 1980's. I still only eat red meat once or twice a year...steaks grilled outside on a couple of summer holidays. Mainly, I eat fish three or four times a week (pescetarian) and chicken once or twice a week (cackletarian).
  • Kelli Mar 15, 2010 @ 9:37 am | delete
    I have considered myself a pescetarian. The only meat I'll eat are eggs and tuna. I don't consider dairy products as "meat" but that's just my opinion. I used to be a regular meat eater but I've slowly come to hate meat. Some people think that vegetarians (or form of vegetarians) are this way because of the cruelty of animals. For me, that is ridiculous. I think God created animals to not only help the earth grow, but to use animals as food. It's in the Bible. So I am not trying to stop eating meat because of "animal cruelty," I just don't like it anymore. And maybe one day I'll be a fill blown vegan - who knows?
  • Tammy Tambrella Mar 25, 2010 @ 1:04 am | delete
    I have become more health conscious since taking up meditation. I have been a vegetarian sympathiszer for about a year and a half . I now am primarily a pescetarian. The diet seems to suit me. I have lost about 35 pounds since I was overweight this is a good thing. Comment for the women? After beoming more in tuned with my body, I am recosidering having ch ildren, I'm feeling like its just too hard on my body and I 'm thinking that I don't want to put my body through that. Even though most women have children, I'm feeling very strongly that I should honor my inner feelings. I'm feeling that this isn't my path. Has anyone else ever had a similar feeling ?

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