Calling all Pescatarians!

Hi :)

I just wanted to start a thread for us since we don't really fit in the vegetarian forum. So...let's chat!

What made you go pescatarian?

I decided to stop eating meat because of the way animals are treated on meat farms... does that phrase really work? :-) Anyway, I decided I needed to eat fish to stay healthy, but that I could work on cutting other meats out. It has been 6 years since I have eaten any meat other than fish...

What about you?

Oh, and I call myself vegetarian because it's alot easier than trying to explain to everyone what I pescatarian is. :-) I always qualify my statement, though and say that I still eat fish.

I decided to start cutting down on meat for health reasons.  So, during a google search for ways to prepare vegetarian meals, I accidentally ended up viewing a PETA-sponsored video on factory farming.  Gross, horrific images of deformed animals, disgusting conditions, slaughtering... I don't support PETA, and I realize they were going for shock value, and they succeeded.  I couldn't eat meat without seeing a corpse on my plate, and I haven't had meat since. 

But there was nothing about fish on the video, so I don't get disgusted with it, even though I realize intellectually that the fishing industry isn't any better.  The only fish I eat is sushi.  To me, sushi more resembles art than a carcass.  I only eat it once every few months, but that still puts me in the pescetarian category rather than vegetarian (very, very careful not to tick off the more militant veg*ns on this site).

i realized that eating animals or dairy is really bad for me and for the environment, but i have so far been unable to give up sushi. 

Now I have an insatiable craving for sushi.  Crap. =)

Original Post by raynsong:

i realized that eating animals or dairy is really bad for me and for the environment, but i have so far been unable to give up sushi. 

Maybe just eat vegetarian sushi like the tofu/shiitake/seaweed/avocado/cucumber varieties?

And lizzie6580 - Please don't tell people you're a vegetarian but still eat fish, because people are starting to think ALL vegetarians eat fish now and saying that will probably feed this. Heck, some people even think vegetarians eat CHICKEN and fish. So pretty pretty please take the extra time to explain what a pescetarian is?

Original Post by lizzie6580:

I decided to stop eating meat because of the way animals are treated on meat farms... does that phrase really work? :-) Anyway, I decided I needed to eat fish to stay healthy, but that I could work on cutting other meats out. It has been 6 years since I have eaten any meat other than fish...

What about you?

I decided to go pescatarian because I hate the way farm animals are treated. I just find it so sad how they never get to live freely. At least fish get to live normal lives before they're caught for food.

Fish is one of the cleanest, healthiest, and easily digestible sources of protein out there, and it's high in good unsaturated fats too, like omega's

the Japanese eat lots of fish, and they have hands down one of the healthiest diets in the world... why? because they DON'T eat vast amounts of red meat and dairy

most beef, pork, and chicken you find in the stores is mass produced, so they force-feed and fatten up the animals with added growth hormones, steroids, and foods that were never meant to be consumed by these creatures (fyi cows aren't supposed to eat the grains they feed them, they are supposed to eat grass.. pigs,(let alone any animal) arn't supposed to eat SLOP!!)

I don't think vegetarian/vegan is a very healthy way to live, UNLESS you do your research well and plan your meals, and not eat all those processed "veggie meats" aimed towards 'vegetarians' that are full of sugars, perservatives, and chemicals... vegetarian diets are also not reccomended for active individuals who want to build muscle since most veg-proteins are incomplete

I believe humans are should have some source of complete qualtity protein... and fish is one of the best out there. Eat up!!

Original Post by carmenxox:

Fish is one of the cleanest, healthiest, and easily digestible sources of protein out there, and it's high in good unsaturated fats too, like omega's

the Japanese eat lots of fish, and they have hands down one of the healthiest diets in the world... why? because they DON'T eat vast amounts of red meat and dairy

most beef, pork, and chicken you find in the stores is mass produced, so they force-feed and fatten up the animals with added growth hormones, steroids, and foods that were never meant to be consumed by these creatures (fyi cows aren't supposed to eat the grains they feed them, they are supposed to eat grass.. pigs,(let alone any animal) arn't supposed to eat SLOP!!)

I don't think vegetarian/vegan is a very healthy way to live, UNLESS you do your research well and plan your meals, and not eat all those processed "veggie meats" aimed towards 'vegetarians' that are full of sugars, perservatives, and chemicals... vegetarian diets are also not reccomended for active individuals who want to build muscle since most veg-proteins are incomplete

I believe humans are should have some source of complete qualtity protein... and fish is one of the best out there. Eat up!!

There are many successful vegan olympians, athletes and iron men/women. The health club perpetuates the maximum protein diet but in reality most Americans are getting far too much protein, leading to obesity and organ failure. I myself am a fairly new vegan and feel far healthier than I ever have - and before you ask, I've never been a big eater of meat, especially not red meat, or dairy. Please don't scare away potential vegetarians/vegans by telling them it's not a healthy way to live unless you "plan your meals" because the reality is, that's true of any diet.

Because I like fish while I'm not overlly fond of other meats. 

I decided to go pescatarian because I hate the way farm animals are treated. I just find it so sad how they never get to live freely. At least fish get to live normal lives before they're caught for food.

most fish we eat is farmed, and that is no kind of life

http://www.fishinghurts.com/fishFarms.asp

i'm a pescatarian too, so i'm not preaching. i just don't want you to be delusional like what you're doing isn't pretty much just as bad as eating beef or chicken. i look at it like, at least i'm doing something.

I decided to go pescatarian because I too hate the way their treat animals..But I'm NOT a big fan of animal! Weird huh?

Anyway, being a pescatarian cause people to PREACH me NON-FAIL EVERYTIME!!

sigh..

Original Post by raynsong:

I decided to go pescatarian because I hate the way farm animals are treated. I just find it so sad how they never get to live freely. At least fish get to live normal lives before they're caught for food.

most fish we eat is farmed, and that is no kind of life

http://www.fishinghurts.com/fishFarms.asp

 

i'm a pescatarian too, so i'm not preaching. i just don't want you to be delusional like what you're doing isn't pretty much just as bad as eating beef or chicken. i look at it like, at least i'm doing something.

:(

Now I don't even want to eat fish.

I live in the northwest and I refuse to give up wild salmon.  I'll also eat wild tuna from time to time, usually sashimi (mmm, maguro ...)  Otherwise I follow a vegetarian diet.  Wild fish is actually good for you, unlike other meat. 

wild fish is great for us, and their life is great and ended in a more humane traditional way. also, sooooo expensive. we can't catch a break.