I Eat Fish

Anyone else?


It's SOOOO good for you and doesn't, like red meat, plug up or rot in your tummy.


Just curious.

If you do, why?  I know that some people HAVE to because if they cut out meaty things, they'd nearly die.

I love seafood, and I have to eat it anyway because I'm super anemic.

But even if I weren't I think I would.

Does anyone here consider pescatarians non-veg?

Yeah, eatting animals = not vegetarian.  If someone said I don't eat any meat except for burgers, I'm a burgertarian, I wouldn't consider them veg either.

I'm a pescaterian, I don't consider it vegetarian though. I also don't call myself pescaterian, I just tell people I don't eat most meat except for fish. It's pretty annoying to explain actually, and I usually avoid bringing it up at all.

I may be wrong, but I think in a religious sense (Catholic?) fish isn't considered meat. Again, I could be totally off on that.

A lot of vegetarians get snippy about the whole pescaterian thing, it's the whole "holier than thou" attitude.

I eat fish because I like it.
I don't eat chicken of beef because I don't like it.
Pretty straight forward in my case.

I wish I were a fish eater.  I can't stand the taste.  I've tried even using ketchup, hoping I'd trick myself into thinking it was chicken.  Didn't work.

I would but i don't for two reasons.

Water that a lot of the fish you get around here is filthy.

Commercial fishing is terrible. By catch and the destruction of the ocean floor isn't something I want to contribute to.

I eat fish, but it's very, very rare when I do because:

1. it's not fish season yet

2. it's very, very expensive

3. when I eat fish I think of bears, and get scared. (Seriously, bears scare me)

I don't think it is a "holier than thou" issue. Part of it has to do with the annoyance of having to explain that the fish dinner you were just served is not in fact vegetarian, or answer the question "oh but you eat fish?" when you explain that you are veg*n, or even that there are people who call themselves vegetarian but eat fish and chicken. I think words should have meaning, and when everyone wants to be a *atarian you dilute the meaning of those words for those who have very strong feelings about the ethical choices that those words mean.  There are a lot of groups who dislike when another person does something that falls outside of their moral boundaries and yet appropriates their title. 

pescetarians are not vegetarians at all.

with all the mercury in fish, it's hardly good for you. it's easy to get omega-3's and iron from non-meat sources. not to mention bycatch and the general uncleanliness of the fishing industry.

Yes if you live off of tuna, and eat excessive amounts swordfish, mercury might cause a problem. Most people don't do that. Most people have an occasional tuna sandwich, or a piece of fish every now and then.
It won't kill you, it's good for you.

If you don't eat fish at all, then it's probably for ethical reasons (which there is nothing wrong with.)

Original Post by mdmoks1:

I don't think it is a "holier than thou" issue. Part of it has to do with the annoyance of having to explain that the fish dinner you were just served is not in fact vegetarian, or answer the question "oh but you eat fish?" when you explain that you are veg*n, or even that there are people who call themselves vegetarian but eat fish and chicken. I think words should have meaning, and when everyone wants to be a *atarian you dilute the meaning of those words for those who have very strong feelings about the ethical choices that those words mean.  There are a lot of groups who dislike when another person does something that falls outside of their moral boundaries and yet appropriates their title. 

 I don't see why you would care though. If you're doing it for yourself, and becuase it's what you feel is right, then who cares what the next person is saying? Who cares if "Sally" thinks she's a vegetarian because she eats fish. It doesn't effect your purpose at all.

I don't know, I've switched back and forth from vegan, vegetarian, to "pescaterian," but it's because I have issues with food. So, I guess it's hard for me to relate to your situation.

Sorry if you took offense to my "holier than thou" comment, but that's just the vibe I pick up a lot.

People who eat fish and call themselves vegetarian do influence the way the general public understand vegetarianism, and it does have a negative impact on people who adhere to an actual vegetarian diet.Well let me give you an example. Lets say you are going to a wedding and you politely ask if there is a vegetarian option at the reception. You are told that there is so you don't make other accommodations.  When you arrive, your "vegetarian" option is fish.  In that case, it actually does effect me.  I would also prefer to be able to select vegetarian options in restaurants and not have to worry that they interpret fish oils, etc to be vegetarian ingredients.

It also has an impact on the way that the general public views veg issues.  If you are trying to discuss the ethical reasons behind a veg diet and hear "oh well you eat fish" as an out, it makes it much more difficult to communicate your message. 

Conversely, what benefit is there for someone who eats fish to call themselves vegetarian? If you are correct that those labels don't matter, then why use it?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything people do that helps animals, and eatting less meat is part of that.  I just dislike the dilution of this term.  Like I said, I have met people who eat Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches for lunch every day and yet call themselves vegetarian.  Stuff like that really makes me crazy.

Original Post by mdmoks1:

Like I said, I have met people who eat Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches for lunch every day and yet call themselves vegetarian.

 Are you kidding me?  I think the whole honey not vegan arguement is a shade of gray thing.  But chicken is so not even close to vegetarian.  That's a driver of a hummer or Lamborghini calling themselves strict environmentalists.

Anyone who eats flesh and calls themselves veg*n is simply delusional.  I do not mean to sound "holier-than-thou" just sheer honesty.

I've never liked fish.  I just never had it growing up and could not acquire a taste for it as an adult.  The few times I tried, I literally gagged.  I think it's a psychological thing for me.

it's not just mercury in fish. fish acquire many different toxic chemicals from the water they're in, which are passed on to whoever eats them.

I love fish and before I moved to college a few weeks ago, I ate it about 5 days a week. If you buy fresh organic fish, it's a source of many great nutrients, especially protein and healthy fats.

All this mercury, horrible-fishing-industry, poisoned-fish BS isn't gonna get to me, lol. :]

But no, people who eat fish aren't vegetarians.

Well I consider myself a vegetarian, regardless.  I am very anemic, to the point where my doctor is almost making me eat all meats.


But technically...fish and shellfish aren't meat.  Neither one is a mammal.

And shrimp/clams/crab (all shellfish) are actually bugs.  They're big fat bugs.

Chickens aren't mammals either, but people who eat chicken aren't vegetarians.  Vegetarians don't eat animals, whether they have hooves, fins, or feathers.  I wouldn't consider eatting bugs to be a vegetarian choice either.

Your health issues are your health issues, but that doesn't make you veg.

Well it seems like you're aware that many people make this confusion. So I don't see why you wouldn't just prepare for the worst (fish being included in "vegetarian" dishes) just to be prepared. It's your choice to be a vegetarian, so clearly you're going to have to make some sacrifices. If that means asking if the "vegetarian" dish at the wedding includes fish, then so be it.

Listen, I 100% get what you're saying, and even see where you're coming from. I guess it just wouldn't bother me personally if people were misinformed, ate fish, and considered themselves vegetarian. It's a common mistake, and it wouldn't make a huge impact on my personal diet. I mentioned in one of my previous posts about the religious aspect of fish not being considered meat. I'm still not positive on that one, I'm way too lazy to look into it. If there is any truth to that, that could possibly cause some confusion.

"...what benefit is there for someone who eats fish to call themselves vegetarian? If you are corret that those labels don't matter, then why use it?"
There is no benefit, but maybe the person is just unaware, and really truly believes they are a vegetarian.

Now, if someone eats chicken and thinks they're vegetarian, they're just stupid.

edit: Spelling mistakes. I'm half dead, and appologize for any more in advance.

Original Post by oxymoron00:

Well I consider myself a vegetarian, regardless.  I am very anemic, to the point where my doctor is almost making me eat all meats.


But technically...fish and shellfish aren't meat.  Neither one is a mammal.

And shrimp/clams/crab (all shellfish) are actually bugs.  They're big fat bugs.

I don't get how you can consider yourself a vegetarian when the clear definition of a vegetarian is one who eats no meat, including poultry, fish or other seafood? 

Technically... yes.. fish and shellfish ARE meat. The flesh of any animal is called meat. Just because they aren't mammals, does not mean they don't have flesh. It does not mean they can't feel pain. It does not mean they are lesser beings than mammals.

Who told you that shellfish are bugs?! They may look like bugs but they're living, invertebrate animals. With flesh, which is meat.

Seriously, look up everything I have said and you'll find its all true. You're a 'pescatarian'.

I eat fish coz it's healthy and low in calories etc etc... But I'm sick of it. I don't eat red meat so I have chicken with lunch and fish for supper every day. It's getting really monotonous :(

Original Post by oxymoron00:

Well I consider myself a vegetarian, regardless.  I am very anemic, to the point where my doctor is almost making me eat all meats.


But technically...fish and shellfish aren't meat.  Neither one is a mammal.

And shrimp/clams/crab (all shellfish) are actually bugs.  They're big fat bugs.

you are not a vegetarian.

i have to agree with laur3nmae and ewwroflzz. eating fish = not vegetarian.

i was vegetarian for two years, and just started eating fish because it's hard to get the protein i need while at school. once i graduate, i plan on going back to a veg*n diet. right now though, i'm NOT a vegetarian.

even if you'd rather be veg and not have to eat fish, you're still not vegetarian if you're eating it.