The Pescatarian Debate.
August 22, 2012 by Carolina
If I had a nickle for every time I get asked “Do you eat fish?” when I say I’m a vegetarian I’d be rich! This was the statement I made a couple of weeks ago to a friend when we were out for dinner & the waiter asked me if I wanted to look at the seafood options since they’re “vegetarian”. That got me thinking: How many people have the same notion? So I took a little informal pole the last couple of weeks among my family & friends & was surprised to discover they all thought the same thing: vegetarians eat fish. Afterwards, I talked to my pescatarian (only meat they eat is seafood. Read this post to see the difference between the several non-meat lifestyles) friends who shed some light on the subject…
According to the pescatarians in my life, it is much easier for them to describe their lifestyle choice by saying they’re vegetarian. “Not many people know what pescatarian means so its easier to describe myself as a vegetarian instead of a pescatarian,” said my friend. I can understand where they’re coming from, when I first became a vegetarian a lot of people didn’t know exactly what that mean. A vegetarian (there are different types of vegetarians, like lacto, ovo & lacto-ovo, which is what Katie & I are) does not eat meat of any kind: no beef, pork, poultry or fish. Now, because more & more pescatarians are adopting the vegetarian label while eating out, restaurants & others now think vegetarians eat seafood. I’ve been to restaurants that offer no vegetarian options & several seafood options & proudly say they are catering to vegetarians — not the case.
That said, I have nothing against pescatarians (or anyone for that matter): I am all for supporting any form of less meat consumption, whether that’s adopting a pescatarian lifestyle or just enjoying one meatless meal a week, it all makes a difference! My intentions with this post is to clear up any questions there may be about vegetarian choices, particularly why having more vegetarian options while eating out, are important. Now let’s go eat some veggies!
Did this help clear up any misconceptions you may have had? If so, what were they? We love to answer questions about the vegetarian lifestyle so feel free to send them our way!
August 22, 2012 at 9:49 am
I’ve always taken issue with people calling themselves vegetarian, when they ar not. At one point there was the label, Flexitarian, for those that primarily eat veg but sometimes eat meat.
In any case, I’ve now started eating fish occasionally, and still call myself vegetarian. Alas, all this labels are confusing to people who don’t observe a meat-free diet. At a vegetarian festival one guy told me he just says “I don’t eat animals”
August 22, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Yea, I know the labels are confusing for people who don’t maintain a meatless lifestyle but using the term vegetarian when you really mean pescatarian or vegan really doesn’t help correct this problem, especially when it comes to mainstream & vegetarian options. I once had someone look at me in horror as I had some cheese on a veggie burger stating “cheese isn’t vegetarian! Don’t you guys not eat any animal products?!” Maybe someday the difference will be clearer!
August 22, 2012 at 1:09 pm
It does get tricky. My husband jokes that he’s a flexitarian…primarily because whenever meat-eaters find out that I’m vegetarian they give him a look of pity and ask if he still gets to eat meat. Thankfully, he’s quick to come to my defense and say that although he still eats meat occasionally when we go out–he loves my cooking and enjoys eating primarily vegetarian.
By people calling themselves vegetarians and then ordering fish, it does make it much more complicated for people that don’t eat fish–because it just ends up confusing the issue. I hate having to constantly clarify.
August 22, 2012 at 10:55 pm
He better come to your defense, your cooking is delicious. You’ve got a keeper
August 23, 2012 at 3:55 am
I always knew that there were different kinds of non-meat eaters. Totally respect all your opinions — coming from a meat lover.
I think it takes a lot of discipline to stop eating meat which is something I don’t have so I applaud you guys.
August 24, 2012 at 8:14 am
Thanks Katy!
August 30, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I’m a pescatarian. When people ask me whether I’m a vegetarian, I just say, “I eat fish, but no other meat.” I’d rather avoid the label issue entirely. I don’t eat this way for a label, and getting into the whole “pescatarian or vegetarian?” debate with full-blown meat eaters is tiresome. I’d rather focus on setting a good example and possibly encouraging them to eat less meat
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October 29, 2012 at 5:37 am
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE STATEMENT “I DONT EAT ANIMALS” IT KINDA GIVES A BETTER VIVID ANSWER. PESCATARIANISM TAKES ABOUT 2 MINUTES MINIMUM TO EXPLAIN AND ANSWER FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS LOL , THANKS FOR SHARING EVERYONE
November 1, 2012 at 11:05 pm
I’m ovo-pesca. I never call myself a vegetarian or order from a vegetarian menu because of the cheese. I realize the cafe at my work, responsible for feeding thousands of people every day, can not meet everyone’s special diet needs, but they generally have 2 options at each station: The meat option, and the cheese option for those who do not eat meat. Sushi is the only dairy free option.
When people ask, I tell them “I eat fish and sometimes eggs, but never dairy.” If they ask if I am a vegetarian I explain that I’m an ovo-pescatarian. I only eat at restaurants that are vegan or Asian – since I know what to expect in Asian food, having lived there for many years, and there is generally no dairy used. I know which meatless soups use a beef bone stock and such.
When I was a teenager (long ago) I ordered from the vegetarian menu at a Mexican restaurant, the one dairy free item they served, and received a big plate of chicken. They insisted that chicken was not meat as meat comes from mammals. I’ve found that belief in many Americans as well. Even if you look at the dictionary definition of meat, it puts an emphasis on mammals.
November 7, 2012 at 7:28 pm
You received a plate of chicken when you ordered off the vegetarian menu? Unbelievable!