Going Pescetarian: More than Just a Way to Annoy People when Eating Out

Some people might think going pescetarian would be hard, unconventional, or even impossible. Being pescetarian is a way of being and not at all a burden or inconvenience like some people percept it to be. I had first heard about vegetarianism a few years back from an old friend. She told me how it nurtured your body and cut down on pollution, animal testing, and animal abuse. I became fascinated with the concept, so I did a little more digging on it. 

The goal I had in mind as I became a pescetarian was that I was going to work my way up to veganism eventually, giving myself a challenge with an ending point to look forward to. What is the difference between veganism, vegetarianism, and pescetarianism? This was a question I often thought to myself on my journey. Vegetarianism is not eating any meat from animals, though they can eat all vegetables, fruits, eggs, and dairy. Veganism is not eating any meat or anything that comes even remotely from animals. This includes dairy and eggs. I didn’t think that I could do that. I mean, who gives up cheese willingly? I decided to work my way up to it by going pescetarian. By being pescatarian, I can eat all fruits and vegetables, dairy, eggs, and seafood.

I want to contribute to the ecosystem while also keeping my body healthy. I didn’t want to exclude fish from my diet because people who eat fish have lower blood pressure, a lower risk of abnormal heart rhythms, and fewer fatal heart attacks than those who do not.

Also, people who have a diet high in vegetables and other plant foods have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. I decided that I needed a challenge to mix things up and keep myself on the edge of my seat. I wanted to test my tolerance and experiment with new and exciting experiences I wouldn’t normally consider. 

The first few weeks were the hardest. My family has a high meat intake and it was hard to shake that off. My mother and I had to make pescetarian meals and have a meal plan. It took some adjustment and time, but within the first few weeks, we were going strong. I really tried my hardest to go cold turkey because that method usually works best for me, but I figured it might be safer for my body if I eased myself into it rather than jumping in all the way.

The first few weeks I had one or two meals including meat compared to four or five. By the end of the second month, I was having one meal a week with meat. When the third month came around, I pretty much became fully pescetarian with very few exceptions. Changing my diet impacted my life in a positive manner. After cutting out most of the meat, I noticed I had a little bit more energy than usual and I was less stressed. I just felt healthier in general, and I had a more positive outlook on life. 

My mother was more than okay with me becoming a pescetarian and was very flexible with the meal plans. My younger brother, on the other hand, was very against it, as he is the biggest meat lover in the family. We eventually found some recipes that sufficed even though he’s a picky eater.  

After a while being pescetarian, I tried meat just to see if it still tasted good. Let me tell you, I spit it out. My taste buds had gotten so used to anything but that, my palate didn’t know what to think of it. Since my diet had changed, meat didn’t seem appetizing and my body didn’t like it anymore, which isn’t a bad thing. This just pushed me to complete my challenge and exceed the goal I set for myself; the goal of becoming full vegan. It would help with my mental wellbeing and would hopefully spark other people to do something like this. 

I found pescetarian meals had a lot of variety and they were easy to make. I genuinely think anyone could become pescetarian with minimal work. Even just limiting your meat intake does so much more than you think. It helps your body, your mind, and the Earth. Sure, meal planning was a little bit tedious at the beginning, but it ended up encouraging me to try new recipes and enjoy cooking more.

I think pescetarianism is a great way to be in the middle of being vegan and vegetarian. If you want a challenge or need to improve your health, going pescetarian is the best way to start. Who would have thought this might have been the best decision I’ve made in my life?