Should I tell people im vegetarian if I eat fish (read on)?!


Question: Ive been vegetarian for 2 and a half years, but because I have low zinc levels, I eat fish. If I could stop and still stay healthy I would. Ive tried zinc tablets but they dont do the trick, and my nutritionist says that I shouldnt cut out fish.

Anyway, when people ask me if im vegetarian I say yes, because I dont want them to cook me a steak or anything, but when they find out I eat fish they think im being hypocritical.

What to do? And do any of you also have this problem (or similar)?


Answers: Ive been vegetarian for 2 and a half years, but because I have low zinc levels, I eat fish. If I could stop and still stay healthy I would. Ive tried zinc tablets but they dont do the trick, and my nutritionist says that I shouldnt cut out fish.

Anyway, when people ask me if im vegetarian I say yes, because I dont want them to cook me a steak or anything, but when they find out I eat fish they think im being hypocritical.

What to do? And do any of you also have this problem (or similar)?

Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.[1] The reasons for choosing vegetarianism may be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.

People can call themselves whatever they want, doesn't mean they are one!

Eating fish and calling yourself a vegetarian is like saying your tea-total because you only drink a bottle of wine every other day!

A vegetarian is as described in the first paragraph of this answer.
Good answer Scotttie :)

If you eat fish you are not a vegetarian. If you're concerned about someone cooking you a steak, why not simply say you don't eat read meat or poultry but you do eat seafood.

my step father considers himself a vegetarian but does occasionally eat some seafood. Some vegetarians do some don't .. same with eggs and dairy products. One that strictly stays away from all animal product is a vegan

Thank you for the 2 years, - keep up the good health. and kindness.

you are technically a Pesco-vegetarians. - so you can just tell them that.

Vegetarian do not eat fish

You put it plain and simple.
What you wrote in your question would be good enough to tell anyone that will cook for you.
And, no, I do not have a problem with zinc, I eat everything I like and I take supplements.
Good Luck!!

I don't think you should call yourself vegetarian because it confuses people and makes it hard on the rest of us. You should just say I don't eat beef, chicken, or pork, I only eat fish.

For the record, you need to change nutritionist and find one that supports vegetarianism. You don't need fish to get zinc. Eat some pumpkin seeds, nuts and beans.

Edit: I also wanted to add that my 8 year old daughter is a vegetarian. She only occasionally has dairy. Zinc deficiency can suppress the immune system. She is rarely sick and if she gets a cold it is gone quickly. She has never needed an antibiotic. No ear or sinus infections ever.

You are called a pesce-vegetarian or pescetarian.

Here is a link that will describe the different types of vegetarians.
http://www.passionatevegetarian.com/vege...

The dictionary definition of a vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, however the dictionary definition of meat is animal flesh for food....it doesn't specify the type of animal.

So I guess it depends on whether you view a fish as an animal.

I would argue that you are not a vegetarian if you eat fish since the last time I looked a fish was not a vegetable so can only be an animal.

At best you are picking and choosing your definition to make yourself comfortable with the effort you have put into this.

Personally however I would view it as a lie if I were told it.

why dose it mater each persons body is different and we do need some kind of protien/meat in our lives. So it really dosent matter what people think its what you believe and it sounds like you are one by choice so do what you gotta do and dont worry about what other stupid people think you dont eat that other stuff just stay with the fish it kind of dosent count i guess.

I do not eat red meat, just because I don`t like it, I also don`t eat white meat because I don`t like it......but I don`t view myself as vegetarian, but many people think I am because of this...I do eat fish though....weird or what??

Everyone needs to choose the diet that works best for them and keeps them healthy.

However, you are not a vegetarian if you eat fish and by saying you are one, confuses people and makes things more difficult for real vegetarians.

I say I'm a vegetarian because it simplifies things and even though I eat fish sometimes, I'm like you - I would prefer people assume I eat no animal products than serve me a steak. I've found many people think fish is an OK thing for vegetarians to eat, so they're not judgmental about it anyway. And if they are, who cares? It's MY body and my habits . . .

Vegetarians do NOT eat fish. Ever.


Eat almonds and brown bread for your zinc.

At least almonds and other seeds/nuts are cruelty free.

EDIT: Thanks fluffycat! :-)

No, you shouldn't describe yourself as something you're not. There are no exceptions (such as a zinc issue). Vegetarians don't eat animal flesh (intentionally). If you HAVE to eat fish for a medical issue, it's just unfortunate you aren't vegetarian because of that condition.

I wish you great health though either way.

well, you shouldn't call yourself something you aren't.
you don't have to lie, just simply say that you're a picky eater.
since you definitely aren't a vegetarian.

i hate to say this, but so many people are concerned with their "title" of being a vegetarian or lacotarian or whetever, but really i dont understand the importance of what we call ourselves. i wouldnt think you are technically a vegetarian though, because fish is considered meat.

just say "i'm a vegetarian, but i do still eat fish" or say "i don't eat any meat, except for fish"... unfortunately you'll still probably get a barrage of questions and have to explain yoruself (WHY DON'T MEAT EATERS EVER EXPLAIN THEMSELVES EVERYTIME THEY HAVE A MEAL?!) but that's kind of part of the game.... alot of vegs will say your not a "real" veg, but you need to do what you need to do... i'd describe it one of those ways above and no one should have an issue with how you eat and call yoruself.

Technically, you are not a vegetarian. However, is a dietary title that important? I use the title vegetarian (I do not eat seafood), but few people grasp the concept.

Vegetarians do not eat fish.

Just say "I don't eat meat." Most people will understand that to mean that red meat and poultry are out, but seafood is okay.

And keep in mind, with your zinc you are also consuming plenty of yummy mercury- a known neuro-toxin.

Just tell them that you are a pescetarian. Then you may want to explain what it is because they probably might not know what it is.

Why don't you try telling people you're pescetarian?

Using the term vegetarian when you do, in fact, eat animals just leads to a lot of confusion. Vegetarians don't eat animals, period. If you label yourself a vegetarian then eat fish in defiance of the definition, you *are* being hypocritical. My mom has been pescetarian for 20 years and has never had a hard time explaining her diet without using the word vegetarian.

You are considered a pescetarian! I am one also. The only meat I eat is seafood which really isnt meaty at all. I dont eat it everyday. I can go days without actually eating it all.

Hey

If you eat fish as a vegetarian, some may call you a demi-vegetarian, for many people this is the first step to becoming a vegetarian as the diet eliminates all meat and poultry, but does include seafood

but a true vegetarian doesn't eat fish
and you can get zinc from many other foods such as
peanuts
cheese
wholegrains
sunflower and pumpkin seeds
pulses
milk
hard cheese
yogurt
wheatgerm and mycroprotein (quorn)

so theres lots of other foods you can get zinc from apart from fish, but its really your choice if you decide to stop eating fish

theres loads more information here - http://www.vegsoc.org/info/zinc.html

hope this helped
good luck

Most vegetarians eat fish.

vegiterains eat fish i mean if u told me that u were a vegiterian and you ate fish i wuldnt be like omgsh u rnt a vegie ater then its okayy ne was dont most veggie eaaters eat fish?

feel good about your choice, you should not have to justify how you eat. There are many kinds of vegetarians.

Yeah you can eat fish. And yo can say you're a vegetarian to people.
I'm a vegetarian and aI eat fish, why not?

a lot of vegetarians eat fish, including me,the word for it is prescovegetarian that means you are a vegetarian but you eat some fish too

Vegetarian is allowed fish, eggs and dairy. Vegans don't any of those items. Explain that to those who think you are a hypocrit. Eat what you want and don't feel condemned.

yeah... ur deffinately vegetarian... i eat fish nd chicken and i still consider myself a vegetarian... but ur not a veg. wen u eat dark meat





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