I consider myself a vegetarian, but I still eat fish.

Question

A REALLY good point was brought up to me just a little bit ago about how fish CAN be tortured. I really didn't like some of the things said and now it makes me feel bad. How can I properly supplement protein into my diet if I don't eat fish and eggs??? Would that make me full on vegan? or what??? Now I'm all confused....

Answer 1

You are really confused. Fish can feel pain but they cannot be tortured. Most fish don't have much of a memory span. However, fish can still be overfished and have potential to become endangered. Overfishing can mess up the eco-system.  

Anyways:

Pescetarian:  one who eats only fish and plant life.

Lacto-vegetarian: one who eats only plant life and drinks milk.

Ovo-vegetarian: who who eats eggs and plant life.

Vegan: no animal byproducts what so ever.

Good source of protein: Soy proteins, Legumes, nuts, eggs (if you choose to eat eggs), and milk (if you choose).

Answer 2

It seems the big issue for you is the ethical implications of eating seafood.  One thing that can help you feel better about eating seafood is to purchase seafood from places like Whole Foods.  These types of stores use ethical fishing practices.  You can also reduce the amount of fish you eat instead of eliminating it entirely from your diet.  Eat more soy products, tofu, ect.  As far as eggs, the ethical implications of eating eggs are a little easier to deal with.  The main issue is the treatment of the chickens.  If you purchase "cage-free" eggs from "vegetarian fed hens", then you don't have to feel bad about eating eggs.  In order to be considered a full vegan, you would have to eliminate all meat and dairy products from your diet, but don't feel pressure to do that if you don't want to.  You have every right to define your diet and eating fish and eggs, you can still call yourself a vegetarian and consider yourself compassionate toward animals.

Answer 3

It depends on what kind of fish you had. the only fish that is considered to be meat is salmon because it is red meat. I know because at our school during lent fish is always served on fridays because catholics can't have meat on fridays during lent.

Answer 4

even though people argue that you can practice safe fish-consuming, personally, i don't like to eat anything that was from an animal. it's dead tissue =[

good luck =]

Answer 5

You don't need to "supplement" protein.  Pretty much ALL plant foods contain protein.  Soy foods like tofu, tempeh, edamame, tvp and faux meats are rich sources.  So are beans and other legumes (peas, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas,) whole grains, nuts, seeds, even fruits and vegetables.  If you eat dairy, that's another source.  Protein deficiency is basically unheard of in the developed world.

If you continue to eat fish, please don't call yourself a vegetarian.  Vegetarians don't eat dead animals.  You would be a pescetarian.

If you give up fish and don't eat eggs, you're probably a lacto-vegetarian (you didn't say whether or not you eat dairy.)  Vegans don't eat, use, wear, purchase or otherwise consume anything of animal origin whatsoever.  So no meat, dairy, eggs, leather, wool, silk, fur, down, feathers, pearls, etc.

Answer 6

you would become a vegan if you didnt eat fish or eggs.

thers not really any other way but meat.

dw about it so many people eat meat... you should eat somehting wthat has a good source of protien and this is more or less the only way.

Answer 7

Look, if you want to eat fish, that's your decision, but please don't call yourself vegetarian as long as you do.  Vegetarians do NOT eat the flesh of any living animal, and I'm sure you know that fish are indeed animals.  While fish aren't really "tortured" in the classic sense of the word (unless they're farmed fish), being caught and dragged out of water is not a fun experience for them, and death is relatively slow.  Also, a lot of other sea creatures are caught on lines or in nets, called bycatch, and their dead bodies are thrown back in the water.

Vegans eat no animal products whatsoever--no animal flesh, no mammals' milk, no chickens' eggs.  The constant protein questions are going to make me scream.  Unless you starve yourself or eat a junk-food diet, you'll get enough protein.

I will also point out that unless you can visit the farm from which you get your milk, and that's the only dairy you consume, you cannot be sure your milk comes from an "animal friendly environment".  Besides, if you're old enough to be typing on a computer, shouldn't you have been weaned a long time ago?

Answer 8

Beans and nuts are full of proteins/amino acids.

You eat fish and consider yourself a vegetarian? That's like considering yourself a virgin when you're pregnant.

Answer 9

If you eat fish you are a partial vegetarian. some good sources of protein are here if you are nervous (listed below)

If you were vegan you would not consume dairy either. Or use any animal products. Just follow your heart. Hope it helps! :)

Answer 10

Firstly, currently you are a pescetarian (however you spell it). Fish feel pain just like any other animal, and if you consider being killed by lack of oxygen or beat to death with a club, then yes, it is torture.

Secondly, protein can be found in legumes (chickpeas, lentils, other beans), tofu, soy milk, nuts, veggie burgers, spinach and all vegetables have some protein in them (I don't think fruit does though). You can even take a protein vitamin or shake if you're concerned about protein.

Thirdly, do you consume dairy milk? If you do, then you're not vegan. You are a lacto vegetarian. If you don't consume milk then you are a vegan.

Answer 11

Fish feel pain.  They're living creatures.  You're not a vegetarian if you eat anything that was once living.

Answer 12

fish can be killed but not tortured. they do not have many nerves. it  would not be a full vegan because to be a vegan u cant have many dairy products

Answer 13

there are plenty of protein rich foods other than meat-nuts, beans, peas, tofu, seeds, and then there are protein bars, shakes, etc. fish, in my opinion, have very horrible deaths-ripped out of the ocean in a net and thrown onto a slimy boat deck to suffocate and die. then again, fish have always been my favorite animals so i have more sympathy for them... there are a lot of vegetarians who eat fish.  keeping fish in your diet is a good way to get protein.

Answer 14

Eat peanuts !!

Answer 15

I'm sorry if I scared you a little bit, but I also come from a hunting and fishing family and I know that fish can be inhumanely handled just as easily as other animals.

Personally, I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I eat eggs, but I only buy cage free or free range eggs. I also consume some dairy products.

You can cut fish out of your diet very easily and still be perfectly healthy and get every single nutrient you need by eating a variety of foods.

I'm not saying you HAVE to stop eating fish,everyone has to make a personal decision about what to eat, and cutting out everything else is a great thing in itself. Yet, if you're going to make the decision to eat fish, you should at least be informed. I just wanted to point out that fish can be inhumanely handled.  

Answer 16

Vegetarians never eat any animals.

It doesn't matter if you think that they don't feel pain.

Fish, shrimp and clams are all animals.

Protein is not hard to find in plant foods. Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds can provide more than enough protein.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/prot...

I really think that you should learn about what "vegan " means before you think about using it in reference to yourself.

http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan

http://www.veganoutreach.org/howvegan

I strongly recommend that you watch Earthlings in order to get some understanding on most of the issues.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=ea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxKnys7R...

Answer 17

Geesh some of the answers above are ridiculous!

If you're a "vegetarian" who eats fish, you're called a pescetarian.

You can obtain protein from soy meats, nuts, beans, foods high in carbs, and just about anything else. In fact, try tracking how much protein you receive in one day without eating fish. If it's anywhere near 40 or 50, you're in the clear.

A full vegan does not consume milk, cheese, chocolate, or eggs (basically no dairy products and eggs). Most vegans do not consume honey either. And on top of that, they don't eat any meat (fish included).

If you don't eat fish and any other types of meat, you're a vegetarian. If you don't eat fish, meat, and eggs, you're a Lacto-vegetarian.

Also watch out for gelatin and glycerin. These are found in tons of candies and gooey stuff.

-Good Luck

Answer 18

Vegetarians who eat fish are not vegetarians but are Pescetarians