I have just recently become Pescetarian. Any tips would be helpful.
PescetarianPrincess
Posts: 37 Member
A few nights ago I decided to become pescetarian. I have been very excited about this decision and the challenges it will bring. There is already a drastic change in my energy levels and the amount of calories and fat I am consuming. I am already so happy with how this is working out, BUT it has only been a few days of this new lifestyle choice. Any words of wisdom and guidance would be very helpful. Thank you!
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There are a few others doing the same so they may be along in time since you have it in your header. I do all kinds of meat but do love fish. I eat out a lot. Have you found any places that you can get a fish meal that works for your diet at least so so?0
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My daughter is 19 and is considering becoming a pescetarian. Mercury is the only thing I worry about: Otherwise I see nothing wrong with it...as long as you are able to pass up that cheeseburger!!
Fish contain mercury, a by-product of industrial waste that can cause neurological problems. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish, which are high in mercury. Pregnant women and children should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish low in mercury per week. Canned light tuna, salmon, freshwater trout, tilapia, ocean perch, cod, catfish, halibut and snapper have relatively low concentrations of mercury.0 -
Or, you could join the cool kids and become vegan
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Dernacat I'm a pescetarian - feel free to send me an FR if you want to take a look at my diary. I don't know that I have any tips in particular but I do love my food!!0
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Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
My only problem with all this is that when I told my mom, she completely disregarded me, and has continued to use meat in every dish she makes. She tells me to eat around it and pick out the meat. Tonight, I looked in the crockpot, and I saw she is making spaghetti squash spaghetti for dinner. WITH MEATBALLS. Why?! My brother hates spaghetti squash so he won't even eat! And I never ate the meatballs anyway! I don't understand why she is being like this. Should I just pick out the meatballs, then?0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »There are a few others doing the same so they may be along in time since you have it in your header. I do all kinds of meat but do love fish. I eat out a lot. Have you found any places that you can get a fish meal that works for your diet at least so so?
Not really, yet. But there are a lot of good places that offer vegetarian dishes. I absolutely love Moe's, Chili's, and Qdoba. I know that Olive Garden has a salmon dish that I would love to try! And other restaurants too, I just need to go to them!
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Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
My only problem with all this is that when I told my mom, she completely disregarded me, and has continued to use meat in every dish she makes. She tells me to eat around it and pick out the meat. Tonight, I looked in the crockpot, and I saw she is making spaghetti squash spaghetti for dinner. WITH MEATBALLS. Why?! My brother hates spaghetti squash so he won't even eat! And I never ate the meatballs anyway! I don't understand why she is being like this. Should I just pick out the meatballs, then?
Maybe start making your own meals? If mom isn't on board, and she insists on making meat, it's time to get in that kitchen! You can get decent frozen salmon in places like Costco for 6.99/lb. Or at least that's what it was when I last bought it. Frequent eating out is going to take a chunk out of your budget. Start prepping your own meals!
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GaleHawkins wrote: »There are a few others doing the same so they may be along in time since you have it in your header. I do all kinds of meat but do love fish. I eat out a lot. Have you found any places that you can get a fish meal that works for your diet at least so so?
Not really, yet. But there are a lot of good places that offer vegetarian dishes. I absolutely love Moe's, Chili's, and Qdoba. I know that Olive Garden has a salmon dish that I would love to try! And other restaurants too, I just need to go to them!
That is good to know about Qdoba since we have one in town but I have not visited since going very low carb. Thanks
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Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
Has your research shown that tuna is safe? I LOVE tuna with lettuce and some vinegar, but seems to me somewhere I read about it being unsafe to eat a lot of (I think for mercury too IIRC) but frankly I was too lazy to research it further and just chose to eat less tuna.
I am guessing if you eat it every day that you have researched it thoroughly, so I am curious about what you found out? Are the tuna scares just hype? Is there a kind that is better than other kinds? (like is canned chunk light ok for every day, or albacore better, or any other suggestions)
Sorry to hijack and ask questions instead of offering advice. I am not pescatarian, but I do eat a lot of cod and pollock based meals. They are delicious! It's great they can come out tasting like made from fresh when actually made from frozen. Also lemon lemon and more lemon (and capers) EXCELLENT to put on fish!
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A few nights ago I decided to become pescetarian. I have been very excited about this decision and the challenges it will bring. There is already a drastic change in my energy levels and the amount of calories and fat I am consuming. I am already so happy with how this is working out, BUT it has only been a few days of this new lifestyle choice. Any words of wisdom and guidance would be very helpful. Thank you!
Do actual research to make sure you're still getting adequate micronutrients and the appropriate level of fat.0 -
I have been a pescetarian for over 10 yrs now. As a child I was raised eating meat b/c my whole family did, but my mom said that even as a baby, I just didn't like it. And just like any lifestyle change, I think planning ahead is the key to success. There was a major learning curve for both myself, and my family. There were many times when my own family/friends would cook food without considering my choice. You have to advocate for your self, and understand that this is something that everyone has to adjust to. For me, what helped was being more involved in the meal planning. And asking ahead of time for ex. a small portion of the spaghetti squash to be set aside without meatballs. I personally wouldn't just pick out the meat. But your eating decisions are your personal choice. It's now been so long that eating this way is second nature. My daughter and fiance both eat meat.
You just have to educate those around you that this is a personal choice that you have made. And that you appreciate their support even though they may not agree. Food is such a funny topic. People tend to get super defensive when someone chooses to do or behave differently when it comes to food.
I try to avoid being judgmental b/c I believe everyone has the right to make their own choices. And although I choose not to consume red meat, pork, poultry, for my own personal health and belief reasons; this doesn't mean that I should hold everyone to that exact standard. I can educate when people ask me why I made my choice, but I try not to preach. Good luck on your pescetarian health journey:)0 -
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Don't rely too much on fish like tuna for your protein due to the mercury content. Whiting is a cheap, low-mercury fish that is not endangered.0
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Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
My only problem with all this is that when I told my mom, she completely disregarded me, and has continued to use meat in every dish she makes. She tells me to eat around it and pick out the meat. Tonight, I looked in the crockpot, and I saw she is making spaghetti squash spaghetti for dinner. WITH MEATBALLS. Why?! My brother hates spaghetti squash so he won't even eat! And I never ate the meatballs anyway! I don't understand why she is being like this. Should I just pick out the meatballs, then?
You're 19, so make your own food. Other people don't have to cater to your new diet ya know.0 -
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Even though I don't eat fish (I'm a vegetarian) I would recommend you only buy locally caught fish if you can (I don't know whether you live by the coast or not but just in case) and only line-caught fish. It's also a good idea to perhaps buy the fish that aren't usually in high demand because those tend to be cheaper. All these things are better for the planet, localised ecosystems and actually broadens your choice of fish to eat. As mentioned in a previous entry, certain species of fish have higher mercury counts so try and have lower-count species. And lots of oily fish!
In terms of preparing fish, marinating fish in flavours overnight (2 days is best) can produce amazing results- e.g. spices, limes/lemons, etc.0 -
You can't expect your mom to change or cook for you forever, and easy recipe is fish(tilapia, mahi, other filet choices) plus Italian dressing pop in oven at 350F for 20-25 minutes....so yummy and helps rid fishy taste even if you are landlocked and can't get fresh stuff. Good luck on your life choice, I personally like to cook almost everything wrapped in bacon.0
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For "emergencies",Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
My only problem with all this is that when I told my mom, she completely disregarded me, and has continued to use meat in every dish she makes. She tells me to eat around it and pick out the meat. Tonight, I looked in the crockpot, and I saw she is making spaghetti squash spaghetti for dinner. WITH MEATBALLS. Why?! My brother hates spaghetti squash so he won't even eat! And I never ate the meatballs anyway! I don't understand why she is being like this. Should I just pick out the meatballs, then?
Sounds like it's time to make your own meals. As a grown woman you can't expect others (your mother) to bend to your wishes.
And yes, pick out the meatballs if you choose to eat HER food and don't want to eat meat.
Best of luck. Most of my "meat" intake is fish, you just have to be diligent.0 -
depending on how much control you have over your food preparation, pescetarian is really easy. And tasty. High quality protein, low fat is available for you. Fish and seafood are my favourite choices anyway!
My wife is pescetarian, and even restricting ourselves to sustainable seafood (it doesn't mean fancy or expensive. Hello sardines!) it's super easy to come up with recipes for all sorts.
No time? Canned tuna or salmon sandwich.
Barbecue? Trout, you can even papillote it. Or salted sardines
Fancy occasion? Dungeness crab legs (I assume crustaceans are OK with you). Or harpoon-caught swordfish.
Going out? Sushi!
Think about what water-surrounded countries eat. It's very non-restrictive.0 -
Maybe I'm missing something here but isn't the only real tip "don't eat any meat that isn't fish?" That doesn't sound like THAT much of a struggle. OK, so at McDonald's you're going to be limited to fish sandwiches instead of burgers and chicken sandwiches. The struggle is real.
I was wondering the same thing. It seems to me, the only thing you would really need to do is make sure you are getting enough fats. Other than that, how hard could this be?0 -
hortensehildegarde wrote: »Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
Has your research shown that tuna is safe? I LOVE tuna with lettuce and some vinegar, but seems to me somewhere I read about it being unsafe to eat a lot of (I think for mercury too IIRC) but frankly I was too lazy to research it further and just chose to eat less tuna.
I am guessing if you eat it every day that you have researched it thoroughly, so I am curious about what you found out? Are the tuna scares just hype? Is there a kind that is better than other kinds? (like is canned chunk light ok for every day, or albacore better, or any other suggestions)
Sorry to hijack and ask questions instead of offering advice. I am not pescatarian, but I do eat a lot of cod and pollock based meals. They are delicious! It's great they can come out tasting like made from fresh when actually made from frozen. Also lemon lemon and more lemon (and capers) EXCELLENT to put on fish!
I know canned Tuna is higher in mercury than tuna steaks. I dont know how much is hype and how much to really worry about. I tend to take things like this in stride since every time you turn around something else is bad for you. I am lucky if I eat tuna steaks every few weeks. (I cannot afford it
) I did read not to eat more than one can of tuna a day. I may just switch to canned salmon which is lower in contaminants and higher in omega 3's. I will not give up my tuna steaks though!! 0 -
Farfromthetree, thank you for that! I don't think I'll ever get my hands on swordfish or shark, so I believe I will be good there. I eat tuna every day, though!
My only problem with all this is that when I told my mom, she completely disregarded me, and has continued to use meat in every dish she makes. She tells me to eat around it and pick out the meat. Tonight, I looked in the crockpot, and I saw she is making spaghetti squash spaghetti for dinner. WITH MEATBALLS. Why?! My brother hates spaghetti squash so he won't even eat! And I never ate the meatballs anyway! I don't understand why she is being like this. Should I just pick out the meatballs, then?
I think your mom might be worried that you will not get the proper nutrients/protein. She is probably thinking if she ignores it, it will go away. If you are truly serious about it, try buying higher protein freezer foods such as morning star veggie burgers or beans and just use it as a substitute for the meat. Time to get creative at the super market!!0 -
Lose_It_Leo wrote: »Even though I don't eat fish (I'm a vegetarian) I would recommend you only buy locally caught fish if you can (I don't know whether you live by the coast or not but just in case) and only line-caught fish. It's also a good idea to perhaps buy the fish that aren't usually in high demand because those tend to be cheaper. All these things are better for the planet, localised ecosystems and actually broadens your choice of fish to eat. As mentioned in a previous entry, certain species of fish have higher mercury counts so try and have lower-count species. And lots of oily fish!
In terms of preparing fish, marinating fish in flavours overnight (2 days is best) can produce amazing results- e.g. spices, limes/lemons, etc.
marinating fish in lemon "cooks" it - especially if it's longer than an hour or so. It's called "ceviche"
http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/will-lemon-juice-cook-meat-and-seafood
OP is from Indiana btw, it's in her profile.
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3599.htm0 -
You can easily get large bags of frozen fish filets that are individually packaged to make them convenient. All you need to add is a small collection of herbs and spices, and a citrus fruit or good vinegar, and a little olive oil. You can Sautee, broil or bake very fast. Grilling whole fish, or baking in a salt dome, are great ways to make a large portion for leftovers or company.
And if you can afford it, shrimp are pretty much the food of the gods.0 -
My husband has been pescatarian since he was a child He hated meat and spit it out. He has always been slim and is now 60. He eats alot of legumes and cheeses. I respect his choice and cook with alot of variety. Today I made saffron and shrimp risotto. His blood work is enviable---colesteral really low, low blood pressure too. He works out at the gym and swims 4 times a week. So, yes, you can definately do this and it's very healthy. As for different types of fish and mercury, research in your area, mix up the fish you use. Today with frozen fish it's easy. Best.
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Maybe I'm missing something here but isn't the only real tip "don't eat any meat that isn't fish?" That doesn't sound like THAT much of a struggle. OK, so at McDonald's you're going to be limited to fish sandwiches instead of burgers and chicken sandwiches. The struggle is real.
I was wondering the same thing. It seems to me, the only thing you would really need to do is make sure you are getting enough fats. Other than that, how hard could this be?
Same here. Even so, if you toss in an avocado or two and a handful of nuts, it really is not that much of an issue.
Also – olive oil.0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »There are a few others doing the same so they may be along in time since you have it in your header. I do all kinds of meat but do love fish. I eat out a lot. Have you found any places that you can get a fish meal that works for your diet at least so so?
Not really, yet. But there are a lot of good places that offer vegetarian dishes. I absolutely love Moe's, Chili's, and Qdoba. I know that Olive Garden has a salmon dish that I would love to try! And other restaurants too, I just need to go to them!
If you choose to follow a specific diet you should cook for yourself0 -
Oh! One tip though, especially if you have never cook fish before – make sure your kitchen is well ventilated and keep windows open when cooking. Ideally close the door to other rooms. ^^
Supposedly, adding a bit of lemon juice before and while cooking helps break down the smell (and this is not just a grandma solution, we actually had a chemistry lesson on this back in high school
). 0 -
depending on how much control you have over your food preparation, pescetarian is really easy. And tasty. High quality protein, low fat is available for you. Fish and seafood are my favourite choices anyway!
My wife is pescetarian, and even restricting ourselves to sustainable seafood (it doesn't mean fancy or expensive. Hello sardines!) it's super easy to come up with recipes for all sorts.
No time? Canned tuna or salmon sandwich.
Barbecue? Trout, you can even papillote it. Or salted sardines
Fancy occasion? Dungeness crab legs (I assume crustaceans are OK with you). Or harpoon-caught swordfish.
Going out? Sushi!
Think about what water-surrounded countries eat. It's very non-restrictive.
All this talk of yummy fish foods is giving me cravings.0
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