What is a pescatarian?

Wondering what a pescatarian is? Read on for a simple definition.

Definition: Pescatarian (sometimes spelled pescetarian with an e) is a word sometimes used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. In other words, a pescatarian maintains a vegetarian diet with the addition of fish and other sea foods such as shrimp and lobster.

 

In other words, a pescetarian (noun) is a person who eats fish, but doesn't eat steak, chicken, pork or any other kind of meat - only fish and seafood, and a pescetarian (adjective) diet is a diet that includes fish but not steak, chicken, pork or any other kind of meat.

See also: Is fish vegetarian?

Although the word is not commonly used and a pescatarian is not technically a vegetarian, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.

Pescetarians often believe that moderate consumption of fish or fish oils, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, is necessary for optimum health, although vegetarian alternatives, such as flax seed oil, are available.

See also: What is a vegan?

So, is a pescatarian a vegetarian?

No. A pescatarian is not a vegetarian. There is much confusion over what a vegetarian is and isn't, but no definition of the term ever includes fish or sea food. To be 100% clear, a vegetarian diet excludes all animals; and fish are animals.

Therefore, a diet that includes fish, or a person who consumes fish cannot be properly called vegetarian. A pescatarian is NOT a vegetarian, and a vegetarian diet does not include fish.

See also: The "Veggiquarium" Debate
See also: Types of Vegetarians

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Alternate Spellings: Pescetarian

Common Misspellings: Pescitarian