new vegetarian or more specificaly peschatarian(I eat sea food)

[MACGRUBER]

I stopped eating meat not for health reasons but because of animal rights. I've always had concerns about eating animals and just now it's become clear to me that eating meat is wrong. i still have to eat fish and dairy products. I couldnt imagine going without milk but I know the cows are basicaly raped and thier calfs taken away for veal. Also with eating fish I have concerns. I know they don't have the same emotional level as the higher mammals and most birds but still I have heard that they do have some resemblance of feelings. Could you guys give me some advice or some wisdom from when you started out on eating fish or dairy products.

[Treehugger267]

Are you trying to give up eating fish?

[RoboMonkey]

i still have to eat fish and dairy products.

Why?

[MACGRUBER]

I would like to but I can't. My parents only tolerate my diet up to a certain piont. They wont let me give up dairy or fish. I guess i would want to hear some advice on the subject from a former pescatarian (probly didnt pronounce it right)

[MACGRUBER]

im a teenager live in my parents house.

[RoboMonkey]

There is no such thing as a fish or dairy deficiency. Read up on nutrition then explain to your parents how you can be healthy without fish and dairy.

[rabid_child]

Moderator post: Welcome to Veggieboards. As you should have read when you signed up and agreed to the terms of service, Veggieboards are intended for vegetarians, vegans, and people who are pursuing a vegetarian or vegan ("veg*n") diet. I understand that it is not your choice to eat sea life (it exists for a reason other than being food!), but out of respect for the people on the boards, we ask that you do not discuss your consumption of animals except in the context of how you can give them up. If you are unable to follow this rule, you will be banned.

In a non-moderator context -- what is it that your parents are afraid you won't get in a vegetarian diet that fish will provide for you? Maybe if you can isolate that, people can give you tips on how to replace those nutrients with vegetarian foods and that would satisfy your parents and allow you to be a vegetarian.

[Treehugger267]

You could easily switch out dairy for things like rice or almond milk. And if your parents are worried about protien, there are just so many places you can get it from, beans, quinoa, dark green leafies. Take a browse through the site and maybe someone can give you some info on some good books to read so you can teach your parents.

[MACGRUBER]

sorry. I just thought that thier might be some former peschatarians(again pronounced it wrong) that could give me some advice. I'm really distressed about this and it would help alot if I could get some insight from someone who has struggled with this.

[rockindancer86]

I think pescetarian is pronounced pesk-uh-TEAR-i-en. (Tear as in rip, not tear as in the water coming out of your eyes )

I'm not a former pescetarian so I can't help you on that, but I definitely finding out what exactly your parents think you get from sea life that you can't get from plants, and then finding some hard facts to show them otherwise.

The book Becoming Vegetarian is an excellent source of nutritional information, as is the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

What they're most likely thinking about are protein and omega 3 fatty acids. Protein is plentiful in plants. Beans, legumes, peas, nuts, seeds... those are the obvious sources. Grains are also good for protein, and vegetables and fruits even have some!

Omega 3's exist in many foods, but a couple concentrated sources are flax seeds and hemp seeds (which are not marijuana at all, by the way. Same plant, different thing - no drug involved).

Also, if you continue to eat eggs (and dairy if they don't let you cut it out), you'll be getting protein from there, too.