"Do you eat meat?" "No, but I eat fish/chicken."

[Anonymous]

That's like my husband's office, where 75% of the people call themselves vegetarians, yet eat fish or chicken. It amuses him, because his wife and kids are ovo-lacto vegetarians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been vegetarian basically my whole life. Stopped eating red meat when I was 6, quit chicken at 18.

When I was in my early 30s, I lived overseas someplace where getting real veg food was very difficult. I started eating fish again. I moved back stateside and kept eating it a little.

I still call myself vegetarian, because it's easiest. I don't feel like having a long conversation with every damn person I meet about what pescatarian means, why I eat this fish and not that one, etc etc etc. Vegetarian is the easiest way to describe my diet.

I understand that there's some people on the veg side and others on the meat side who'd get snotty about me calling myself veg. But, you know what, I've had this diet for so long now that I don't feel the need to please anyone with it. It's who I am, and I actually don't care if they like my language or not.

+1 Thank you. This is exactly me. Vegetarian since 15, but started eating fish a bit when I lived overseas in my late 20's because it could be hard to find vegetarian foods. I'll explain to people who ask sincerely why I occasionally eat some fish and not others. But really, I don't particularly care if someone gets bent out of shape when I call myself a vegetarian. If I have the option, I'll eat vegetarian at a restaurant or someone's house, but I'd frankly rather have a nice filet of sustainable, wild-caught, Pacific salmon than have a side salad for dinner.

[Anonymous]

I just say I don't eat mammals, so it's pretty clear poultry and seafood are on my menu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been vegetarian basically my whole life. Stopped eating red meat when I was 6, quit chicken at 18.

When I was in my early 30s, I lived overseas someplace where getting real veg food was very difficult. I started eating fish again. I moved back stateside and kept eating it a little.

I still call myself vegetarian, because it's easiest. I don't feel like having a long conversation with every damn person I meet about what pescatarian means, why I eat this fish and not that one, etc etc etc. Vegetarian is the easiest way to describe my diet.

I understand that there's some people on the veg side and others on the meat side who'd get snotty about me calling myself veg. But, you know what, I've had this diet for so long now that I don't feel the need to please anyone with it. It's who I am, and I actually don't care if they like my language or not.

+1 Thank you. This is exactly me. Vegetarian since 15, but started eating fish a bit when I lived overseas in my late 20's because it could be hard to find vegetarian foods. I'll explain to people who ask sincerely why I occasionally eat some fish and not others. But really, I don't particularly care if someone gets bent out of shape when I call myself a vegetarian. If I have the option, I'll eat vegetarian at a restaurant or someone's house, but I'd frankly rather have a nice filet of sustainable, wild-caught, Pacific salmon than have a side salad for dinner.

So why don't the two of you just say you only eat fish rather than that you're vegetarians?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meat is kind of synonymous with red meat ,I.e beef, pork, ham etc. There are large populations for whom the definition of meat is only restricted to fish and chicken, with no red meat. I know people who enjoy fish or chicken but abhor red meat.
That's why they are quick to clarify.

I get that, but WHY is there a distinction? Is it a cultural/historical thing for some populations?

It is cultural/ religious to a great extent. Sometimes just a preference for lighter meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been vegetarian basically my whole life. Stopped eating red meat when I was 6, quit chicken at 18.

When I was in my early 30s, I lived overseas someplace where getting real veg food was very difficult. I started eating fish again. I moved back stateside and kept eating it a little.

I still call myself vegetarian, because it's easiest. I don't feel like having a long conversation with every damn person I meet about what pescatarian means, why I eat this fish and not that one, etc etc etc. Vegetarian is the easiest way to describe my diet.

I understand that there's some people on the veg side and others on the meat side who'd get snotty about me calling myself veg. But, you know what, I've had this diet for so long now that I don't feel the need to please anyone with it. It's who I am, and I actually don't care if they like my language or not.

+1 Thank you. This is exactly me. Vegetarian since 15, but started eating fish a bit when I lived overseas in my late 20's because it could be hard to find vegetarian foods. I'll explain to people who ask sincerely why I occasionally eat some fish and not others. But really, I don't particularly care if someone gets bent out of shape when I call myself a vegetarian. If I have the option, I'll eat vegetarian at a restaurant or someone's house, but I'd frankly rather have a nice filet of sustainable, wild-caught, Pacific salmon than have a side salad for dinner.

I just don't understand this, or why the need to (falsely) call/identify yourself as vegetarian.

I eat 100% vegetarian at home, don't eat meat unless it's served somewhere (like a dinner party), or special occasions. Meat is not a regular part of my diet, but I still don't say "I"m vegetarian" because that just isn't true. It's an incorrect label, and I think does a disservice to those who really are actually vegetarian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been vegetarian basically my whole life. Stopped eating red meat when I was 6, quit chicken at 18.

When I was in my early 30s, I lived overseas someplace where getting real veg food was very difficult. I started eating fish again. I moved back stateside and kept eating it a little.

I still call myself vegetarian, because it's easiest. I don't feel like having a long conversation with every damn person I meet about what pescatarian means, why I eat this fish and not that one, etc etc etc. Vegetarian is the easiest way to describe my diet.

I understand that there's some people on the veg side and others on the meat side who'd get snotty about me calling myself veg. But, you know what, I've had this diet for so long now that I don't feel the need to please anyone with it. It's who I am, and I actually don't care if they like my language or not.

+1 Thank you. This is exactly me. Vegetarian since 15, but started eating fish a bit when I lived overseas in my late 20's because it could be hard to find vegetarian foods. I'll explain to people who ask sincerely why I occasionally eat some fish and not others. But really, I don't particularly care if someone gets bent out of shape when I call myself a vegetarian. If I have the option, I'll eat vegetarian at a restaurant or someone's house, but I'd frankly rather have a nice filet of sustainable, wild-caught, Pacific salmon than have a side salad for dinner.

So why don't the two of you just say you only eat fish rather than that you're vegetarians?

Agree. Neither of you is a vegetarian. It's not about being snotty; it's a simple definition.

[Anonymous]

Chicken is poultry or fowl. Not meat.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is cultural/religious/historical.

While traveling in India, I noticed that "meat curry" meant it had either beef, goat or lamb, or some combination of red meats. When it's chicken, it was just called chicken, never some vague all encompassing "meat curry."

For fish, the history there is that the Catholic church used to require "meatless Fridays" but what they actually meant is that you are to abstain from meat-of-the-land. Fish is a good thing to eat that day - though you're free to go vegetarian as well. Now there's an option to do charity work instead on Fridays, but most people forget those details and don't observe either the meat-of-the-land abstinence nor volunteer their time.

[Anonymous]

People, is this really a burning issue of our time. Who cares what you call yourself, really?

[Anonymous]

It is an older cooking classification. I have an old cookbook that has a section for meat, fowl and fish.

This. And I find it's a helpful clarification too that people can understand. When people ask me if I'm a vegetarian, or declare for me at a dinner table that I don't eat meat, I say that I enjoy fish and fowl...which for most people seems to calm them into feeling that I do eat meat but also clarifies what my diet is should it be an issue for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's like my husband's office, where 75% of the people call themselves vegetarians, yet eat fish or chicken. It amuses him, because his wife and kids are ovo-lacto vegetarians.

So... vegan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People, is this really a burning issue of our time. Who cares what you call yourself, really?

One of the reasons why vegetarians get offered fish at meals is because people incorrectly think that vegetarians eat fish, when they don't. And if someone calls themselves vegetarian and then eats meat, it perpetuates the idea that vegetarians eat meat, when they don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's like my husband's office, where 75% of the people call themselves vegetarians, yet eat fish or chicken. It amuses him, because his wife and kids are ovo-lacto vegetarians.

So... vegan?

Where do you get vegan from that post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've been vegetarian basically my whole life. Stopped eating red meat when I was 6, quit chicken at 18.

When I was in my early 30s, I lived overseas someplace where getting real veg food was very difficult. I started eating fish again. I moved back stateside and kept eating it a little.

I still call myself vegetarian, because it's easiest. I don't feel like having a long conversation with every damn person I meet about what pescatarian means, why I eat this fish and not that one, etc etc etc. Vegetarian is the easiest way to describe my diet.

I understand that there's some people on the veg side and others on the meat side who'd get snotty about me calling myself veg. But, you know what, I've had this diet for so long now that I don't feel the need to please anyone with it. It's who I am, and I actually don't care if they like my language or not.

+1 Thank you. This is exactly me. Vegetarian since 15, but started eating fish a bit when I lived overseas in my late 20's because it could be hard to find vegetarian foods. I'll explain to people who ask sincerely why I occasionally eat some fish and not others. But really, I don't particularly care if someone gets bent out of shape when I call myself a vegetarian. If I have the option, I'll eat vegetarian at a restaurant or someone's house, but I'd frankly rather have a nice filet of sustainable, wild-caught, Pacific salmon than have a side salad for dinner.

I just don't understand this, or why the need to (falsely) call/identify yourself as vegetarian.

I eat 100% vegetarian at home, don't eat meat unless it's served somewhere (like a dinner party), or special occasions. Meat is not a regular part of my diet, but I still don't say "I"m vegetarian" because that just isn't true. It's an incorrect label, and I think does a disservice to those who really are actually vegetarian.

Not really. Everyone has a certain level of vegetarianism that they can observe or not. Same as most Jews can observe various levels of Kashrut or not. I can say "I keep kosher" but that can mean many different things. It can mean I keep a kosher home and have separate fridges, sinks and drawers or it can mean that I don't mix dairy and meat but I still eat treif foods just not mixing dairy and meat. It can also mean I keep a strictly Kosher home but eat anything I want out of the house. Vegetarians can have the same ideas.

-A meat eater