subject: Do Vegans Eat Fish [print this page] The short answer is noThe short answer is no. Why? Well vegans, who are among the strictest types of vegetarians, do not consume any meat or meat products. So despite the opinion of many, fish is in fact a type of meat. From a broader perspective, there are two types of species on our planet which include plants and animals and fish are among the latter. Moreover, meat is defined in most dictionaries as the flesh of animals used as food.'
Now there is a classification of vegetarians, called pescatarians, who omit all animal flesh from their diet with the exception of fish. In this way pescatarians and vegans are quite different. While vegans omit all animal products (including eggs and dairy) as well as foods containing animal-derived ingredients, pescatarians consume fish, which is in fact a type of meat. So when you see a person who calls him or herself a vegetarian eating fish assume that they are probably a pescatarian. Note also that many vegans during one time or another while on the path to transitioning into such a lifestyle spent a significant amount of time as a pescatarian.
Veganism is a journey and often many choose to make the transition gradually, giving up one meat at a time. As such, vegetarians who eat fish should not be judged as being contradictory for doing so. Making the transition to a plant-based diet in this meat addicted society is not an easy road to travel. Also, choosing to make the decision a permanent one often requires that one make the transition as gradual and seamless as possible. Making this transition requires that one educate him or herself and become familiar with meat alternatives and plant-based foods that can be used to fill the void of meat.
What many fail to understand is that vegetarianism is a lifestyle change not just a dietary one. Doing so requires that one change their entire perspective on food, nature, human physiological make-up and health. Thus, the next time you come across a vegetarian or vegan know that the decision to make such a change took great courage, will power and determination.
