Pesky FAQS

I touched on this lightly in an older post, but I wanted to highlight some of the questions I am asked most frequently about my pescatarian diet.                             

1.) What about protein?  

Your body will tell you what you need. Trust me. A few weeks into my pescatarianism, I noticed I was craving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all the time. I also developed a liking for hard-boiled eggs.

You guessed it! Both foods are excellent sources of protein. So I don't miss out on that.


2.) Aren't you tired of fish?

Do you get tired of chicken, pork, and beef? Nope. Why? Because there are a million ways to cook it. Halibut, tilapia, salmon, haddock, perch, whiting, bass, cod, catfish etc. Add to that my favorite food EVER, shrimp, along with other seafoods, and you have more than enough variety.

Also, I do not necessarily have to eat fish everyday. There are days where I only eat veggies and fruits. Or pancakes for breakfast, grilled cheese for lunch, and vegetable soup for dinner.

3.) Have you noticed any changes since starting?

Yes. I have more energy, I drink more water, and I crave fresh, light foods. I have lost 4-5 pounds, and about 3 inches off my waist. My skin is clearer too. Since I am now forced to grocery shop and cook for myself, I have become a HUGE bargain shopper. I spend about 20 dollars every week and a half for groceries. I love Aldi!

On a personal note, I have to confess that I used to have a bad habit of overspending on food. If I had the dough, I would eat out 4-5 times a week. Now that the things I used to buy are no longer a part of my diet, that extra cash stays in my pocket.

I have also turned into an amateur chef. I love trying new recipes and making things up. Sometimes it's delicious, sometimes it's questionable, but it's always fun!

4.) Any negatives?

Yes. I think the main one has nothing to do with being a pescatarian, though.

I get tired of having to cook everyday! Sheesh, I said it.

I also have developed an aversion to pasta. I ate a whole lot of it during my first weeks. It was easy to make, and people who knew I didn't eat meat kept making it for me. And so I became sick of it. Still am.

5.) Do you ever miss eating meat?
 Yes. I used to really love meatballs, and chili, and ribs. So when I smell or see those foods, I might begin to crave it. But when I imagine myself eating it...my stomach turns as if to remind me that I don't eat those foods anymore. And then I'm good.

6.) Are you going to become a vegetarian?

I don't think so, but who knows? I'm taking this one day at a time.

7.) How long are you going to keep this up?

I'm not sure. As long as I can, or as long as I want to. I'm at the point now where I really don't think I'll go back to eating beef or pork. Maybe one day I'll reintroduce chicken back into my diet...but maybe not.

8.) Why are you doing this? Are you an animal lover or something?

I love animals as much as the next person, but that's not why I'm doing this. This is purely for health reasons, and to challenge myself. I'm not an advocate of animal cruelty, but I have no problem with people who like to eat burgers and ham hocks.

So PETA, please leave me alone. =)

Much love!

♪Tiarra♫