Those who follow a pescetarian diet do not eat meat. Pescetarians, however, continue to eat fish and seafood. How useful is this diet?

Pescetarians, also known as pesco-vegetarians, often feel like they can’t please anyone. From the point of view of vegans and meat eaters, they are simply inconsistent – according to the motto: “Then don’t do it at all!” Vegetarians, on the other hand, are upset that fish is offered to them at times. And of course the pescetarians are to blame for the assumption that vegetarian only means “no meat”.

Hardly any form of nutrition makes itself unpopular with so many sides at the same time as pescetarianism. However, it has its own advantages and disadvantages. We explain what speaks for and against a meatless diet with fish – and what you should pay attention to if you want to start with it.

Pescetarians: not meat, but fish

The definition of pescetarianism is actually quite simple. The word derives from the Latin “piscis” (fish). Pescetarians do not eat meat or products derived from it, but eat fish, and often seafood and molluscs as well. Dairy products and eggs are usually also on the table.

There are, of course, many reasons not to eat fish, such as overfishing in the seas, problematic fishing methods or seals that are not very trustworthy. Many pescetarians should be aware of this – just as meat eaters usually know (and often ignore) that the production of cheap meat causes animal suffering and ecological problems.