To be sick of people thinking vegetarian eat fish

I'm pescetarian and would never refer to myself as a vegetarian, but lots of other people will refer to me as vegetarian, which is just confusing the issue!

It's a simple question that they've answered wrongly, because if you eat fish you aren't a vegetarian. And it's a big deal to actual vegetarians when the world at large thinks vegetarians eat fish, when we don't, because of people like your friends. That's literally what the thread is about. It's not a big deal to the pescetarians claiming to be veggies , they're not disadvantaged at all, the actual veggies are though, so everyone isn't happy. Hence this thread.

I routinely get asked if I eat fish and I answer that veggies don't eat fish. Because they don't. Also as per PP, I'll say no food with a face.

I think people often use the word "vegetarian" to mean that they don't eat meat (from mammals and birds).

My oldest friend has called herself a vegetarian for over 40 years. It was only recently that I discovered that she ate fish!

I also have a much more recent vegetarian friend who I cooked for recently and assured her that the roast potatoes were vegetarian. She told me that she wouldn't have minded if they hadn't been. She doesn't want to eat meat but isn't worried about where the fat comes from.

Well, I have friends who say they're vegetarian who do eat fish, so what do you want me to do? It's a simple question, easily answered, and then everyone is happy and moves on. Not a big deal.

I was a vegetarian for 10 years, a pescatarian for an additional 11 years and now an omnivore for the last 6 years.

Many people have never heard the phrase pescatarian though so a lot of the time I would have to say I'm a vegetarian who eats fish for them to understand.

People then get used to asking do you eat fish when you say your a vegetarian.
The availability of vegetarian food varies massively depending on which country you are in.

I think your first sentence nails it. Many people call themselves vegetarian but eat fish. I know someone (who doesn’t eat fish to be fair) who calls herself vegetarian because it’s ‘easier’ to explain at restaurants and to people cooking. She doesn’t like the taste of meat but will eat gelatine products, and indulges in one meat dish that she absolutely loves. I can see how ‘I’m vegetarian’ is easier than saying all of that, but I do understand the frustration, OP. If someone told me they were vegetarian I would assume they didn’t eat meat.

A whale doesn't have a proper face, I reckon.

Loads of "veggies" eat fish though, it's common. But I'd be shocked if I said I was veggie then was told don't worry we have sorted fish! I couldn't get wound up over it though.

My DSis is a vegetarian and she describes her diet as “eating anything without a face”. However, our DM never understood this and one memorable meal, she offered my DSis a Sunday lunch with roast chicken. When my ever patient sister tried to remind her that she didn’t eat chicken, my DM’s response was that it was “corn fed” and therefore suitable for vegetarians!

You'd have no trouble with me.

I'd go to great lengths to avoid ever hearing your stories about what you do and don't eat.

I don't think labels are needed. Eat whatever you choose. You can be mostly vegan but have an egg sandwich now and then if you want.

I've been vegetarian since 1984 - that's over 40 years of having to explain that I don't eat fish. Quite often when asked my preferences, I say, I am vegetarian and I don't eat meat or fish.

I was once told that vegetarians get to pick one type of meat to eat, most choose fish. This bloke said he ate chicken but no other meat but he was vegetarian.

I was very confused and still laugh when I think about it

They're not vegetarian....

Then they aren't vegetarian. They are pescetarian.

The fish eaters will counter with fish isn't meat. TBH I'm just glad when it means I can put fish on the menu if I can't do meat. My main request is be clear to me about what you won't eat. It's a PITA planning around restrictions that turn out not to exist.

Because they are thick. Not helped by pescetarians passing themselves off as vegetarian.

The clue is in the word, which is vegetarian

I'm a pescatarian, but sometimes it's easier to just say I'm vegetarian if asked for a dietary preference (I volunteer a lot and usually get fed)

I was just vegetarian until I was pregnant with my first child and the midwife was concerned I wasn't getting enough protein. She asked me to try some fish for the sake of me and my child as I'm not keen on pulses/tofu/beans which would be the protein substitute otherwise.

I don't have anything against the fishes- I promise

Blame the Pescatarian's, they often refer to themselves as Vegetarians, so it has become somewhat of a grey area.

Never knew this and most of my friends are vegetarian. They’ve all always eaten fish when we go out

A pescatarian is a sub division of meat eaters though, not a kind of a vegetarian.

Annoys me too, worst is airlines so I find it's easier to buy a meal deal at the airport than rely on airlines either knowing what a vegetarian is, or having it on board.

I'm guessing this comes from the people who don't like fish that tastes too fishy but can handle a white fillet in batter.

People don't fit into neat little buckets of what they will and won't eat, but we still use those buckets for simplicity. I know veggies who just don't really like the thought or taste of meat. But they aren't bothered about rennet or gelatine. It's in some ways more of a taste preference than someone who's properly against eating anything that is from a dead animal.

Absolutely agree with you. Been asked if I eat fish so many times. I don't understand the lack of understanding that fish are animals, too.

It’s because so many people like to play at being vegetarian or vegan and it gets really confusing for people trying to figure out what people actually eat because everyone seems to love a label.

I was vegetarian for 20 years. I did start eating fish again after a point (I’m not vegetarian anymore), but I went to a friend’s for dinner and she was like, are you still vegetarian? And I said, yes, to be polite expecting she had gone out of her way to make me something and she was like, great, because we’re having salmon! 😂 Thankfully, I did eat fish so was fine with that, but it’s a pretty weird assumption. I didn’t have the energy to explain to her.

Maybe that’s why people get confused, but surely the easiest thing is just asking people what they can eat. I used to have a friend who was ‘vegetarian’ but she’d eat any sauces made from meat, so gravy, beef stew without the beef, chicken curry but would pick out the chicken. I guess it was a picky texture thing, but it used to really annoy me because people would be like, well, Anna is vegetarian and didn’t make a fuss about needing a special meal.

I know a few pescatarians that call themselves vegetarian, so maybe that’s why.

I wouldn’t assume a vegetarian eats fish but I would ask, for the reason above.