Vegetarian for over 25 years but thinking about eating fish again. Anyone done this?

[OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny]

I gave up meat and fish over 25 years ago but I now find myself thinking about eating fish again.

It's partly because I think it would be good for me (perimenopausal, brain fog and always suffering with aches and pains in my joints) and partly because I'm fed up of going abroad and the only vegetarian option being a fecking cheese salad. We're going away again in the summer and will end up in beachfront fish restaurants and I don't want the token green salad and chips.

My worry is my digestive system will go "WTF is that?" and I'll end up with projectile vomiting or explosive shits (OK, maybe a bit dramatic but you get the gist!). There's also part of me that doesn't want to give in IYSWIM.

Have you gone back to eating meat or fish? How was it?

(PS - if you think you've read this thread before it's because I started one like this before, maybe a year or so ago, but can't find it so it must have been in chat and disappeared)

Can't help with your dilemma but if you type your holiday destination into happycow.net you can get reviews of local restaurants classified as vegan, vegetarian or veg friendly, and some idea of where is nicest.

Watching with interest. Been a veggie similar timeframe. Have been unwell for last 9 months and been told need B12 injections for life and am on iron tablets. Family all encouraging me to eat meat again but I have been previously such a healthy veggie through pregnancies etc but now can’t see to get over anaemia.

Where are you going? You might be surprised.

I went vegan instead of going back to meat. A recent holiday was absolutely fine-loads of interesting options.

I did this

Only a handful of types though and i do feel guilty

Sometimes

I can see me going back eventually

Where are you going? You might be surprised

We're going to Spain this summer but over recent years have been to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Sardinia, Turkey, Spain (mainland, Canaries and Balearics) and Greece and I can honestly say that decent veggie meals have probably averaged 1 per holiday. That is usually after trawling Trip Advisor to find somewhere that is largely vegi or stumbling upon a naice pizza place that has something a bit different to a margherita.

I’ve been veggie since 18 (now in mid 50s. Can’t remember why but I ate fish about 4 or 5 times a year for around 5 years in my 30s. I think it was because I had always loved fish and I missed it.
I know it was very low level but I had absolutely no reaction physically at all. Good or Bad.
I’ve never had a problem finding things other than ‘cheese salad’ anywhere in Europe or the states. Never a problem in India/middle or Far East etc obvs. Only place I’ve had trouble recently has been in somemagrican countries. Once recently had to have vegetable cake and chips. The vegetable cake ended up being large deep fried mashed potato. Potato cake and chips - carbtatsic! not.

Oh gosh just reread

No shits

I mean notmal shits obviously

Not explosive ones

And i just eat some fish and prawns

Some African countries that should have read.

I’ve never had a problem finding things other than ‘cheese salad’ anywhere in Europe

seriously?!

Honestly I've really struggled.

Menus usually consist of Meat Dishes, Fish Dishes and Salads (which are usually meat or fish based, or cheese if I'm lucky!).

Same here ohmygod

I was fully veggie for about a decade then started eating fish but not meat. Didn't have any physical side effects. Just really fancied fish and chips one day and I thought, Hell I'm a grown up why not? So now I am a pescetarian and I think it does make eating out easier, especially abroad. Eating out in the UK is better now than ever before for me with the huge amount of vegan/veggie food on offer so I probably eat fish less now than I used to.

Had no trouble but I do keep eye on restaurant menus when out and about durning the day and/or am quite happy to wander a bit looking at menus etc. Honestly haven’t had trouble anywhere in Europe, ever, other than here in the uk (and that’s not been the case for around 10’years now).

‘Cheese salad’ takes me back to 80s/90s here in uk. Well into 2000s in more remote parts of uk. I remember those days !

I have to say the UK is fantastic for vegi food (eating out in cafes/restaurants, takeaway and food to go from supermarkets etc).

Worst case scenario here seems to be that you get whatever is the current fad vegi dish/ingredient of the moment on the menu in every place you go to. About 8 years ago DP and I went for a weekend away to Dartmouth and wild mushroom risotto seemed to be on every menu in the town! Crrent ingredient of the moment seems to be butternut squash or halloumi (but I'd happily live on halloumi )

I was vegetarian, very strict about it, for 37 years and started eating meat and fish again five years ago. No digestive issues or any other ill-effects. I now aim to be as omniverous as possible: red meat, poultry, offal, game, all kind of fish and seafood.

I ate some meat and fish last year after about 10 years of being vegetarian. No particular reason, just fancied it. No physical ill effects at all. I felt guilty after a while though.

I've gone back to vegetarian now (about 6 months ago) and don't want meat or fish at all now, in fact I try to eat mostly plant based (vegan) now.

It is difficult to get adequate DHA and omega 3 oils on a vegetarian or vegan diet and as a result despite cutting out meat aged 15, then dairy and eggs 3 years ago, I've continued to occasionally eat fish. I stick to oily fish for the DHA and also at the bottom of the food chain - mackerel and sardines are good - as less contaminated and more environmentally friendly. Recently discovered 'Nothing fishy' DHA omega 3 capsules that are based on algae so eating less fish and may cut it out. Rarely have any probs as a vegetarian travelling but as a vegan it's hell! Happy cow app helps.

I went veggie at 18 (30 years ago) and have dipped in and out of eating fish since. I have had several periods (of sometimes a few years) of being pescatarian in the last 30 years, never with any digestive problems.

Have to say I am surprised too- veggie for 20+ years and been pretty happy with options in Europe for years. Caribbean been worst for me in terms of havingonly choice of one veg main or sides on the menu but it’s not a real struggle. I am quite foodie too! Maybe I make sure to usually book places near different restaurants or am more easily pleased!

OK, so my digestive system should cope then but how do I deal with the guilt or feeling a failure?

I know it's stupid but it's still there. I can imagine the "I knew you'd see sense eventually" type comments.

I was veggie for 11 years and then started eating meat again. It was a strange sensation at first, but I didn't become unwell. I now eat meat/fish irregularly (maybe one or twice a month) and am fine.

Oops posted too soon.

I meant to ask...is that normal or am I over-thinking things?

Well I assume you won’t be eating fish if you feel guilty about it so that’s that sorted ?? If you are eating fish it means you. I longer feel you shouldn’t surely??
As for others during my brief fish eating period I was just really straightforward and said I had just felt like it and didn’t know if it mean I was not going to be vegetarian again etc. I didn’t hear any adverse comments.

Can I just ask why you don't eat shellfish ? I don't mean to sound ignorant as I know they're living creatures
(I'm 6th generation in the fishing industry)

If it’s about what other people think, honestly fuck ‘em. You can’t please everyone! I’m sure you’ve had jibes for being veggie over the years. It’s no one’s business. Just say you have your reasons to start eating fish again. Or don’t say anything!