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)

I would think because eating shellfish isn't vegetarian

I know but out of everything you could eat a mussel for example isn't aware of it - I shouldn't have asked I know it's sounds stupid but if I'd been vegetarian for so long and was considering fish I think that's where I'd start

People have different reasons for being vegetarian, some moral some health and some others so I was curious

I was 11 years vegetarian then went back to eating meat (for personal reasons). Digestive-ly I had no issues but I found I hated the taste and texture of meat (had loved it before!) and it took a while to get used to it / retrain my tastebuds - so maybe be wary of a full on fish supper and start slowly, to avoid disappointment?

Not me but DH did this. He was a vegetarian for 20 years but started eating fish about 5 years ago. He tends to eat more on holiday where the vegetarian options are limited . At home he has it maybe once every few weeks if we get fish and chips or I fancy salmon or something and he has some too if DS is not around
for dinner (DS is vegetarian)

We generally self cater on holiday in Europe because DH gets so bored of restaurant vegetarian food in Europe ( and in a lot of place in the UK until quite recently). It is always
Bad pasta or pizza ( unless in Italy).
Omelettes
Quiche
Cheese and salad of varying sorts
Chips
Dips/ meze.( Greece/ turkey/ Southern med)
That is pretty much it in standard normal restaurants outside of big cities in most of the European places we have visited

Yes you can find better places nowadays but it is always a hassle

Years ago we went on holiday in Greece and I was the one fed up with eating in crap tourist restaurants for the pizza, pasta options as nothing else was suitable ( Greek salad can only get you so far) . We went to one local food place where I ate fantastically and DH had salad and bread and olives and hummus and tzaziki as that was all that was suitable so we went back to.the tourist places.

You should be fine. I would advise to start slowly with occasional fish and small portions, rather than diving in for large portions 5 days a week!

I was vegetarian for 20 years, but now eat everything. The reason being that most vegetarian food when you are out is not very healthy (carb based or nice) and I also got fed up trying to come up with healthy alternatives at home once I was cooking for small children (who I wasn’t raising veg).

I had absolutely no issues going straight into eating all meat after 20 years without (we still eat a lot of plant based meals). There’s no harm in giving it a try (maybe not starting on holiday though).

I did this,
Do it if you want to op.

I was veggie, then after 6 years started fish. then another 10 years after that back to meat.
absolutely no problems.
the only problems now if is i havent had lentils for a while i get funny digestion issues

I did this. Started with fish as I was living abroad and couldn't get the the right nutrients (plus I'd always loved fish). Now I eat everything and had no ill effects at all. I still eat veggie stuff and fish more than meat but to be honest its a relief not to have people making special veggie dishes for me when I visit. If I eat meat, I make sure it is organic / free range so that helps with the guilt.

was veggie for 20 years by the way.

I've been veggie for over 25 years. A few years ago was visiting my mum who had made a Shepherd's pie (minced lamb) It smelt lovely, so I had some. About half an hour later, up it came ! I'm not sure if it was my body rejecting it or my mind. If I were planning on eating something whilst away, I would do it very gradually. Start at home with just a very small portion and build up until you are eating it normally.

I was pescetarian for over 20 years but went back to eating meat as I just felt achy and tired all the time. I know it's possible for people to be healthy on a veggie/vegan diet but I don't feel like I absorb enough protein from it personally plus it tends to be incredibly carb heavy which didn't really suit me. Now I eat veggie at home most of the time (husband is vegan so I add cheese!) with meat once or twice a week when I get achy

I can't really help you with your ethical dilemma, but you will struggle to find things to eat depending on where you're going in Spain as the diet is quite meat/fish based. My mum is veggie and struggles trying to find dishes to eat in restaurants when she comes to visit us. If you're going to a big city,
you'll find veggie and vegan restaurants as they are becoming more popular, but in a smaller seaside resort/village it will be a bit of a struggle and you could end up eating tortilla, olives, cheese and salad as your staple diet!!

I’ve always found Spain really vegetarian friendly - tapas couldn’t be more varied even small places have begetable/cheese based choice Some really smart restaurants can be a bit limited mind you.

The question is whether you’ll stop other people’s moment of superiority from doing what you obviously want to do, and what may well be best for your health.

Some of your family might just be happy that catering for you is easier. Which is an entirely understandable thing.

I did. Just posted about it on aibu. I started with fish from being vegan. About five years later, started eating meat too.

I travel a lot for both work and fun, and for work travel particularly, if would be seen as being extremely odd in business situations, as well as being awkward, to not eat at least fish for some of the more remote countries I have been to.

So while I started as I was pregnant, it has helped no end. Digestive system was FINE. The human body is designed to eat a variety.

But there's always India to travel to if you want lots of interesting (if sometimes rather unhealthy) vegetarian food?

Thanks everyone - some interesting response. I'm surprised at how many people have gone back to meat and/or fish.

To answer some questions I became vegetarian gradually really - I was never a fan of fish and shellfish so never really ate that much anyway and when it came to meat I only ever liked it in a dish (so not slices of meat, chops etc). When I went to uni I rarely cooked it and then I had a vegetarian boyfriend for a few years so it seemed the natural thing to do.

Alongside that I was aware of dubious animal welfare in some methods of farming but I think this has maybe improved over the years as people become more aware of where their food comes from and opt for organic/free range etc

Holiday location-wise we don't tend to go to big cities or massively touristy places so it's usually smaller coastal towns and we go to the more traditional local restaurants, not so much those geared up for tourists with the "safe" options like the bad pasta and pizza someone mentioned earlier (unless I'm getting desperate!)

I started eating meat after 19 years as a vegetarian, and at the same time my journey with IBS began. I can’t say for definite the two are connected, as I’m no medical expert, but I no longer eat meat and have managed to ease my symptoms. I was eating pork, chicken and beef, but no fish as I don’t like it, so can’t comment on the effects that might have.

Part of the reason I'm really happy being omniverous again is enjoying eating out abroad. Contrary to what some posters have said, I've found Spain almost impossible (going to same area of Catalunya annually for many years), and France just as bad. It is better for vegetarians now, as the demand is greater.

I did this after eight years off. Don't do what I did and start with a whole chicken breast and you should be fine. I just ignored the commentators - it was a five minute wonder and then everyone got used to it.

My personal experience is that fish is easier to digest than meat, and that things like a slice of ham/handful of lardons are easier to digest than a whole chicken breast/steak. Maybe start out with a bit of smoked salmon and see how that goes down?

Fish have eyes. Eating them is still eating flesh? As a veggie/vegan for over 30 years I can't understand why you would consider this unless you are veggie for your health rather than animal welfare.

Take some supplements and eat chips for a week on holiday it won't kill you.

Animal welfare is still atrocious even free range. Animals treated as commodities do not get any respect. Watch land of hope and glory to see rspca approved practices.

I’ve never had a problem eating abroad as a vegan- been vegan 9 years gone abroad a few times each year usually. Happy cow as a PP mentioned is great. In majorca which was the most tricky I still got smoothie bowls, avocado toast, cheeseless pizza (but packed with flavourful toppings), pasta, various different curries and rice and breads, tofu and roast veg sandwiches, could have had Thai and Chinese food too but my DH didn’t fancy it, we also didn’t get round to goIng to the raw vegan place which would have had lots of salads etc. We also easily got vegan ice cream cones and vegan meat subs from the supermarket. You just need to go to the right places.

Oh and algae supplements as PP mentions are great for getting your omegas.