In February 1998, I decided to stop
eating mammals (beef, pork, etc.). I still ate poultry and fish. By April 2005,
I was so sick of chicken I didn’t think I could ever eat another bite. I still don't even like eating vegetarian chicken. Then, in
September 2005, I ate my last turkey sandwich and gave up eating meat.
I do, however, eat dairy and eggs.
Thus, I’m considered an ovo-lacto-vegetarian. I didn’t do the diet for health
reasons. I’m an animal lover, so my thought was I would only eat things that
didn’t cause death to animals. In fact, I’m a pretty terrible vegetarian, since
I prefer to eat breads and pastas. My more carbivore diet hasn’t been very good
for me, I’ll admit.
Of course, I didn’t realize some
cheeses are made by enzymes taken from baby cow’s stomachs—the animals have to
be dead to get the enzymes. Yeah, it’s something I recently discovered. That
and the lack of health in my ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet as well as my dry eye condition has me questioning what
I should eat.
Should I become vegan and only eat
vegetables and fruits? *sighs* Unfortunately, I don’t think I could cut it
being vegan. I’m tired of giving up more and more food. I don’t want to be
stuck eating salad out either. In fact, I'm quite the foodie, even though I don't cook. I just love food, love seeing how its cooked and eating it.
I could continue what I’ve been
doing and just ignore the fact that I sometimes eat animal byproducts. But I
have to think about health too.
So I’ve been considering being a
pescatarian. I could still eat eggs, dairy, vegetables, fruits, and add in the
occasional fish. I hate the thought of eating animals, but some fish are good
in omega-3s and have other health benefits. I’ve been having dry eye problems,
and I’ve been reading up on how a pescatarian diet could help them. When it
comes down to it, I have to try it. I’m rather attached to my eyes, you know.
So on August 19, 2013, I ate my first piece of salmon in over eight years. It was all right, I suppose. I would've liked it cooked a bit longer. Even when I ate meat, I preferred it nearly burnt and smothered in something, or breaded. My stomach churned at the thought of eating the fish. I would've felt the same if I was eating maggots or some other disgusting creature, though. But I ate the salmon. Every bite. I wanted to cry. Fish are friends, not food! The next day, I did feel better. I had more energy, and my eyes didn't bother me quite as much.
It still churns my stomach
to eat fish, but I will try being a pescatarian—at least for a while.
Have you changed your diet?
