Being a picky eater is difficult. Deciding what to eat can be challenging when you limit yourself to certain things. When you add on another limit, like vegetarianism, pescetarianism, or veganism, that can create more challenges, which can cause you to be very unhealthy. 

In October of 2020, I decided to be a pescatarian. A pescatarian diet is one that is similar to a vegetarian diet, in that pescatarians stay away from meat, but they do eat seafood, unlike vegetarians. When I decided to become a pescatarian, I had never really thought about what it would be like, and the decision was random.  

It did have something to do with my summer move from Colorado to Louisiana. While driving through Texas, I saw many intensive farms, a place with large numbers of cows, pigs, chickens, and turkeys. The goal of those farms is to produce a large number of meat, eggs, milk, and other products for cheap. I saw those farms, and it made me uncomfortable. It was on my mind all summer, and even into the school year. Eating meat made me feel guilty, but I didn’t really know why. That led me to decide to cut meat out of my diet. 

My parents were supportive, but they asked me, “Do you know how to be a pescatarian?”

Honestly, I didn’t.

Since my family still ate meat, dinners that fit my diet had to be made by me. I had no idea how to eat healthily and make my own meals. I ate all kinds of unhealthy food and put little to no effort into research on what to eat.

As the months went on, I noticed a change in my weight. I felt healthy, but I wasn’t actually eating healthy food, considering I ate exclusively Cup O’ Noodle and other processed foods. It had a big impact on me. I felt lazy, tired, unmotivated, and weak. At the time, I didn’t connect all of that with my unhealthy eating habits. Now that I have a better idea of how to stay healthy, I realized those bad feelings came from my lack of vegetables and nutrients. 

After doing research, I discovered I need vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, and other protein foods to stay looking and feeling well. I needed around 2,000 calories a day, and I didn’t know how to reach that goal. I know I’m probably not reaching it now, but I’m eating healthier. 

Being a pescatarian is great, and I don’t want to advise anyone to stay away from changing their diet. The main point is to become educated on the diet of your choice. What can you eat and not eat? What are things that you can incorporate into your meals that can keep you healthy? Even if you’re not on a specific diet, researching and learning how to eat healthy is incredibly beneficial. 

Being a picky eater and being uneducated about your chosen diet can be dangerous to your health. Before you make the decision to change your diet, do your research and see what fits your lifestyle.

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