Hello! I've been a vegetarian for nearly three years, but I need to start eating fish again for health reasons (please don't try to make me feel guilty-- this isn't the place to try talking me out of it). I am having trouble actually getting started. I still feel squicked out about eating something dead, even though I don't believe it is morally wrong for me to do it if I have to. I'm worried that I will work myself up and have a psychosomatic reaction, and I hate getting sick to my stomach. Has anyone else had experience going back to eating meat again? How can I make sure I won't get sick? I would really appreciate any advice on pacing/steps I should take! 💕

I'm not a vegetarian, and never have been, but I think the best way to re-intro meat (or fish) into your diet would just be slowly, in small portions, and hidden well underneath a bunch of other things (ie; veggies, and foods you really enjoy). Maybe just start with eating it once a week, and then up it if you need to, increase the portion sizes (if you desire), and just take things at your own pace.

You obviously don't want to make yourself sick, or work yourself into an anxiety attack over it.

Good luck :)

Take things at your own pace, reintroduce it to your diet slowly but surely. Even if it's just a bit at first. There's no rush to it.

Thank you for the advice! I had a tuna sandwich for dinner about 30 minutes ago and so far I feel fine. 😊

I'm glad! c:

You do know about the fish fridays for Catholics, right? If that helps any.

Vaguely-- isn't the idea that they have to abstain from meat, and fish doesn't count for them as meat?

While I don't think I can be a vegetarian if I eat fish, I do think that fish are probably the most ethical animal for me to eat, just because scientists still have not come to a solid consensus on whether or not they feel pain in the same way that other animals do. I'd rather not eat any animals at all, but my anemia is getting really bad and iron supplements don't help me anymore. :-/

Something like that. It's some biblical thing, like the not eating pork (which has been proven to be a healthier diet), but I'm not Catholic so I'm not entirely sure of all the details.

I just grew up in a town old enough to still have fish Fridays. XD