My childhood ballet teacher, a strict vegan, used to show us graphic PETA videos in an attempt to convert us to her meatless ways. In my case, it worked—and at thirteen, I vowed to change my eating habits.
My dietary transition wasn’t easy. Like many kids who tell their mother they’ve given up meat, I found that my decision wasn’t well received. I cooked many of my own meatless dinners—and stayed in my room with the door closed to avoid the tempting aroma of a chicken baking in the oven. My friends couldn’t understand how I could resist bacon at breakfast; Thanksgiving became less satisfying when I had to pass on many of the dishes on the table. But I was determined to stick to my ideals, and seven years later I’ve mastered the lifestyle of a pescatarian: someone who abstains from eating all animal flesh, except fish.
I know what you’re thinking: “You’re not even a real vegetarian!” I’ve heard it countless times. No, I am not technically a vegetarian since I consume fish, but I am doing better than most of the red-meat and poultry eaters of the world.
Everyone has their own reason for avoiding meat. For some, it’s about animal rights. For others, it’s health reasons. My own motivations are a combination of both. I do believe in animal rights and think that the slaughtering process is disgusting. Also, the decrease in animal products is keeping my cholesterol down, which is helpful since heart disease is common in my family.
But the fact that I am not a real vegetarian does plague me at times. Am I really doing enough for animal rights if I’m eating seafood? How healthy am I really being if I still chow down on salmon and shrimp every week? But staying away from seafood seems impossible for me. One of my favorite meals in Collegetown is the teriyaki salmon at Plum Tree. And every now and then I still crave—but don’t eat—a juicy burger. if I give up fish, what will I eat instead?
Through it all, I keep wondering: why can’t we all just get along? Vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians all contribute to animal rights by restricting our food choices—just in different ways. We all deserve respect—well, except for a certain group I like to call “convenient vegetarians.” These are the people who claim they are vegetarians “except on Thanksgiving, during the Superbowl . . . and whenever there is bacon around.”
— Jillian Knowles ’15