I decided to become a pescatarian almost a year ago, influenced by a conversation I had with my younger brother about how dangerous the food we eat can be. After coming up with an entire conspiracy theory about how “greater forces” are trying to kill us through the food we eat and how hard it is to eat healthier these days (especially for those stuck in the cycle of poverty), I was sparked by the decision to go pescatarian. My decision to become a pescatarian was finalized when I was driving back to school from New York on Route 13 where my mother and I passed by a Perdue Farms location and the smell of slaughter and filth quickly filled the car. No lie, it smelled like broken hopes and aspirations.
It was that moment that I decided for myself I would stop eating processed food, meat, and things that could pull down my vibration.
THE BENEFITS
Ya girl out here dodging all the harmful pesticides and chemicals that cover meat to preserve it. Many pesticides cause cancer and, over extended periods of time, can cause other problems to the body. Most pescatarian meals are served with veggies, adding more protein and vitamins to my diet. Once I cut out meat, my skin cleared up drastically. Overall, I started to live my best life when I became pescatarian.
THE STRUGGLE
OK, if you are a vegetarian or vegan at Hampton University you know just how real the struggle can be. The cafeteria has gotten better with the food options for us this year. Though it’s still a challenge, it’s possible! Granted, my diet still mostly consists of Chick-fil-A fries and smoothies. There are other options on campus. Pirates Grill actually has a bomb black bean burger! It could be because I’m hungry, but every time I eat it, I feel like The Creator done sprinkled a little extra love on it just for me. And don’t sleep on the pasta at the caf. When everything else is looking like a no, pasta usually saves the day. Although it may be tough at times, the pros most definitely outweigh the cons of being pescatarian.
PRE AND POST CARNIVORE
You are what you eat, and I was drained! Have you ever seen a truck full of live chickens? They look helpless, sick, and malnourished. As I am sure you know, just like humans, other mammals have feelings too. So when you eat them, you eat not only their emotions, but their hormones as well. Quite honestly, after putting this together and realizing this life wasn’t for me, I saw a significant change in myself. My mood was better, I had a lot more energy and I was not as tired all the time. Also my body started to crave more fruits and vegetables. The craving for a sizzling bacon cheeseburger soon faded and, honestly, I’m no longer interested in eating any type of animal. Cutting meat out of my diet was not as hard as I expected. Especially because there are all kinds of meatless option such as chickenless chicken parms, baked shrimp and crab alfredo, and fish tacos. This has to be my favorite part about being a pescatarian. It forced me to be more creative with my meals. Adding more color with veggies and trying new things from Sofritas at Chipotle to salmon burgers really allowed this foodie to explore the wonders of food.