My friend is vegetarian, yet she eats fish and prawns...how come?

Answer 1

Oh, not this again. Kee-riist.

Because she's an idiot. (Along with a number of people answering this.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_Vegetarians#Terminology_and_varieties_of_vegetarianism

Foods allowed in the main vegetarian diets Diet Name Meat Eggs Dairy
Lacto-ovo vegetarianism No Yes Yes
Lacto vegetarianism No No Yes
Ovo vegetarianism No Yes No
Veganism No No No

Answer 2

Why do you say that your friend is vegetarian? If she eats fish or prawns, and told you she was vegetarian, she probably means she doesn't eat meat. Vegetarianism is a confusing name, it suggests that we only eat vegetables, but that isn't it's total meaning. It means we don't eat animals? But I am a vegetarian and I eat yogurt, does bacteria count as animals? Even vegans eat bacteria. There is vegan for people who have no animal produce (apart from bacteria, germs etc), vegetarian for people who don't eat animal parts including fish and the like.
But what can your friend call herself? She may be rightly proud of the fact that she doesn't eat factory farm animals, because many of those animals suffer terribly during their life. If the sea food your friend eats, were caught wild, then they were free until they were caught, they were able to live a normal life until they were caught. I am vegetarian, but it doesn't mean that I don't respect your friend for her food restrictions, any more that I would expect a vegan to look down on me, because I am not as strict a eater as they are.

Answer 3

Because, as so many people have already said, she is not a vegetarian. However she might find it a convenient label to use in restaurants and explaining to friends - it's not exact but it gives people a rought idea of her food preferences.

Most people find it useful to have words mean something - Essexfriendly's answer if taken literally would render intelligent discussion completely impossible. But using words which probably are only familiar to those who have thought a lot about the ethics of eating , words like lacto-ovo-vegetarian, doesn't improve communication either.

I guess the kindest thing you could say of your friend is that is tending towards being a vegetarian but hasn't finished the journey yet.

Answer 4

A vegetarian is a person who does not eat animals including fish etc. A creature that has lived. Vegetarians do NOT eat fish. She is not a vegetarian. The name vegetarian is a huge clue. I get annoyed at people who now try to call themselves vegetarian, but eat fish. (and Im not even a veggie!). A vegetarian usually still eats eggs, cheese, butter, milk. A vegan doesn't eat meat, fish or any animal product ie. milk, eggs, and won't wear leather or use products containing animal by products

Answer 5

i'd have to say that your friend is a bit confused on the term vegetarian or is a veggie when convenient. be gentle with your friend and ask them what they think the term means, if they know what a vegetable or a plant is as opposed to, oh, let's say, a cow or a fish. don't even think about asking about whales, way to confusing, i think, for this person to deal with.

or perhaps your friend is a vegetarian like a friend of mine was. he said he loved vegetables soooo much he wouldn't ever eat them! and to protect them, he ate all the beef he could. so, there ya go.

Answer 6

A vegetarian dosnt eat any animal OR fish so shes just not really a vegetarian, she just calls herself one. A vegan eats no animal NOR animal product ( eggs, milk cheese etc.) Tell your friend to look it up in any dictionary

Answer 7

That means she is not Vegetarian but Piscivarian (eats Fish) from Piscivorous (fish eating animals)

Answer 8

Yes she is a vegetarian ...Those who call themselves "vegans" are the one who don't eat anything but vegetables, pulses and nuts. the term vegetarian now enclose fish or prawns eater...

Answer 9

Some people think that they are vegetarian as long as they don't eat red or white meat. However, a true vegetarian excludes all meat, fish and seafood from his/her diet.

Answer 10

your friend is NOT a vegetarian, she is a PESCETARIAN...

"Definitions

A vegetarian is someone living on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with or without the use of dairy products and eggs (preferably free-range).

A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by-products such as gelatine or animal fats.

Types of Vegetarian
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.
Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs.
Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product.
Fruitarian. A type of vegan diet where very few processed or cooked foods are eaten. Consists mainly of raw fruit, grains and nuts. Fruitarians believe only plant foods that can be harvested without killing the plant should be eaten.
Macrobiotic. A diet followed for spiritual and philosophical reasons. Aims to maintain a balance between foods seen as ying (positive) or yang (negative). The diet progresses through ten levels, becoming increasingly restrictive. Not all levels are vegetarian, though each level gradually eliminates animal products. The highest levels eliminate fruit and vegetables, eventually reaching the level of a brown rice diet.
Other terms can be used in describing various vegetarian diets, though their exact meaning can differ. The term strict vegetarian may refer to a vegan diet, though in other cases it may simply mean a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet. The terms common or broad vegetarian may be used to refer to lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Demi-vegetarian is a term sometimes used to describe persons who eat no or little meat but may eat fish. Persons consuming fish but no meat are sometimes called pescetarians."

quoted from the offical vegetarian society