Does a no meat diet include fish?

December 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2018 Ipsos MORI report, approximately 3% of adults worldwide follow a pescatarian diet. This often leads to the common question: does a no meat diet include fish? The simple answer is no, a traditional vegetarian diet excludes all forms of animal flesh, including fish, while a pescatarian diet is a separate dietary category that incorporates fish and seafood into an otherwise plant-based eating plan.

Quick Summary

A no-meat diet, specifically vegetarianism, excludes all animal flesh, including fish. Individuals who eat a plant-based diet but include fish and seafood are called pescatarians. Understanding these distinctions clarifies how different diets categorize fish and what is considered permissible.

Key Points

A 'no meat' diet is not synonymous with a diet that includes fish: A true vegetarian diet excludes all animal flesh, including fish.
The correct term for a plant-based diet with fish is pescatarian: Someone who eats fish but avoids the meat of land animals is a pescatarian, not a vegetarian.
Nutritional profiles differ significantly: Including fish adds beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and high-quality protein that can be harder to obtain on a purely vegetarian diet.
Religious and cultural definitions can differ: While some traditions make exceptions for fish (e.g., during Lent), modern dietary definitions are distinct.
Precise terminology matters for communication: Clearly identifying your diet as pescatarian avoids confusion in social situations and when discussing nutritional needs.
Pescatarianism can be a bridge to more plant-based eating: For some, it offers a manageable transition away from consuming red meat and poultry.

Clarifying the 'No Meat' Diet

To understand whether a 'no meat' diet includes fish, it's crucial to define what 'meat' entails in this context and differentiate between the most common dietary patterns. By a general definition, meat refers to the flesh of an animal used for food, which would technically include fish. However, common dietary parlance has created distinct categories that separate fish from the meat of land animals.

The Defining Differences: Pescatarian vs. Vegetarian

When someone says they follow a 'no meat' diet, they most likely mean a vegetarian diet, which is strictly plant-based but may include animal byproducts like dairy and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh, which means fish and seafood are off the menu. Someone who follows a mostly plant-based diet but adds fish and seafood is, by definition, a pescatarian. This distinction is the core of the issue.

Many people become confused because of varying historical, cultural, and religious definitions. For example, during Lent, many Catholics abstain from meat but allow fish, based on a historical distinction between warm-blooded land animals and cold-blooded sea creatures. However, this does not align with the modern dietary definitions of vegetarianism.

The Nutritional Context

Adding fish to a plant-based diet, as a pescatarian does, offers a different nutritional profile than a purely vegetarian diet. This is a key reason why some people make this dietary choice. Fish and seafood are packed with high-quality protein and healthy fats.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are rich in EPA and DHA, types of omega-3s that support heart and brain health and can reduce inflammation. While vegetarians can get some omega-3s from plant sources like flaxseed and walnuts, the specific EPA and DHA forms found in fish are considered more bioavailable.
Vitamin B12: This vitamin is found almost exclusively in animal products. While vegetarians who consume eggs and dairy can get some B12, vegans often need to rely on fortified foods or supplements. Pescatarians can easily meet their B12 needs through fish and seafood.
High-Quality Protein: Seafood provides a complete protein source with all essential amino acids, which can be more challenging for vegetarians and especially vegans to ensure, despite being able to meet their protein needs through various plant-based sources.

Comparative Dietary Profiles

This table outlines the key inclusions and exclusions of vegetarian and pescatarian diets, highlighting the main differences.


Food Group	Traditional Vegetarian Diet	Pescatarian Diet
Land Animal Meat (beef, chicken, pork)	Excluded	Excluded
Fish and Seafood (fin fish, shellfish)	Excluded	Included
Plant-Based Foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts)	Included	Included
Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)	Often Included (Lacto-ovo)	Optional, but often included
Eggs	Often Included (Lacto-ovo)	Optional, but often included

Why a Clear Distinction Matters

For clarity, explaining your diet accurately prevents misunderstandings when dining with others or describing your eating habits. For example, if a self-proclaimed 'vegetarian' eats fish, they are not adhering to the traditional definition and should use the term 'pescatarian'. This avoids confusion, particularly in social situations or when ordering from a restaurant menu. Accurate terminology also helps people make informed decisions about their own health and ethical commitments.

Moreover, the distinction is vital for nutritional planning. A vegetarian diet requires careful planning to ensure adequate intake of nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, and B12, often relying on fortified foods and supplements. A pescatarian diet, by including fish, makes obtaining these nutrients significantly easier.

Navigating Your Dietary Path

For those considering a transition to a more plant-based lifestyle, the pescatarian diet can be a stepping stone. It allows a reduction in red meat consumption while still providing the protein and other nutrients from seafood, offering a path towards either a more plant-based diet or a long-term, sustainable pescatarian eating pattern. The choice depends on individual health goals, ethical considerations, and personal taste preferences.

In conclusion, a 'no meat' diet, properly defined as vegetarianism, does not include fish. The term for a plant-based diet that includes fish is pescatarianism. Understanding this clear, technical distinction is key to navigating conversations about dietary choices with precision. Choosing the right label for your diet ensures that you are aligned with both the common understanding and the specific nutritional needs of that eating pattern. It's a matter of semantics that has significant implications for both communication and health planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, a pescatarian is not considered a vegetarian. While both diets emphasize plant-based foods, vegetarians exclude all animal flesh, including fish and seafood, whereas pescatarians include them.

The primary difference is that a pescatarian diet includes fish and seafood, while a vegetarian diet does not. Both diets exclude land animal meat such as beef, pork, and poultry.

The perception that fish is not meat can come from a few sources, including religious definitions (such as in some Catholic traditions during Lent) or a narrow definition of meat that only applies to warm-blooded, fur-covered mammals.

Yes, a well-planned vegetarian or vegan diet can provide sufficient protein from plant-based sources like legumes, tofu, and nuts. However, the inclusion of fish in a pescatarian diet makes obtaining a wide variety of high-quality protein even easier.

A lacto-ovo vegetarian is a type of vegetarian who does not eat any animal flesh but does consume both dairy products (lacto) and eggs (ovo).

Yes, a pescatarian diet is considered very healthy. It combines the benefits of a plant-based diet with the added nutritional value of fish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other essential nutrients linked to improved heart health and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

The inclusion of dairy and eggs in a pescatarian diet is optional and depends on personal preference. Many pescatarians do eat these animal byproducts, but some may not.