Is catfish a good option for pescatarians? To put it bluntly, yes. But what makes it such a great option? Let’s break down the elements and address how catfish can be incorporated into a pescatarian diet.
What Does a Pescatarian Eat?
Pescatarian is a term used to describe individuals that do not consume meat but do consume seafood. A pescatarian diet is almost the same as a vegetarian diet with the addition of seafood. The diet consists of seafood, vegetables, fruits and grains while limiting meat intake. To put it simply, a pescatarian does not eat meat, but they do eat fish and other types of seafood.
Extending a vegetarian diet outside the confinements of fruits, vegetables and grains to include the consumption of seafood creates flexible eating habits. Many people consider pescetarianism a lifestyle rather than a diet due to its flexibility. Some pescatarians may also take a different spin on the lifestyle and adopt vegan diet restrictions, again with the addition of seafood. A vegan diet eliminates any animal byproduct foods like yogurt, cheese or anything else derived from an animal. The amount and frequency of seafood consumption is also up to the individual.
What Makes Catfish a Good Option?
As aforementioned, pescetarianism is a lifestyle choice rather than a diet, and it is completely individualized to suit each person’s specific health needs and preferences.
Although not the only reason, one of the main reasons people choose to abide by a pescatarian lifestyle is that they want to incorporate a healthy form of protein in their diet, but they don’t want to consume meat. Seafood is known for its health benefits, especially as a great source of protein. Read more about all the ways seafood can positively impact your diet in our National Seafood Month blog.
Catfish is a great option for all pescatarians. There is a multitude of ways to prepare mild-profile fish. From appetizers to entrees and everything in between, catfish provides a healthy source of protein and keeps within the parameters of a pescatarian diet.
Any sort of dietary restriction can add a layer of difficulty to grocery shopping. In a pescatarian diet this means grocery shopping for seafood which can have high prices depending on the type of fish and seafood. For some shoppers, it can seem unreasonable to buy expensive types of seafood every night of the week. The good news is that catfish is an extremely cost-effective protein source, making it the perfect option to incorporate into your diet. It is also widely available making it accessible when shopping.
Catfish has a mild flavor profile which eliminates the fishy taste, and catfish easily takes on flavor depending on how it is cooked and what it is cooked with. Because of the versatility of its flavor, Catfish is the perfect source of protein for meals even when you’re not in the mood for seafood.
Are you interested in incorporating catfish into a pescatarian diet? Heartland Catfish has a variety of recipes listed on its website. You can browse all of them and find a delicious catfish meal that caters to all your dietary restrictions and needs.
RELATED STORIES:
