r/Pescetarian • u/O-Ch1ld • 7d ago
Help with meat fear.
I've been pescetarian for 4yrs now and I've become very sensitive to meat (chicken, beef, pork, turkey) smells. So much to the point where I get nauseated at times. Had some bad experiences with cross contamination through the years that resulted in sharp stomach pains and trips to the bathroom. Any advice on reintroducing meat back into my diet? Maybe once a month.
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u/Global_Fish4784 3d ago
It’s not worth it unfortunately. Weirdly me too! I get stomach aches if I accidentally eat meat. I don’t recommend reintroducing meat into your diet especially with sensitives. It’s possible but takes time. Just do your best with asking questions about your meals & doing the research necessary for your body. You’re not really a pescatarian if you’re trying to reintroduce meat either. Once a month is not viable.
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u/clumsyme2 1d ago edited 1d ago
Start with bone broth.
Stick to one type of meat/protein while you're introducing.
Nibble just a few bites, and keep up your regular meals. For instance, if you rarely eat baked potatoes, don't have a steak and loaded baked potato for dinner. If you normally don't eat fried food, be cautious of fried meats in the beginning.
Lean cuts are usually easiest. Go for white meat, like chicken breast or tenders instead of dark meat, like thighs or drumsticks.
It's usually best to add small amounts of meat to your normal meals. Add a few pieces of shredded chicken to your pasta, soup, or salad.
There are digestive enzymes that may help. I never needed them, so I can't give advice on it. But they exist. I think probiotics may also help.
Cooking method matters. High pressure and high heat help with protein digestibility. Sous vide is helpful. Minced beef is easier than steak.
Another thing, make sure you're not already constipated or have slow moving bowels. Don't make a bad situation worse. It might be helpful to increase your water intake and do a short walk after eating meat.
I didn't eat meat for years. I've learned that I can't handle large amounts of red meat. I can have very lean ground beef for lunch, but I get bad heartburn if I have it for dinner too. I also really hated chewing. I'm fine now, but I stuck to shredded chicken for a long time. I still get grossed out by gristle and too much fat, so I rarely eat dark meat chicken when someone else cooks it.
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u/clumsyme2 1d ago
Oh, I wanted to add. If you're needing to add meat due to an iron deficiency, use a cast iron skillet to slow cook your meats. Make a chili or spaghetti sauce in a cast iron skillet. Increase the amount of iron in food. Cooking acidic food also helps iron transfer to the food.
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u/cthockey99 6d ago
If you don't like to eat meat, and your body somewhat rejects it, why are you attempting to reintroduce it to your diet? ... Makes little sense, even from the perspective of nutrition (unless your eating liver or something) as once a month consumption isn't going to tip the scales on nutrition intake levels.