Pollo-Pescetarian

Pollo-pescetarian (AKA pesco-pollotarian, pollo-pesco-vegetarian, demi-vegetarian) is an obscure way to refer to redmeat (all mammal meat) abstinence. “Pollo” is Italian for “chicken” (“pollame” is poultry so “polla” would be precise). “Pescetarian” is borrowed from the term describing incorporating seafood into an otherwise vegetarian diet (modern term but centuries-old practice). Due to seafood being a separate food group than meat in culinary & health contexts pescetarians were often conflated with vegetarians before their own term existed. Whether seafood is usually counted as a meat in general-context varies w/ region, age, culture & religion. Labeling oneself a pollo-pescetarian may be met with scrutiny & negativity. This can be because: •The word is unknown and long-winded •It’s less simple than saying “No red meat” •Respecting red meat abstinence only as a “transitional step” not as its own end goal •Accepting a new label often entails a degree of perceived difficulty &/or novelty (also why people who identify as flexitarian get mocked). Limiting red meat is common, chicken is the #1 meat in America & eaten daily and is always available •Vegetarians may resent the label if they interpret it as an attempt to be perceived as similar to them. The public may resent it if they judge it as an attempt to distance oneself from other meat-eaters to feel special