No, it’s not just because I’m writing a pescatarian cook book.

Quite the opposite in fact.

I chose to write my book for the EXACT reason that my primary messaging to 90% of my client is just that: EAT MORE LIKE A PESCATARIAN!

I obviously exclude the approximately 1 in 10 clients who are already are either vegan or vegetarian from that guidance and I am certainly not in the business of “converting” people into pescatarians.

Why I Wrote My Book

Although staunch supporters of veganism might disagree, in my mind it is generally safe to assume that only a small number of people would ever consider fully becoming pescatarian and a smaller number still currently are.

Fewer still of course are vegan, even though it represents an ever growing portion of the population [ which, by the way, I am thrilled about].

So this reality, as I see it, leaves me with only one option; nudge as many people as I can to eat more like a pescatarian/vegetarian without the expectations of giving anything up on their end.

And so the goal of my book is both to convince you to eat more like a pescatarian and give you all the tools you need to do so in a deliciously enjoyable way.

Let’s more closely  explore why I value these two objectives so highly:

1. Convincing You To Eat More Like A Pescatarian

I’m in the business of helping my clients live longer and healthier lives and as more scientific knowledge accumulates it has become hard to deny that the best way to achieve this goal is to trend towards a more plant-based diet.

Health Canada and The American Academy Of Nutrition & Dietetics both tend to agree.

Yet despite a deluge of novel food products on the market, not everyone is willing to consider a shift to veganism.

A practical compromise to this conundrum is to support my clients in choosing whatever foods they desire while also encouraging them to trend as much as possible towards different types of vegetarianism, with pescatarianism the most flexible and perhaps appealing among them.

I certainly believe it is.

As a pragmatic example, I’d consider eating more fish in a week than one does beef as a move that could fairly be described as trending more pescatarian.

A trend which happens to entail more vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids and less saturated fat, I might add.

In addition to being delicious and versatile, fish is incredibly unique in its nutrient profile among foods of animal origin and in fact there is no naturally occurring food in our food system that offers what fish can.

The first chapter of my book explains why this is and looks to the latest research to shed light on the unique health benefits fish brings to the table [pun intended].

It goes without saying that a discussion of the other critical components of a pescatarian diet ( such as fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and legumes) is also included.

2. Making It Easier & More Appealing To Eat Like A Pescatarian 

While it’s all well and good for me to tell you WHY you should probably eat more like a pescatarian, the critical component that will determine whether or not you may be actually willing and able to do so has a lot to do with the provision of recipes that are simple, fun and delicious.

Don’t worry, my book has you covered on that too.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that for the vast majority of my clients,  recipes bring guidance to life, but also need to to be exciting, easy and economical.

That’s exactly why my book offers a huge array of  five-ingredient creations which are brilliantly curated by professional chef, fellow Canadian and co-author Michelle Anderson.

From breakfast to dinner to sides to dessert our book has you covered.

Final Thoughts

The goal of today’s blog was to help you understand that I wrote my book because I want you to eat more like a pescatarian, and not the other way around.

It’s not a plea to “go pescatarian or go home”, and absolutely has your best interests in mind.

All of this will be quite apparent to anyone who gives it a read and I do hope that, once you do indeed get through it, you will fully understand my motives in putting this book together.

As always, I have my clients and readers best interests in minds.

And so, with that being said, why not give it a pre order?

I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Andy De Santis RD MPH