Pescatarian Questions

Hello! I have some questions regarding a pescatarian style of eating. Here is some context to my questions: My partner and I mainly eat pescatarian, though we frequently struggle to find recipes he can have due to a severe allergy to many of the popular legumes, such as peanuts, peas, lentils, and soybeans. Luckily, he CAN have some beans, such as black beans, navy, and kidney beans. I’ve been able to find/save lots of tasty P20 recipes that we can share, so I’m excited to keep using those!
My questions are..
1. We tend to swap in the beans that my partner can have when recipes call for ingredients that he is allergic to. Are there health benefits that come from eating the popular legumes such as lentils and chickpeas that we may not be getting when we swap them out for other beans?
2. Though we enjoy this style of eating, I do wonder about health benefits we could be missing out on by cutting out meat. Do you ever advise a pescatarian diet or do you find that eating meat is necessary for most people to get the nutrients they need?
Thank you!

Hi Alex,
I’m so glad to hear you’ve found so many PN recipes to try that also fit your lifestyle and dietary restrictions! You’ve got the right idea – if you find a recipe that calls for a legume your husband is allergic to, just swap it out for one he can eat. Every food has a unique nutrient profile which is why eating a variety of foods is so important. But as long as you’re varying your legumes as much as possible, you should be fine! That said, if you don’t have moral or ethical reasons for not eating meat, you could certainly try adding meat to your diet. It’s not necessary per say but it makes it easier and more fun to experiment with different recipes and will also help you meet protein and nutrient requirements a bit more easily. Mercury content and overfishing are two concerns that come to mind if you’re relying mainly on fish for protein. If you haven’t yet, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch for the best choices.

Thank you for your response and help!

My pleasure!