Food Rules & Other Words to Live By
At first glance, you might read this poster and think, “Yep. That makes sense.” and not give it much more thought. The sentiment is practical, not overly extreme or trendy, and the statements encourage awareness and moderation.
Now read the very bottom of the poster.
It’s a little shocking, right? Not because of what it says, but because of who said it.
I took a long pause after I read “U.S. Food Administration” and the year it was published, 1917. That’s been the reaction of everyone I’ve shown it to as well. What seems like such a simple idea from our government, to buy with thought or use less meat, would almost certainly never make it to print today. It’s a sobering realization, and yet the message is timeless.
The Food Rules poster, a reproduction of a vintage WWI print, is part of a larger Food Rules collection from Holstee, and includes other mindful consumption reminders on beautiful tote bags, aprons, napkins, and drink coasters. As is the case with everything Holstee creates, all of the items are crafted in the US and thoughtfully produced on 100% organic cotton and reclaimed wood.
Above photo courtesy of Holstee
I first became familiar with Holstee back in 2009 when a friend sent me a link to their Manifesto. I was at a very low point career-wise and was feeling discouraged with the direction my life was heading. I knew something had to change but I had no idea where to start, and the Holstee Manifesto had a profoundly emotional impact on me. It encapsulated all of the things I felt like my life was missing and it was inspirational in a concise and direct way. I purchased the print to hang on our wall next to the front door, so that every time I entered and exited our apartment, I was reminded of how I wanted to live.
“If you don’t like your job, quit.” ←That was an “ah-ha” moment for me. So I made changes, and I worked hard, and I quit!
Over the years, I added to my collection. Next was the Share Your Passion poster, then the Less But Better print, the latter being Aaron’s favorite and now a mantra I repeat to myself daily (I find it totally liberating).
Photography by Aaron Scott
Unfortunately, when we moved, the posters somehow got lost in the shuffle. I was sad and quickly placed an order to replace them, along with adding a new Boston Leaf Map poster to my order. One of Holstee’s co-founders, Dave, sent me the loveliest note and asked if I might be interested in sharing the Food Rules print with you all. It made me really happy because I’ve admired Holstee as a company since I first read their Manifesto.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful, hand-crafted, and mindful gift (for someone else or yourself), it’d be hard to go wrong with anything from Holstee.
This post is sponsored by Holstee. I’ve been a long-time fan and purchased all but the Food Rules print myself. As always, all opinions are my own.
