New "Friends, not Food" Design

Who doesn't love a cute cartoon pig, cow and chicken?

Recently, this old vegan adage scrolled through my feed: "A non-vegan sees a photograph of a pig and thinks bacon. A vegan sees a photo of bacon and thinks that's a pig." It's so true, and the message resonates with me every time I see it. In fact, it prompted me to create a new design in my Vegan Strong Zazzle shop that includes the cutest cartoon faces of a pig, a cow and a chicken accompanied by the words "Friends, not Food."

What's that? You'd like to see a few products with the design on it? Well okay then. Here you go...     

Friends, not Food Dinner Plate

A dinner plate is a provocative way to communicate the idea that farm animals should be free to live; that they are not a commodity to be inhumanely raised for your consumption. Adding this to your dining table is about as in your face as you can get. 

Friends, not Food Jigsaw Puzzle

 This colorful jigsaw puzzle would make a wonderful gift for a young, budding vegetarian or vegan. The cute, friendly animal faces are easy for young people opting for a plant-based diet. I chose green for the background but you change the color to whatever you like.

The ubiquitous t-shirt

You know I couldn't do a new design without putting it on a t-shirt. Here it is on a simple black tee but there are loads of t-shirt colors and styles for you to choose from.

Friends, not Food iPhone Case

The design is available on all types of cellphone cases; I'm showing it on an iPhone 6 + here.

In all cases (if I've done this correctly), the links below the product should take you right to them. If you'd like to check out my other cruelty-free designs then please pop over to the Vegan Strong Zazzle Shop.


And if you have a special cause or need for a design, I'd be honored to help you with it. Let's do everything we can to speak for those who cannot.

Peace.

"Compassionate" Vegan T-Shirt Designs

Hello Folks. I've spent a lot of time on animal advocacy lately and the work inspired a few new women's t-shirt designs with a compassionate flavor. Now if I've done this right, you can click each image to learn more or purchase a shirt. As always, you may easily change the color or style to suit your personal style. Check them out and let me know what you think. 

Compassionate Warrior

Peace begins on your plate

I am a proud animal advocate

True fashion is compassion

We Can't Plead Ignorance

"We can't plead ignorance, only indifference. Those alive today are the generations that came to know better.

We have the burden and the opportunity of living in the moment when the critique of factory farming broke into the popular consciousness. 
 

Photo used with permission (c) Jo-Anne McArthur

We are the ones of whom it will be fairly asked, 'What did you do when you learned the truth about eating animals?' "
~ Jonathan Safran Foer

The Sensitive Seven

Being a vegan doesn't necessarily mean you're a model of good health. It's still important to understand how to eat so that you feel your very best. Lately I've wanted to ramp up my energy level, so a holistic and integrative doctor friend recommended I try a 21-day food sensitivity program. This cleansing program requires that you eliminate ingredients from your diet that are known to cause food reactions. The logic is that these foods/ingredients make up a majority of the typical diet and are, therefore, overeaten. As a result, we develop food sensitivities that manifest in all kinds of ways including lethargy, weight gain, weight loss, depression, mental dullness, forgetfulness, etc…

I’m a pretty healthy person. The main reasons I am willing to give this a try is:

1) Its only 21 days. I can do anything for 21 days.

2) I’d certainly like to lose a few pounds.

3) Increased vitality and mental clarity, who would say no to that??

4) The summer heat saps my energy. I don't want to be a slug.    

So here’s the list of foods that are considered the sensitive seven:

• Eggs
• Dairy
  (no worries, wouldn't touch the stuff.)
• Gluten
• Soy
• Corn
• Peanuts
• Sugar

For sure, it won’t be easy. I love carbohydrates. There, I said it. If left to my own devices, I could easily turn into sugar and carb-crazed addict, so I try to *somewhat* limit my carb intake. As always, my main protein will come from beans & rice, quinoa, hummus – all high on the carb count. Thank goodness, I can have raw nut and seed butters (just not peanut butter). So that will continue to be a go-to food.

At the very least, it will be interesting.

Have you ever done an elimination diet? Was it a valuable experience?
______________________________

Edited to include a better explanation:
This prompted a lively conversation and interesting questions in a social media group, so I thought more info was needed...

No doubt this will be a challenge but it is not a long term eating plan (necessarily). The concept is to eliminate all 7 foods for 21 days to allow them to clear your system completely. Then you start adding food back--slowly, one item at a time--and see if you have an adverse reaction. If so, eliminate that food again and move to the next. At the end, you will know what you can easily tolerate and what you should consume in moderation (or avoid completely).