Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Engine 2 Foods

By Carly Price, December 22, 2012  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Carly Price

We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’re sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series. UPDATE: Thanks to everyone that entered. Congratulations to our randomly chosen winner, Gary!

Rip Esselstyn, creator and author of The Engine 2 Diet, is also a former firefighter, triathlete and son of a physician. It’s no wonder he’s passionate about health and wellness.

Engine 2 Foods

“My father conducted research around heart disease and diet,” Rip explains. “I’ve always been inspired by the work he does.”

Rip spent a decade as a professional, world-class triathlete and 12 years as a firefighter. He first developed the plant-strong diet for his colleagues at Station 2 in Austin, Texas, and the results were dramatic.

 “We had some guys who were overweight or had high cholesterol and together we turned that around,” Rip says. “They learned that plant-based foods could fill them up without filling them out with minimal salt, low fat, no added sugar and minimal processing.”

Engine 2 Foods

The fire station success story garnered national media attention, and a New York Times best-selling book soon followed. Then in 2009, a partnership with Whole Foods Market® led to the development of an exclusive line of Engine 2 foods (starting with hummus, salsa and organic crispbreads) designed to make it easier for more people to transition to a plant-based lifestyle.

Rip’s mission is to encourage people to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, and the Engine 2 product line is a natural fit with Health Starts Here®, Whole Foods Market’s healthy eating initiative.

Engine 2 Foods

Rip's Big Bowl cereal brings together a bountiful blend of four wholesome whole grain cereals: rolled oats, shredded wheat, wheat berries, and sprouted grains nuggets. These core ingredients are topped off with the omega-3 all-stars: ground flaxseed and walnuts. For added goodness, we include big, bold raisins in Rip's Big Bowl Original for extra sweetness in every bite! It's a filling and healthy way to start the day.

What changes are you making for the New Year?

The fine print: No purchase necessary. Promotion ends January 15, 2013, 11:59 PM CDT. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

 

976 Comments

Comments

Rose-Marie says ...
I would luv to win this, I've tried their hummus (sold at Whole Foods) and it is excellent! I am making a minor change that I expect to have a big impact. I normally buy veggies and fruits whole, then start recipes from scratch, chopping, etc. I notice that I haven't eaten as many veggies and fruit recipes that I would otherwise b/c of all the effort & time. SOOO I have noticed the EXCELLENT selection of pre-chopped veggies and fruits at Whole Foods and am buying them - saving the work & time - but making my dinner and other meals and snacks so much easier that I will be eating more veggies & fruits than ever!!!!!! The prices are good, too, for prepared veggies and fruits, I have been buying some and I'm very pleased with the prices and the results. Oh, I've also been drinking more juices - carrot my fav, but also various cherry, etc. I luv Columbia Gorge juices the best!!! Thank u for carrying all these wonderful products and produce!!!!
01/02/2013 3:35:26 PM CST
lisa d says ...
i believe in a plant strong diet and have renewed my commitment to health in 2013. i cant wait to try the products. thanks!
01/02/2013 4:09:53 PM CST
Bonnie Eldridge says ...
I'll try anything that nice fit man is selling. I just started his diet yesterday! Big change in this lifestyle of mine. Hat's off to Rip.
01/02/2013 6:16:00 PM CST
Mark W. says ...
I've been following the Esselstyn Reversing Heart Disease diet since my bypass surgery in 2011. My LDL, triglycerides and blood pressure numbers dropped within months to "newborn levels"as quoted by my cardiologist. I've been looking everywhere for a low fat hummus product line and finally just found it this evening at the Wexford, PA Whole Foods Market, Thanks so much for developing and commercializing the Engine2 Plant Strong Hummus product line, I no longer have to make my own. Looking forward to trying all four flavors which I purchased tonight, the Roasted Garlic version was delicious, and was consumed in total in one sitting.
01/02/2013 8:29:51 PM CST
William Raye says ...
I would LOVE to try Big Bow Cereal
01/02/2013 8:53:01 PM CST
Asia says ...
I intend to exercise regularly. There's a local 5k run in June that I'm going to sign up for to have a concrete goal to work towards.
01/03/2013 11:32:09 AM CST
Craig Sigrist says ...
I want to try Engine 2 products to help me lower my cholesterol & blood sugar levels to help me get off my prescription medications.
01/03/2013 11:33:12 AM CST
Jennifer says ...
I love what Rip is doing. My family went plant-strong last year and haven't looked back since. Oddly enough I will be working on putting on a few pounds this year and hope to build more muscle mass to achieve that goal.
01/03/2013 11:33:20 AM CST
Angela W says ...
Would love to try it!!!! Love Rip!
01/03/2013 11:33:44 AM CST
Amy Morosini says ...
I don’t need to make any more New Year’s resolutions because this year I made a life resolution. I went Plant Strong, I got healthy, I got motivated, I became inspired! I am in it forever!
01/03/2013 11:33:48 AM CST
Cathey says ...
Would love to have you build a Whole Foods in Missoula MT! Think about it.
01/03/2013 11:33:49 AM CST
Len Meyer says ...
We started the plant based diet a few months ago and continue to strengthen our life through this life style change.
01/03/2013 11:34:39 AM CST
Linda Juhl says ...
I've been searching for a cereal worthy of eating. This looks like it would be a good one to try. Thanks for all you do to educate us!
01/03/2013 11:34:58 AM CST
Willis Gravelle says ...
I've been veg*n for almost 30 years; but am only now learning how to be plant-strong. I've started eliminating processed foods and moving towards more whole foods - thanks in part to the Engine 2 book and the availability of better products at Whole Foods (which just opened a store near us a few months ago)!
01/03/2013 11:35:01 AM CST
Dan Smith says ...
Getting back to the natural....
01/03/2013 11:35:51 AM CST
Lynne Krulich says ...
Going Plant Strong by reducing processed foods, sweets, fried/fast foods etc. Doing this improve my health and set an example for others.
01/03/2013 11:35:51 AM CST
Sarah S. says ...
As a family, we are cutting out meat and animal products by about 95%. Personally, I am doing the Engine 2 Diet. During the last part of 2012, I was able to reduce my cholesterol by 48 points, and I plan on keeping it under 150 during 2013. Thanks for all the great products!
01/03/2013 11:35:57 AM CST
Jennifer says ...
Dairy is out the door! I am now 100% plant strong. I do struggle with breakfast as I am not a fan of oatmeal at all and I am trying to cut down on the bread, so this case of Rip's Big Bowl would be fabulous to win.
01/03/2013 11:36:34 AM CST
Sara Mitchell says ...
As a nurse it didn't take long to notice that I was handing out the same medications all day long for at least 5 major chronic illnesses. I began to think its just part of the aging process and then I saw Forks over Knives and the Engine 2 documentaries. It made since to me and its the solution that I decided to adopt as a lifestyle. It's been just over a month of eating a whole foods plant based diet and I feel amazing!!! I am committed to staying plant strong for life!
01/03/2013 11:36:35 AM CST
Julie says ...
I plan on continuing with my Engine2 lifestyle. I started in October and was real strong until the holidays when the sugar has started creeping back into my diet. Need to kick it to the curb!
01/03/2013 11:36:46 AM CST
Kbair says ...
I'm on it! Sprouting my grains, pureeing sauces and eliminating oils. I'm even cooking for my husband from Engine 2 cookbook! A new me in just a few days! Love it!
01/03/2013 11:37:10 AM CST
Carol Loftus says ...
I have been plant strong for one year! I have cut oils, meat and dairy from my diet and this year I am working on adding more fitness into my life.
01/03/2013 11:37:40 AM CST
April DeMarco says ...
I watched the movie Forks Over Knives and was so inspired. I've done cleanses which I love because of the format. I really need to fill in those blanks for the rest of year by finding products and companies that support my plant based goals and help a picky family follow suit- THE HARDEST OF ALL. Happy New Year. Best, April DeMarco
01/03/2013 11:37:46 AM CST
Kelly Glave says ...
The way we eat has been inspired and forever changed by Rip/Forks Over Knives/John McDougall/Linsday Nixon. Thank You.
01/03/2013 11:37:54 AM CST
Priscilla Pride says ...
I am re-reading your book and plan to follow it.
01/03/2013 11:38:01 AM CST

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