Whole Story

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.

“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.”

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.

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.