Past Fantastic Story Winners

I am a disabled woman living on limited means and occasionally get help from food pantries. I was given your Vegetarian Sloppy Joe product in one of my grocery bags recently. I was very reluctant to try it and after several weeks thought: "what the heck" AND I loved it! I am now trying to locate a store in Tyler, Texas that carries this particular item. I try to watch my diet though I am not a vegetarian. This stuff was so good I didn't miss the meat and I have been telling all my health conscious friends about it and they want to try it as well, I hope you can help me locate grocers you supply in the Tyler, Texas area so I can purchase this wonderful product! Thanks a million.

Melissa Isham
Tyler, Texas

I was frantic to find healthy foods since my husband's blood test was way out of wack. Our Publix food store carried "Fantastic Foods". All is well now that we know the right foods are available which will continue to give us a healthy active life. Our doctor uses Floyd as an example of what a change in life style and especially diet can do for a body. He was taken out of the "jaws" (See photo!) of certain death by better food. We need to get the word out to eat right. I am dedicated to research and investigations. Let the truth be told about junk food. Look at the sale papers and see that all that sugar and fat ladden food is offered at sale prices. Let the buyer beware.

Phyllis Skoglund
Florida

You are NOT fair! You failed to put a warning label on your Vegetarian Chili to let us new customers know that to eat this stuff is to get HOOKED....Big Time! I purchased a box of your Vegetarian Chili last night at a Healthway Natural Food Store in Bowie Maryland because our church is on a Daniel Fast. I prepared the chili and I was instantly transported into a heavenly world of delectable flavors and tastes. I tried to eat the entire meal! I discovered that I had forgotten to add the drained tomatoes. This stuff is so good I don't know if I want to add any tomatoes!

A little warning label might have caused me to get two boxes at the same time, and now I have to drive the miles back to that store to load up!

Thank you for such a wonderful product. I will practice discipline and moderation...just as soon as I get my fill of your chili! Please feel free to use this testimony at any time. You have my permission to do so!!

Rev. Dr. Judy Fisher
Maryland

I am so glad I found your web site! I recently received an order I placed online for your organic soups. I am a vegetarian deployed in Afghanistan with the Army, and have been living for the past few months basically on corn flakes and PBJ's. The soups taste great, and are really easy for me to make over here without access to a kitchen. I've brought the cups on missions throughout the country, and so no matter where I end up I always have something good to eat. Thanks for a great product, and thanks for delivering to APO addresses!

Alvin Poncin
Afghanistan

I just wanted to say thank-you soooooo much for your products. For the past five years i have been using mainly your box mix meals and they are out of this world! My vegetarian diet was never so healthy until i incorporated your products in many everday recipes. I now have my husband hooked (who by the way is a HUGE meat eater) he told someone last night at a wedding that he prefers when i make your brand chili and tacos than any real meat version! thats impressive (believe me)! Thanks for keeping my family healthy and making my life easier. Keep up the great work!

Christina Bianco-Jessen
Indiana

Starting back when I was in high school, I was always looking for a portable lunch option that I could make easily. I really liked soup, but the canned stuff requires a can opener, and is really heavy (not to mention high in sodium). Finding Fantastic Foods soup cups was so exciting. Over the years I've tried all the other brands, buying whatever was on sale, but none match Fantastic Foods in flavor or taste. My favorites are the Cha Cha Chili and the Split Pea Soup. Branching out into dinner options, I tried to make vegetarian chili from scratch (and meat chili), but neither one compared to the Cha Cha Chili. So now my gold standard is to buy the Fantastic Foods vegetarian chili mix. Same thing happened when I tried to make falafel. It's easier and cheaper to buy your mixes than to make them from scratch. And since it's tastier too, why would I do anything else? Thank you, Fantastic Foods, for making my cooking simpler and tastier!

Gail Sweeney
Massachusett

Thank you for helping me to meet several objectives in my family! Recently my mother had surgery on her knee, making it very difficult for her to stand or walk. This meant that she, a fantastic cook, could not cook her own meals for several weeks. In addition, she also has Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and she is supposed to limit her sugar and carbohydrate intake. Wanting to help her follow a healthy diet, and not being very "gifted" as a cook myself, I turned to Fantastic Foods products for some help! I knew that Fantastic Foods products are healthy, easy to prepare, and offer ethnic food choices which my mother would like; she is an immigrant from Lebanon. Wow!--with little effort and preparation time, I was able to make the Original Hummus, Tabouli, and Falafel. They are so delicious, flavorful!, and healthy. We were able to eat these foods with my mom's homemade flat bread, which she had prepared and frozen before her surgery. Because of Fantastic Foods options, I was able to help my mom, and she was able to eat foods she loves while following her dietary guidelines! Thanks again for the help, and for making great products!

Rebecca David
Iowa

I recently discovered your wonderful products, and am particularly partial to your Vegetarian Chicken Noodle soup bowls. Wow! As a longtime vegetarian, and cautious about my sodium and sugar intake, I've never come across a soup as tasty and healthy as yours. To top it off, my dog has had digestive problems with certain dog foods in the past, but she seems to do well with simple foods like veggies and noodles, and she loves your soups, too! I always let her finish off my Fantastic soups -- what little I don't immediately slurp up -- and she does so with great flourish and much licking of the bowl. In fact, she gets excited just seeing me pull a bowl of Fantastic soup out of the cabinet! These low-cal soups are greatly enjoyed by Belle (said pooch) and myself. I look forward to trying other of your products, and imagine they will be of the same high quality. Can't wait to start receiving your newsletter as well. Thanks for letting me share my story. Your soups now have an exalted place in my kitchen.

Sharon Brown
Maryland

I am a doctor, currently in my Internal Medicine residency and have been a vegetarian using your products for over 10 years. Although I have converted many unsuspecting friends with your Vegetarian Chili mix, I have never been able to convince my husband (who is anything but a vegetarian) that vegetarian food is delicious and flavorfully as well as healthy. I have been able to get him to try and love your Tabouli mix, and we make it regularly. Last night I made your Falafel as a healthful alternative to his ground beef burgers. He refuses to eat any frozen meatless burgers, but was surprised and amazed at the flavor of this falafel. "Wow," he said, "I could eat this all the time." Yea, with only 2 grams of fat it is so much healthier than meat, and less expensive. Hopefully with your products we will continue to find healthy and low fat options that he too will enjoy, without sacrificing flavor! Keep up the good work, Fantastic. Quick, easy, and healthy - what more can you ask for?

Kristin Scott-Tillery
Rhode Island

In September of 2005 I had a heart attack! My cardiologist told my wife that I need to become a vegetarian and cut fat intake to almost none. I thought "no problem"...until I started shopping for vegetarian products and reading vegetarian recipes! Most are anything BUT low fat. Then I discovered Fantastic Foods Nature Burger mix. WOW! Amazing taste, low fat and a bunch of great recipes to use it in. We have since started buying Sloppy Joe mix and Taco mix. You guys make being vegetarian AND low fat easy. I've lost 25 lbs and I'm in great shape. My cholesterol is down to 110! I tell my cardiologist to recommend Fantastic Foods Burger mix. Thank you!

Bob Ketcham
Pennsylvania

Fantastic Story Winner - April 2006

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your AWESOME foods! I'm a vegan, and I used to make most of my foods from scratch, but I recently opened a bunny rescue center and I'm WAY TOO BUSY to do all that cooking! I just recently tried your burgers and I love them with mushrooms! A friend also suggested making meatloaf with the burger mix...I'll be trying that soon cuz I haven't had meatloaf in years. Another winner of yours is the taco and sloppy joe mixes. I could never imitate that. My favorite thing to do with those is to mix in some enchilada spices and either make enchiladas (of course) OR bring it to a party with corn chips and amaze everyone when I tell them that it isn't meat...it's a winner EVERY SINGLE TIME! I've actually had friends request that I bring it to parties...I just keep it warm on the stove or in a fondue pot. Thanks, you're FANTASTIC!

Sharry Revillini
Connecticut

Fantastic Story Winner - March 2006


Steve, on active duty in Kuwait

Greetings from Kuwait! I wanted to let you know that your Fantastic cup soups really are Fantastic! I am deployed to Kuwait with the US Navy, and as you might imagine, our food choices here in the desert are not the greatest - either whatever they're serving in the chow hall, or what they sell in the small PX here. But your soups keep me going, I eat several of them a day. I really don't have a favorite, I like them all! Unfortunately, I can't get them out here, but my family keeps me well stocked. Think of it as "soups for troops." Thank you!

Steve
US Navy

Fantastic Story Winner - February 2006


	Sharon Turner and her loyal companion, Freedom!

I would like to credit Fantastic Foods for taking my son and I on the road to more healthy eating. I don't believe I had even heard of black beans back in 1995. At that time, I was a single parent and although working, was on a very low income. Swallowing my pride, I applied for a food hamper that December. Whoever made up the big box of food very kindly added a cup of Fantastic Foods Black Bean soup. I was leery of trying it, but when I did (and my son) we loved it and from that day forward added more and more healthy food to our diets. Thanks to that thoughtful person and thanks to you!

Sharon Turner
British Columbia


That is me hugging a big, majestic California redwood!

Fantastic Story Winner - January 2006

My husband and I have a traveling job and we are out on the road most of the year, we stay every night in a different hotel in a different city.

Fantastic Foods products are a God send! When we are tired of driving all day, we get to our hotel, pop a Fantastic Foods Ready Meal in the microwave and in just a few minutes we sit back and enjoy a delicious dinner!

Thank you for helping us eat good even when we're so far away from home!

Best wishes,
Alejandra B.
St. Peters, MO

Fantastic Story Winner - December 2005


	Bruce & Ann Craft

In Israel, your bulk Tabouli & Chili mix are a BIG HIT. Each time I get back to the USA I buy 5 lbs. of each to treat friends to special meals here in Jerusalem and Haifi. They think I am a great chef thanks to your GREAT products. Next year I plan to get back to the USA and buy more than 5 lbs. of each product. Thank you for such great meals far from home.

Respectfully,
Bruce & Ann Craft
Jerusalem, Israel

Earlier this year I went on my first diet! Im 23 years old and have always been skinny until this year. I started excercising and that lead to eating better. I had found your products and have been eating them ever since! They make my body and mind feel great! In my younger days ( hahaaa) I would have NEVER thought I would be eating the healthy things I do now. It really is amazing what eating better can do for you. I tell all my family and friends about your products! Oh yeah by the way I feel and look great! I truly am happy with myself.

Jeri Schweiger
California

Thank you Fantastic Foods! I am a flight attendant for a large domestic carrier. A usual day will consist of three to seven flights with little or no meal breaks. We do not serve meals, and our aircraft are not equipped to cook or prepare food. Our food choices are limited to bringing a cold bag, a dry bag, or eating airport food. Cold bags are difficult to travel with and keep cold. Dry foods usually contain salt, preservatives, and no nutrition. Airport food is expensive and unhealthy for the most part, and that\'s if we are able to leave the aircraft to get it. When I discovered Fantastic Foods about three years ago, my life changed. I absolutely love all the products, but mostly the soup and cereal cups. My favorite is Split Pea! Now, with only a little hot water, I can enjoy HOT, delicious, fast, but most of all healthy meals at work! They travel well, and my coworkers are always asking where they can find them!

Tara Woodruff
Florida

I'll start by telling a little about myself. I am a chef and own a small Italian restaurant with my wife. I have been a vegetarian for 11 years. 7 months ago I was 280lbs and not very happy especially with two small children at home (my weight was draining my energy). I made up my mind it was time to get in shape and spend quality time with my family. Being a chef and a restaurant owner I have access to any kinds of food I choose. I have tried all the different vegetarian soup products that I could find over the years. When I saw the Fantastic Big Soup on the shelf at the grocer I picked up the carton and began to read. The first thing that struck me was "RENNET FREE" (animal bi product).I instantly grabbed a few and was on my way to the check out. When I got home and tried the soup I was hooked. The flavor was outstanding and at that point I had decided these folks are the real deal. NO other products that I tried before this made any mention of Rennet or showed any real reference to real health issues. I have incorporated 2 Fantastic Big Soups in my everyday diet along with moderate exercise as well as fruit, veggies and protein. I am now 220 lbs and full of energy! As a restaurant owner/vegetarian I feel trust is most important for my guest's. I trust Fantastic products and will be enjoying them for a long time!! Thanks Fantastic for your honesty and fantastic products!!

Michael Fishman
Illinois

The other night I made the Taco Filling for the very first time. It was so quick and easy, done in just a few minutes. My 7 year old son loved them -- he had 3 tacos -- amazing (he loves the chili also)! The funny thing was, when I said to my husband, "Not bad for meatlss tacos," he said, "That was meatless?" I said, "They sure are!" He was surprised. I also had a cookout a few weeks ago and had a bunch of meat eaters there. I made the Vegaterian Chili and they all ate it. Boy, they were all surprised to find out it was meatless. I was hoping for leftovers, but I didn't have any.

Beth Corrente
Rhode Island

Fantastic Story Winner - August 2005

Four years ago I became a Vegetarian not for health reasons, but because of my love for animals. Having grown up a meat and potatoes gal, I had no idea what I would eat instead of meat. I ventured into the health food section of my local supermarket and discovered your products. I tried the Sloppy Joe Mix, Taco Filling and Soups. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were delicious and I didn't miss my former diet at all! I continue to enjoy your products, especially the Big Bowl Soups which make a very convenient lunch at work. Thanks for making being a Vegetarian both easy and tasty!

Karen Guiney
Massachusetts

Fantastic Story Winner - July 2005

I recently discovered your Big Soup products and they have made a positive impact on me for several reasons. First, let me tell you that I am not a vegetarian, though I do try to eat natural foods, whole grains, and lots of fruits and vegetables. I have been about 60 pounds overweight for the last few years. I haven't had the best eating habits, especially due to not usually eating lunch at work. This habit of not eating all day at work would lead to overeating at dinner and even binge eating in the evening. Then three weeks ago I discovered Big Soups. They are healthy, delicious, and filling. Each Monday, I bring 5 soups in to my office and can easily stow them in a desk drawer. At lunchtime, I can just add boiling water from the tap on our water cooler and I'm set! I can either eat while I'm working or even join others in the staff room for lunchtime conversation- something I've not been doing. Best of all, I've lost 5 pounds so far and I directly attribute it to Fantastic Foods! The portion size is great, not too small :) and I love the flavor- just spicy enough but not too hot! My favorites are Split Pea and Couscous with Lentils.

My profession is to educate college students about community service and active citizenship, which includes corporate social responsibilty. I feel great that eating your products is not only helping me personally with my health, but I am also supporting a company that exemplifies these values, especially through your "Cases for Causes" and "Potluck Program".

Thank you so much for these great products and for your work supporting communities.

Mindy Nierenberg
Massachusetts

Fantastic Story Winner - June 2005

My name is Pintoo Desai and I am a strict vegetarian: I do not eat meat, eggs, fish or any other meat. I do use dairy products. It was hard for me to find products that were free of all the garbage you get in commercial, ready to eat foods, like Hydrogenated fat, MSG, hydrolized protein, artificial flavors, colors etc. Plus, the amount of sodium you consume each time is too much. And with children, one is 2 years old and the other one is 4 weeks old, there is no time to prepare full meals everyday. Then, I came across these wonderful products from Fantastic Foods! I always buy products after reading what goes into making it. I read all the ingredients on the "Spanish Paella" and it said 100% vegetarian, with no MSG and other things. I was so impressed that I bought a whole bunch of other products, including Mandarin Broccoli soup, Spicy Thai noodle soup, and some Traditional Vegetarian meals.

Since that day I have been a loyal fan of Fantastic Foods and my two year old loves to eat it, too! I do not have to worry about the sodium or sugar content as these products are so healty. I also lost some weight eating these healthy products without being on any kind of diet. I am going to continue eating Fantastic Foods products and I have couple of friends who also liked these products. I just wanted to say that being vegetarian is a good way to stay healthy and free of all the antibiotics, hormones and toxins that you get when you consume meat and other meat related by-products.

Be Vegetarian !!!
Pintoo Desai

Fantastic Story Winner - May 2005

I have been a meat eater all-my-life: 50 years. I began eating vegetarian meals this past month. For the first time in my life, I can actually see how eating this way can actually work. I just finished eating your Taco Filling (vegan style), and boy was I impressed! My roommate and I sat amazed with each bite that we took, because the taste was absolutely remarkable. The consistency of the food was perfect. It only took a few minutes to prepare and quite frankly, I firmly believe that I can live the rest of my life with more meals like this, and never miss meat again. Thanks ever-so-much.

Continued Blessings,
Adriane
California

Fantastic Story Winner - April 2005

Just about a year ago this month, I was overweight, depressed and unhealthy. I decided I had to make positive changes in my lifestyle in order to ever function happily again. A friend and I switched to a vegetarian lifestyle partly because we wanted to feel better on the inside, and partly because we wanted to see some changes on the outside! So, at 5'4" and 155 lbs. I put down the steak and started eating veggies. It wasn't so hard at first but sometimes I was overwhelmed because of school, work and other commitments - I never had time to cook. I found your product line in a grocery store where my parents live and I tried a few things. However, I got absolutely HOOKED on your Vegetarian Pad Thai with Noodles. I seriously eat this stuff 3 times a week at least. It's funny, too with all this "low-carb" diet propaganda floating around, everyone I talk to about being vegetarian says they're afraid to get "fat." Well, it's just about a year later and I dropped 35 pounds. I eat better, I eat lots of veggies and soy products like seitan and tofu, and I rarely eat cheese or dairy. I think that if more people adopted a true vegetarian diet, not just pasta & bagels, more people would be healthier and happier like me. =]

Suzanne
New Jersey

Fantastic Story Winner - March 2005

I started eating Fantastic Foods about 2 months ago. I am a college student, so cooking for myself can be difficult. I also like to eat healthy. I tried many different brands of soups but I didn't really like any of them. Most of them were either too salty or had too much fat. Then I found these amazing "Big Soups" and I'M ADDICTED!! I have gotten all of my roommates and my other friends addicted also. We have our "Fantastic" Sunday dinners and we all enjoy it so much. My favorite is the CHA CHA CHILI! It fills you up and tastes SO good! Thanks for creating such a healthy and enjoyable soup! My roommates and I will continue to eat Fantastic Foods, because the food really is FANTASTIC!

Sabrina McElroy
New York

Fantastic Story Winner - February 2005

Tired of the same old dried beans,
need to find some tasty new things,
with a growl in my tummy I walked to the store
prepared to find bland foods galore.

So I paced around humming to myself,
when I noticed a different box on the shelf...
hhhmmm....vegetarian taco meat,
this may be something I could eat!

So a little sceptical I headed home,
stomach rumbling, with food in tow,
simmered this "meat" up on the stove,
and what a surprise when my boyfriend came home!

"OH! Is that meat? You're vegetarian!" he shouted with fright,
while the steaming meal filled my nose with delight,
we grabbed a napkin, fork and bowl,
within minutes we were scrumptiusly full.

Never again will I rely,
on the same old foods, now I will try
every Fantastic food on the shelf
to treat my taste buds, oh yeah...and my health!

Alyssa K. Fisher
Washington

Fantastic Story Winner - Januray 2005

Just wanted to say THANK YOU!! I am 30 years old and have been battling a hereditary high cholesterol problem. I have always found it extremely hard to stick to a disciplined heart healthy diet due to the fact that there are so few quick lunch options that ACTUALLY taste good. So one day at work I walked by a co-workers desk and smelled something I thought had to be made of all the wrong ingredients, nothing that smelled that good could be good for me. Much to my suprise he showed me the cup of your Big Soup Minestrone and said I had to try it. The next day I purchased a cup for myself and "WOW" is it GOOD!! THANK YOU for a guilt free lunch that I always look forward to having. I could not be more satisfied and look forward to trying all of your products.

Thanks again,
Jeremy MacNutt
Massachusetts

Fantastic Story Winner - December 2004

My husband and I are both competitive athletes. He is a cyclist and I am a runner. We both assumed that we were in perfect health. About two years ago, we decided to start our family. We both had physicals done just be sure everything was alright. We got our results back and the numbers from our cholesterol knocked our socks off. How could two very active late twenty-something's, who thought they had a great diet be at risk of heart disease?

Well, since then we have totally changed our diets, drastically. We are totally free of any diary and meat products, and are one step away from vegan. Fantastic Foods has changed our eating and our lives. Everything is wonderful tasting and our cholesterol is in check. Thanks!
Jennifer Kremer
Kentucky

Share your Fantastic Story with us!

Do you have a great experience to share about Fantastic products? We'd like to hear about it and share it with other customers.

Every month, we'll select one story that will get printed here. The winning author will receive one free case of Fantastic products of his/her choosing. We'd like to hear how Fantastic Foods has improved your health, helped you lose weight, or helped you follow a particular dietary preference. Above all, we want to hear about your FANTASTIC experiences with Fantastic Foods. To submit a story, just fill out the form below...