Food as Medicine in Food Retail, Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

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OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

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Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

The food retail setting provides unique opportunity for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to help improve public health by literally meeting customers in the aisles (or perhaps on the grocery store website) as they navigate food choices and make shopping decisions on a regular basis. Supermarket dietitians are in a very accessible sweet spot between healthcare and public health, where the rubber meets the road, providing innovative, nutrition-focused, solution-oriented guidance for shoppers.

By Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN, Director, Health & Well-being, FMI <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/food-as-medicine.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1896089_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="food as medicine" title="food as medicine" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> The food retail setting provides unique opportunity for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to help improve public health by literally meeting customers in the aisles (or perhaps on the grocery store website) as they navigate food choices and make shopping decisions on a regular basis. Supermarket dietitians are in a very accessible sweet spot between healthcare and public health, where the rubber meets the road, providing innovative, nutrition-focused, solution-oriented guidance for shoppers. The concept of “Food as Medicine” is based on connecting the science of food and nutrition to health. Making this connection in food retail can be highly effective with slight behavior change that can ultimately enhance shopping, cooking and overall eating patterns. Food as Medicine programs in the food retail environment have defined focus areas that connect food and nutrition to improved health: <ul> <li>Encouragement of health and well-being.</li> <li>Management and treatment of disease. </li> <li>Improvement of nutrition security.</li> <li>Promotion of food safety.</li> </ul> This conceptual definition for Food as Medicine was developed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (<a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2021/01/15/defining-food-as-medicine-in-food-retail">Defining Food as Medicine in Food Retail blog post</a>) and is supported by the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/about-us/policy-statements/view/policy-statements/2021/03/01/food-as-medicine">FMI Board Policy Statement on Food as Medicine</a>. FMI will continue to collaborate with the Academy Foundation to promote best practices, develop framework for strategic initiatives, and further support the work of RDNs in food retail settings. The Academy Foundation has a Food as Medicine website with several supportive resources that have already been developed and more are on the way: <a href="http://www.eatrightfoundation.org/foodasmedicine">www.eatrightfoundation.org/foodasmedicine</a>. The newest resource, the Food as Medicine Retail Nutrition Landscape white paper, provides more background information to include program models and implications within health and well-being platforms and framework for building successful programs. Also on the Food as Medicine website, a powerful one-minute video showcases the promise that the concept holds when applied strategically to the focus areas, particularly when RDNs in food retail lead the way as trusted experts and key partners in a consumer’s health and shopping journey. And with consumers adding foods to their carts with an increased interest in eating better to stay healthy and well, why not meet them where the rubber meets the road with credible guidance? <a href="http://www.eatrightfoundation.org/foodasmedicine" class="button">Learn More</a>

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Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.