United Living Well Family

By Euell Mendez 

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word diet? Do you think of what to eat or specific supplements to take? Or maybe where to go to find your choice of diet’s specific foods? 

If any of these questions pop up first in your mind, then look no further then United Market Street and their Living Well Department! 

There are 19 store locations spread out across Texas each with an average of over 1500 customer visits per day. All together that’s 14.4 million customer visits annually to our Market Street stores. The Living Well departments have continued to provide excellent products securing our dependability when it comes to new and current shoppers who are exploring a dietary lifestyle.

According to a 2017 report by Deena M. Mato-McCoy with Supermarket News, the Living Well departments at Market Street attributed an average of 19.7% grocery sales at our Dallas/Fort Worth area locations. And an average of 7% at nine of the West Texas stores and more traditional styled hybrid locations that feature a limited Living Well section. 

McCoy also interviewed Alicia Brown, who was United Supermarket’s dietitian and health and wellness marketing manager at the time about United’s Living Well as a whole.

“Our goal was to provide wellness solutions that are simple, easy and convenient for our Market Street shoppers,” says Alicia Brown, the chain’s dietician and health and wellness marketing manager. “We are dedicated to making this an effortless journey for our guests because the easier it is for people to practice healthy living, the more people will stick to it.”  

“This dedication has helped earn the chain recognition and loyalty among its shoppers, as well as the title of Grocery Headquarters’ 2011 Wellness Retailer of the Year.” 

“United’s founder, H.D. Snell, opened the first store in Oklahoma. His philosophy: uphold a commitment to value, high quality products, outstanding guest service and community involvement. The United chain, which is now run by the Snell family’s fourth generation, used this mission statement to establish a new brand targeted specifically at consumers eager to live healthier lifestyles.” 

(McCoy, Deena M. “United Supermarkets’ Living Well initiative earns the chain Grocery Headquarters’ “Wellness Retailer of the Year” recognition”) 

There are many supermarket chains across the U.S. but United has always set their standards much higher compared to our competitors from the day its first store opened its doors in 1916. Always providing quality over quantity because we value our customer’s specific needs especially when it comes to those who choose to live healthier. 

The Living Well department consists of many staff members who will provide all the necessary knowledge on our wholefood products, how to get started on a specific diet, and where to begin on taking your first steps into a healthier life.

There are many different dieting options to explore but those who tailor towards living well emphasize eating whole and nutrient-dense foods instead of focusing on strict rules or calorie counting. The most common diets in the category of “living well” are the Mediterranean, DASH, and Flexitarian diets as they are often recommended by nutritionists due to promoting overall health.

Mediterranean Diet: 

The major benefits to following Mediterranean are lowering the risks of obtaining chronic health issues such as heart diseases, diabetes, or certain cancers. It has remained the most popular dietary option with the diet being mostly plant-based, focusing on promoting mental wellness and longevity. 

A short article titled, “The Mediterranean diet is the No. 1 diet for 2025: Why it’s still so popular among doctors, nutritionists” posted by Renee Onque with CBNC, states that the Mediterranean diet sits at the top of its list as it is a great example of a diet to follow for your health.

“A panel of 69 diet and nutrition experts, ranked 38 diets based on these criteria:” 

• Nutritional completeness 

• Health risks and benefits 

• Long-term sustainability 

• Evidence-based effectiveness 

“The Mediterranean diet finds its way in the top spot of the U.S. News & World Report’s best diets’ lists often. That has everything to do with how great following the diet can be for your health. The diet is mostly plant-based, diabetes-friendly and heart-healthy, according to the report. And it is known to help reduce the likelihood of developing conditions like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.” 

(Onque, Renee. “The Mediterranean diet is the No. 1 diet for 2025: Why it’s still so popular among doctors, nutritionists”)

United Market Street agrees with Onque’s article as we provide a variety of products that align with the Mediterranean diet within our Living Well’s bulk foods section. There is a large selection of grains, nuts, and beans for our customers to choose from to create a comfortable pallet for themselves.

DASH Diet:

The acronym “DASH” stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.” This option is designed to reduce sodium intake to help lower or prevent high blood pressure. It has been scientifically proven to treat one’s high blood pressure and cholesterol which leads to improved weight loss as well. 

The NIH (National Library of Medicine) posted an article titled “DASH Diet: A Review of Its Scientifically Proven Hypertension Reduction and Health Benefits” on this diet, talking about its dietary plan as it mitigates against hypertension and its complications.

“Numerous clinical studies, such as the PREMIER trial, DASH sodium study, and Omni Heart trial, as well as other studies, substantiate the DASH diet’s ability to manage hypertension. Beyond its profound impact on hypertension reduction, the DASH diet has exhibited notable efficacy in addressing an array of conditions such as heart failure, lipid homeostasis, dyslipidemia, and uric acid dysregulation. With its empirical foundation, the DASH diet emerges as an indispensable tool in the hypertension management toolkit, warranting its exploration and integration into various medical contexts.”

Market Street’s Living Well has realized the impact the DASH diet has on our customers that it tailors to. We continue to provide all the necessary consumables that align with the required wholefoods and vegetables. As stated earlier, our bulk foods section provides whole grains and nuts needed while our dairy section contains a variety of low-fat products to fulfill every customer’s needs.

Flexitarian Diet:

This diet is mainly plant-based, and its specific pallet is more flexible as compared to strict vegan or vegetarian diets, allowing for the occasional inclusion of meat and animal products. The two major benefits of Flexitarian is a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease, and it’s easier to sustain for many people as compared to other dietary choices. 

An article posted by Healthline, “The Flexitarian Diet: A Detailed Beginner’s Guide,” goes into detail about the Flexitarian diet and how beneficial it is for those who choose a vegetarian lifestyle and still enjoy some animal products like meat, fish, and dairy.

“The Flexitarian Diet has no clear-cut rules or recommended numbers of calories and macronutrients. In fact, it’s more of a lifestyle than a diet.” 

“It’s based on the following principles: 

• Eat mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. 

• Focus on protein from plants instead of animals 

• Be flexible and incorporate meat and animal products from time to time. 

• Eat the least processed, most natural forms of foods. 

• Limit added sugars and sweets.” 

“As a result of its flexible nature and focus on what to include rather than what to restrict, the Flexitarian Diet is a popular choice for people looking to eat healthier.”

The overall goal of Flexitarian is to eat more nutritious plant foods and consuming less meat for a healthier lifestyle. Since there aren’t too many restrictions, consumers can still enjoy having a say in what they eat while still following this diet’s guidelines.  

Market Street’s Living Well values this diet’s guidelines and encourages the idea of eating more natural forms of food as we provide a variety of whole foods, no sugar products, and unprocessed consumables.

We strive to provide every necessary product that our customers require for their diet of choice, and make sure to answer any questions they may have about other options to eat and live healthier. 

The next time you venture out shopping or decide to explore a new dietary life, join us over at Market Street and let us help you get started on your journey!