Living on a 3SquaresVT Food Budget

Guest Blog post by our 3SquaresVT Advocacy Manger, Angela Smith-Dieng

This post is part of our month-long blog series in celebration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' "National Nutrition Month." This year's theme is, "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day," so each of us here at Hunger Free Vermont will take a turn to share a personal goal, story or fact regarding nutrition through daily blog posts throughout the month.

Living on a tight food budget is no fun. Choices in the grocery store can be agonizing, and trying to make meals stretch is difficult and stressful. This month some of the doctors and staff at the Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care are putting themselves in their patient’s shoes by taking the 3SquaresVT Challenge, which asks Vermonters to try living on a 3SquaresVT food budget for one week, spending an average of $1.80 on each meal.  The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the difficulties many Vermont families face trying to feed their children.  Dr. Lewis First, Chief of Pediatrics, is leading the charge, taking the Challenge this week and calling on his team of doctors and staff to do the same.  They will use their experiences to raise awareness about the importance of strengthening nutrition programs to support the health of children and families across Vermont. 

I take the Challenge each year as I find it helps keep me grounded and motivated in my work to help make 3SquaresVT the best it can be for Vermonters.  Watch this WPTZ video interviewing Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger who took the Challenge with his family last fall.  If you’re inspired to take the Challenge, too, you can click here for more information or to get started.