I first realized what a difference a good diet makes when I entered flight school as a young man.

It was very difficult to be selected to go to flight school; a fraction of those who apply are selected. I remember the first day of class at flight school. Our instructors told us to look around, because in 12 months, half of the class would not make it to graduation. My instructors now had my attention.

The next thing they told us sounded a lot like what my mom had said. They stressed the importance of eating healthy and nutritious foods. They also encouraged us to make sure we got a good night’s sleep. I really wanted to make it to graduation; I decided to focus on studying hard, eating good foods, getting enough exercise, and a good night sleep.

These were basic lessons that I had not followed in college, but by following the instructor’s (and mom’s) advice, I could see that my performance was enhanced in flight school. I did make it to graduation day, and was lucky enough to be selected to fly the top performing aircraft.

A healthy diet is no less vital for everyone -- especially for seniors and children -- for good health, well-being and performance.

In these difficult economic times, the high costs of food, fuel and health care are making it hard for many seniors and young families to pay all the bills and put food on the table at the same time.

If you are having difficulties paying for food, I want to encourage you to make a phone call to 211. A program called 3SquaresVT may help.

3SquaresVT is a program that works with US Department of Agriculture. It was created to temporarily help people buy food, and to support local businesses and farmers. If you are having difficulties buying food for yourself or your family right now, I would encourage you to make a call to see you qualify for food assistance.

If you are a senior, please call 211. The application can be sent to your home or you can get help filling it out by calling your local Area Agency on Aging or the Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119. If you have medical expenses, that may mean a higher food benefit. For those 65 or over, your benefits are deposited as cash directly into your bank account, giving you more privacy and flexibility as well. This way, you can even use your benefits to donate toward your meals at the senior center or for Meals on Wheels.

Many Vermonters are facing challenges right now. If you are, it’s important to know that you are not alone. In fact, more than 63,000 Vermonters use 3SquaresVT. We are all working for a recovery in our nation’s economy. But for now, if you are skimping on nutritious groceries to save money, I encourage you to learn more about 3SquaresVT.

A proper role of government is to provide a safety net in difficult times for our neighbors who may need assistance. The 3SquaresVT enhancements have made this safety net stronger. Our goal is to structure 3SquaresVT as a strong safety net: less like a spider web, and more like a trampoline.

I understand that Vermonters are an independent people who are reluctant to ask for help. But if you need help feeding yourself or your family, it is important for you to know that the safety net just got a little stronger.

Jet pilots are not the only ones who need to eat nutritious food. Everyone needs access to healthy food, and 3SquaresVT can help.

For more information or an application, visit http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/3SquaresVT or
www.vermontfoodhelp.com. Or call simply dial 2-1-1 and ask for information about 3SquaresVT.

Brian Dubie is Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor. E-mail his office at martha.hanson@state.vt.us, or visit www.ltgov.state.vt.us

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