Lunch Lady Book Written from the Cafeteria with Love

An invitation for the nutrition services director at Byron Center Schools in Michigan to be a guest reader in a classroom prompted a yearlong labor of love. Vince Sturgis just couldn’t find the perfect book to read to students, so he went to work on writing a book to share what nutrition teams do every day.

The two main characters in Sturgis’ new book, “Lunch Ladies Changing Lives: It’s Crunch Time”, are modeled after his two grandmothers, Dollie and Alma, both former lunch ladies. The students on its cover are his three daughters, Sloane, Olivia and Aiyana.

“I wanted to make sure I had an accurate depiction of the great impact lunch ladies have on children,” said Vince Sturgis, Nutrition Services Director, Byron Center Public Schools.

The book tells the story of two lunch ladies who positively impact the students they serve, with their exciting costumes and silly jokes. The lunch ladies create an experience that is both entertaining and memorable.

The book encourages children to have fun with food and make the most of their lunchtime also teaching them important lessons about the value of a good meal and laughter.

Around Byron Center Public Schools, Sturgis is known as “Mr. Carrot” to students and can be spotted wearing his carrot costume during taste-tests at lunchtime or when reading his book to students.  

“When I do my rounds in schools, I go in my regular clothes to meet with staff and take part in meetings, but then I go out to my car to put on the costume,” said Sturgis. “The smiles it brings are just amazing, I try to keep it a surprise when Mr. Carrot makes his appearances.”

He says children have been asking him to sign their books with his Mr. Carrot alias. Sturgis hopes that children will take away from the story messages on having fun with food and trying something new and that it encourages them to like new foods.

“Lunch Ladies Changing Lives: It’s Crunch Time” can be found on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.