Vilayvanh Bender

Vilayvanh Bender is a children's book author who conducts visits to schools, libraries, and events. She immigrated to America with her family as a young Lao refugee. Vilayvanh values the importance of cultural preservation and acceptance. 

Her book, Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers, is based on her childhood in Laos, contrasted with her daughter's life in the United States. This award-winning book has reached and delighted readers across the globe. It made history as the first book ever published in California by a Lao American woman. 

Vilayvanh is also a private practice Registered Dietitian, working with children and families. She became a Registered Dietitian because of her grandmother. As a teenager, she acted as her grandmother’s translator and drove her to medical appointments. The seed for her career in dietetics was planted when her grandmother, who was on dialysis, received a list of culturally unfamiliar foods to increase her potassium. Among the foods, her grandmother would only eat mashed potatoes. Since the family didn’t know how to prepare them, Vilayvanh bought them from a fast-food restaurant. Unfortunately, while her grandmother’s potassium increased, so did her sodium, which negatively impacted her health. This moment stayed with Vilayvanh. After her grandmother’s passing, she decided to become a Registered Dietitian to help others like her grandmother.

She hopes to inspire people to pursue their dreams, be proud of their heritage, and share their stories.