Say good-bye to the same boring, limited lunch rotation, and hello to everyone’s new favourite meal of the day! Lunchbox contains literal months’ worth of recipes for flavorful, filling, nutritious, and delicious meals—guaranteed to stay fresh until lunchtime. With chapters on Soups, Sandwiches, Salads, Warm Bowls, Cold Bowls, Handpies, and Brunch for Lunch—as well as simple, satisfying snacks and sweet treats to pack alongside—these straightforward recipes will get anyone out of that dreaded lunch rut for good.

Every recipe has a “Get Ahead” tip, calling out exactly what to make ahead of time, as well as a “Packing Tip” on how to assemble a balanced and beautiful lunchbox. The steps are fuss-free, and all ingredients can be found in any local grocery store. In addition, you’ll find lunch packing strategies and multi-week meal plans to help you efficiently plan your menu and your time, streamlining meal prep to avoid that stressful morning crunch.

This book is great for any eating pattern, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, hot weather and cold weather seasonal suggestions, and freezer-friendly choices, too.

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Basic Crunchy Granola

MAKES: 4 CUPS 

ACTIVE TIME: 10 MIN 

TOTAL TIME: 35 MIN

I love to start my day with a bowl of yogurt and berry–topped granola, and from a young age my kids have enjoyed a granola parfait for lunch or as an after-school snack. Granola is so easy and inexpensive to make at home and allows you to add your favourite mix of seeds, dried fruit, and more. Treat this recipe as a blank canvas and add whatever ingredients you have in your pantry, or anything that jumps out at you while grocery shopping. Keep a batch on hand for days when you just have a few minutes to throw together something for lunch, to avoid a disappointing fast-food alternative.

2 ½ cups rolled oats

¼ cup whole flaxseeds

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

¼ cup raisins

¼ cup dried cranberries

½ cup grapeseed or sunflower oil

½ cup honey or other liquid sweetener

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, and cranberries. Pour in the oil and honey and stir together to evenly coat.
3. Tip the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through and keeping an eye on it during the last 5 minutes to be sure the dried fruit does not burn. Remove from the oven when the granola is caramel brown. It will crisp up as it cools.

Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.

PACKING TIP : Pack a generous scoop of granola alongside some yogurt and berries or other fresh fruit. If you don’t have to be mindful of nuts, top it with roasted walnuts, pecans, or sliced almonds too.

NOTE

Dried apples, apricots, cherries, and figs are all lovely additions to granola.

Sunflower and sesame seeds, as well as cacao nibs and hemp hearts, will add crunch to your cereal bowl. Add the cacao nibs and hemp hearts after baking, as they can become bitter when baked.

GET AHEAD: This granola can be made ahead and stored at room temperature for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Excerpted with permission from Lunchbox by Aviva Wittenberg © 2024. Published by Union Square & Co.