Tasty lunch boxes anyone can manage

Marcus Frank is not trying to be the best. He simply wants to suggest food that feels manageable amid busy weekdays and life’s many challenges. His packed-lunch ideas include meals that can also serve as family dinners.

One option is chicken kebab stew with curry, a quick dish that works equally well as a lunch box meal or a dinner for the whole family. Frank also highlights oven-baked raggmunk, a Swedish potato pancake. Vanilla cottage cheese may make some readers hesitate, but he says its sweetness works with the bacon’s saltiness and lingonberry jam.

Other suggestions include broccoli gratin with turkey bacon, which combines colorful vegetables with a generous amount of food, and a cheeseburger-flavored pasta salad. The latter keeps the familiar burger ingredients and dressing while replacing the bun with pasta, making it suitable for an outing.

Frank advises adding extra sauce when food will sit in the refrigerator overnight. He also recommends containers with separate compartments, adding a few tablespoons of water before reheating rice, and using extra pepper and salt after reheating. He does not give serving numbers because people and families need different amounts of food.