Jenny Mollen–New York Times bestselling author, media darling, and Instagram personality behind @dictatorlunches–takes the stress out of packing lunch with this fun and creative collection of lunchbox ideas and healthy recipes that are sure to please even your pickiest child.

Sid, or, as I lovingly refer to him, ‘the dictator, ’ rarely finishes any meal, and that’s okay. My goal isn’t to stuff him like a foie gras goose, it’s just to expose him to things and, truth be told, to entertain him. That is how empires are won and salad eaters are made: brick by brick, seaweed snack by seaweed snack. –Jenny Mollen

Lighthearted cooking with a heavy dose of love

Any parent will tell you that raising dictators… errr, children … can be challenging. Thankfully Jenny Mollen of @dictatorlunches takes the power struggle out of mealtime with this inspired collection of 40 recipes, from filling breakfasts to healthy snacks, dinners, and desserts–with a special emphasis on solving the age-old problem of school lunch.

Dictator Lunches will soon become your secret weapon in the kitchen. Mollen shares her foolproof method for packing winning lunches along with easy-to-master techniques that will transform ordinary ingredients into adorable edible art, like Strawberry Actresses, Cucumber Penguins, and Rice Pandas. With her trademark playfulness and whimsy, Mollen turns meals into feasts fit for any autocrat, no matter how demanding, featuring:

Insta-ready Avocado Toast Better Than Alphabet Cookies Logs. They Aren’t Just for Ants Anymore Fruit-juiced Gummy Worms in Granola soil Healthy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cups on a Stick

Complete with international dishes for your jet-setting tyrant like Amateur Hour Japchae, Curry Chicken, and Coconut Rice and Beans, and holiday-themed boxes with Reindeer Celery Sticks, Baruch Atah Adon-Applesauce, and Spinach Frankenstein Quesadillas, Dictator Lunches has you covered for every meal, every holiday, and any dictator’s whim.