Canning jars are perfect for a healthy and delicious salad. The dressing goes on the bottom, with heavier or harder ingredients making up the next layer(s), perhaps topped off with some fresh leafy greens. Everything stays crisp and separate until it is time to toss the salad in a bowl ready to serve and enjoy.

When made ahead these 150 tempting and innovative recipes last for days in the fridge for almost a week's worth of lunches and/or dinners. These "grab and go" salads are ideal on those harried weekday mornings or busy weekends. Tanya Linton includes creative snacks and breakfasts as well as a chapter devoted to rice bowls and even desserts.

Lettuce-based salads like Italian Salad (chopped salami, spicy green beans, white beans and Pecorino), Green Goddess (sugar snap peas, proper peas and edamame with hoisin chicken) or Sweet and Salty Salad (arugula, figs, buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto) are great for the whole family.

For something more hearty, there are also noodle and grain/legume based salads like Pasta Carbonara Salad (pasta, cooked eggs, cooked pancetta, baby arugula), Chicken Soup Salad (noodles, carrots, celery, chopped kale and chicken) and Layered Tabbouleh Salad (couscous, cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, onion).

For a dessert idea for an office celebration or a picnic, Pretty Pavlovas, Layed Cheater Chocolate Cheesecake and Banana Bread Parfait are favorites.

Tanya Linton is Director of Original Production at Home and Garden Television overseeing some of its most successful shows. She's an accomplished writer and producer who is able to work across a variety of genres. She is also the co-author of The Ice Cream Bible.

Tanya Linton's profile page

Recipes packed with vegetables and fruits, combined with the book's stunning photographs, will inspire many a culinary adventure in gardener-cooks.

Times Colonist