By: Franchesca Livarghi | @breakthrukitchen

Back-to-school or back-to-work season doesn’t mean your lunch has to be boring. Finding ways to make lunchboxes fun and flavorful can be super easy with just a little creativity. These recipes take Latin recipes like a Cuban Sandwich, Ensalada de Coditos, and Bocaditos, and turn them into quick, cold lunches that don’t need reheating. That means you can throw them in a lunchbox, add a few sides, and you’re ready to go!

How to build a lunchbox with Latin flavor

For me, a good lunchbox should be filling, colorful, and just a little exciting. That’s why I like to mix in veggies like sweet snacking peppers, carrot and cucumber sticks, as well as some fresh fruit like grapes or peeled tangerines. I also love incorporating Latin snacks like little rice pudding cups, plantain chips, or yuca chips. For extra protein, I throw in a hard-boiled egg, or even some cheese and crackers.

And of course a main meal that’s easy to prep, cold so there’s no reheating, and packed with flavor like Cuban Sandwich Pinwheels, Ensalada de Pasta Fría, and Bocaditos.

Kid-Friendly, Adult-Approved Recipes

One of my favorite things about these recipes is how they work for everyone. They are easy to prep and perfect for tossing into a lunchbox. Kids love the bite-sized pieces, and adults get to enjoy the comfort of Latin flavors in a fresh, creative way.

The Cuban Sandwich Pinwheels take all the flavor of a Cuban Sandwich and turn it into a quick, handheld, and easy lunch to eat while multitasking on a busy day. 

The pasta salad is creamy and colorful with plenty of crunch, and the Bocaditos, which are usually a party food, make lunch feel fun and different. It’s kinda like you packed a little party for yourself!

The Secret Ingredient: Loisa Recaito

Every one of these recipes gets its flavor boost from Loisa's Recaito. It’s the ingredient that makes the pasta salad more vibrant, gives sandwiches and wraps an extra kick, and makes even the simplest lunch taste so good!

Make ahead and storage tips

All of these recipes can be made ahead of time, which is a lifesaver during busy weeks. The pasta salad actually tastes better the next day once the flavors have a chance to come together. 

The pinwheels and bocaditos can be made the night before, stored in an airtight container, and they’ll hold up beautifully for lunch the next day. You can even make the bocadito filling on Sunday night and use it throughout the week to prep lunches.

Just keep everything chilled in the fridge until it’s time to pack. Add an ice pack to the lunchbox if it’s going to be out for a while, and you’re good to go.