Rainbow Veggie Caprese Pasta Salad

This cold pasta salad takes the classic caprese combination of tomato, mozzarella and basil and turns it into something kids can dig into with a fork at lunch. Whole wheat rotini holds the dressing well, while mini mozzarella balls and halved cherry tomatoes give every bite that familiar caprese flavor kids already know from pizza.

The dressing is simple — just olive oil, a touch of balsamic and salt — so nothing overwhelms the mild, cheesy flavor kids gravitate toward, making this a genuinely kid-friendly Mediterranean-style meal. It's fully vegetarian and served cold, which makes it an easy make-ahead lunchbox option that doesn't need reheating.

Pack it in a container with the dressing on the side if it's headed to school, and give it a quick toss right before eating so the pasta doesn't sit soggy.