4 easy, delicious school lunch ideas from VG Meats

The days are growing shorter, Labour Day has come and gone, and school is back in session. If you’ve got kids at home, this means you’re back to making school lunches five days a week from now until next June. Even if your kids are old enough to pack their own lunch bags—one of the best parenting milestones, honestly—it means stocking the kitchen with family-friendly, school safe items that will actually get eaten. It can be a challenge, but VG Meats is here to help.

Here are four easy, delicious school lunch ideas that are both kid and parent approved. We’ve got all of your favourite products in store and online—see you soon!

Use a bento box

Using a bento-style, compartmentalized lunch box gained popularity a few years ago, and with good reason. This approach is particularly effective with younger kids who like to graze during their lunch and snack breaks, or with picky eaters who don’t like their foods to mix/touch. Consider packing some rolled up slices of deli meat or pieces of turkey kielbasa, sliced or cubed cheese, their favourite crackers, some fresh fruit, baby carrots and cucumbers, and a small treat (a cookie or package of fruit snacks, for example). Add a yogurt cup, granola bar or mini muffins as needed—you know your kid’s appetite best, so pack as much or as little as they’ll eat over the course of a day. If you don’t have a bento box at home, there are tons of options on the market—here are some good ones that ship within Canada.

Pack a classic sandwich

There’s nothing wrong with packing the classic school lunch: a hearty sandwich, a fresh apple and an extra snack or two (veggies and dip, a granola bar, fruit leather, whatever else your child enjoys). Consider options like an egg salad sandwich (using our farm-fresh eggs), a chicken salad sandwich, ham and swiss, turkey with cheddar, a roast beef sandwich, or even a BLT made with your favourite local bacon. (You can cook the bacon ahead of time and pack it chilled—trust us, it’s still delicious!)

Send a hot meal

If your kid isn’t a sandwich person or a grazer, consider sending a delicious hot lunch. If you’ve got a good thermos, you can send chicken fingers, leftover spaghetti and meatballs, chicken noodle soup, beef stew, leftover casseroles, chili and so much more. You can even use our prepared meals as a hearty, delicious shortcut! We recommend keeping a few dishes in the freezer so you’ll always have an easy lunch (or dinner) in a pinch.

Serve salad to go

Older children (or little kids with more sophisticated palates) may enjoy a hearty salad or rice bowl for lunch. If you get a container like this one, you can pack a meal that contains fresh greens, hearty grains, your favourite protein and a great dressing or vinaigrette. Here are a few tasty combinations to try:

• Chopped romaine with Caesar salad dressing, grated parmesan cheese, croutons and sliced chicken breast or steak (leftovers are perfect!)
• Spring mix or another lettuce with sliced steak, sliced red peppers, cherry tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese and ranch dressing
• Baby spinach with a scoop of chilled quinoa, feta, kalamata olives, cucumber, bell peppers, parsley and your protein of choice (chicken, steak or pork)
• Rice with black beans, sliced pork or chicken, corn, red onions, salsa, guacamole and sour cream (+ cilantro, if you’re so inclined)

Get creative, make use of any leftover dinner proteins, and enjoy!

Thanks for shopping local

VG Meats is a family-owned, proudly Canadian, independent business with retail locations in Simcoe and Stoney Creek. Thanks for choosing to shop local and support regenerative food in your community. We appreciate your business and hope your family has an amazing 2025-2026 school year!