Semi-picky eaters, 5 children 2 adults. Need dinner ideas?

Spaghetti Bolognese.

Roasted veggie rice.

Roast Dinner.

Bangers&Mash.

You are a very nice person. I have been doing what you are trying to do for years and if I had it to do over again, I would not. I would choose a weekly plan knowing that not everyone will enjoy one night's choices but throughout the week it will balance out so that eventually that person will enjoy one of the other nights. Your boyfriend has priority and so write out some choices for him: Meat loaf with baked potatoes and 45 min roasted broccoli ( Tastes much better than boiled or microwaved), baked chicken with rice and grn beans, spaghetti with green salad, tacos or thai lettuce cups with condiments, roast pork tenderloin with roasted yukon potatoes and carrots or other root vegetables,beef bourgingon ( beef stew) or pot roast. Let him x his favorites. Then let each child x one choice so they feel special. Then dont discuss further unless you want to go nuts. The key is to begin early in the day with the preps and even cooking it then for some entrees. The later in the day, the more interruptions you have. And I just have to add this, please excuse, dinner time is the absolute most important input time ( aside from driving them alone in the car) with the children and has been found to be quite important in their development. ( Its not about the food) So know that despite the tedium of preparing things all day, you are truly going to reap rewards.

Pasta, just as easy to make in large amounts as it is in small amounts. Canned sauce will save you time, but not likely to save you a dime.

Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes & a veggie - easy to make, can feed quite a few, you can mess with the recipe to suit your needs.

Any type of large protein that can be made in a "set it and forget it" kind of way (Turkey, chicken, pork loin, etc) w/ a starch (rice, potatoes, noodles) and a bag of frozen veggies.

I myself do not like the taste of most vegetables, I've learned to mix them with mashed potatoes to mask the flavor. If you make corn, add just a pinch of sugar & a pad of butter to make it a bit more palatable for the kids.

Applesauce is a great way to add some fruit to everyone's diet w/o much effort (especially if you just get a jar of it)

Spaghetti is easy and quick (I'm a SAHM too, but man I love me some meals I can cook up quick, leaves more time for other things). I make my own spaghetti sauce, and it's easy and WAY better than anything in a jar. Just brown up about a pound of either hamburger or sausage (depending on what your family likes), add a chopped onion, several cloves of garlic (or garlic powder if you hate chopping garlic like me), and a bunch of sliced mushrooms (if your family likes them). Saute that until the onions and mushrooms are soft and cooked, then add: 2 cans diced tomatoes, one drained, one not, 2 cans tomato sauce, and 1 small can tomato paste. Let that get hot, then add pepper and Italian herbs (I just buy the little mixed thing) to taste. Let it simmer for at least half an hour (or throw it in the crock pot to cook all day) and serve over spaghetti noodles with garlic bread (I just get loaves from the discount rack, but non-discount ones are exactly as good).

Roasted chicken is good too. It's really super easy. I'd do two with such a big family. Just season with whatever (My default is salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika), and bake at 325 for about 2 hours (start them a little early, sometimes they'll take a little longer). Do let them rest out of the oven for about 15 minutes before cutting. I roast them on top of cut up potatoes and carrots for a complete meal.

Try roasting carrots. A quick google search turns up lots of recipes. Everyone in my family LOVES them. In fact, if vegetables are an issue with anyone, try roasting them. Roasted vegetables are super easy and AMAZINGLY delicious.

Also, crock pot pot roast. Get a hunk of beef, I like bottom round the best, but chuck or top round will also work, and toss it in the crock pot on top of a bunch of cut up potatoes and carrots or other root vegetables your family likes. Dump a packet of dry onion soup mix over the top and let it cook all day. You get some extra flavor if you brown the roast in a superduper hot pan before putting it in the crock pot too.

Those are my 3 favorite dinners. If you do a little searching for weekly meal plans you'll find LOADS of other ideas. Tuna casserole is also good. Sorry, that just popped into my head.

a veggie or a meat with bread or soup can be made almost everyday with just a little variation each time. all the best!