1) get a rice cooker, preferably one with a top basket that lets it double as a veggie steamer. Rice with some veggies and lean meat is fairly healthy, tasty,

1) get a rice cooker, preferably one with a top basket that lets it double as a veggie steamer. Rice with some veggies and lean meat is fairly healthy, tasty, inexpensive, and requires little active prep time (which is what I assume you mean by "quick".) You may have to cook the meat separately, depending on the type. 2) get a slow cooker. Much of the same applies, only instead of a rice base, use potatoes and/or beans. This works pretty well with larger portions of meat (chicken is cheap.) IIRC you can do some pasta dishes in a slow cooker as well. 3) For variety, change up the specific mix of veggies, the type of meat (may need to be cooked separately), and the spices in both of the above. You'd be amazed how different rice with chicken, carrots, onions and potatoes tastes when you spice it with oregano vs. curry powder vs. garlic and ginger. 4) Hit up the day-old bread rack, the reduced-price meat section, and so on. It's a good way to add occasional bits of variety at a low cost. I also get most of my produce from a small neighborhood produce stand, rather than the big grocery store. 5) [EDIT]: one simple dish I've started making on the stovetop recently: Throw some pasta, canned/frozen/fresh-cut veggies, and a can of concentrated soup (tomato, cream of chicken, etc.) in a saucepan with the appropriate amount of water. Cook it just like you would cook plain pasta. Again, you can add a bit of meat and change up the spices, veggies, or soup type and have a totally different meal.