1. I don't know your special dietary concerns, so I don't know if the food part will help or not. However, a few tips: I often try to make double batches of meals so I can freeze one for later. Often, these frozen meals end up as last minute lunches. Another thing - label leftovers into single serving size re-heatable containers. Some days it is easiest to have Choice lunches - go into freezer, pick out something you want and heat it in the microwave.
2. have kids help with cooking - even a 5 year old can be taught how to help scramble eggs, make french toast, pancakes and hamburgers with guidance (aka adult in kitchen with them). Their smiles of accomplishment are worth the time.
3. Simple meal. Wednesday nights (church nights) are really easy - canned soup, heated with either grilled cheese or biscuits and a salad if time. After church, ice cream and toppings. Way fun and extremely easy
4. Crockpots!!!!! 4 nights of the week minimum (usually Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
Day one - Whole chicken
Day two - Chicken casserole
Day three - Roast beef
Day four - Beef Stew
Day five - Pizza night (sometimes frozen, sometimes purchased, sometimes home made)
Day six - one dish meal (taco's, spagetti, cheeseburger macaroni, beef and rice, mac and cheese, creamed chip beef on toast, etc.)
Day seven - soup/biscuts
Lunches are either leftovers, pbj and ramen noodles, or one pot meals.
Breakfasts (except cold cereal Mondays - they are even sugar cold cereals because I need that extra time) are large compared to their friends, but still relatively simple - eggs/sausage with fruit and toast, pancakes or waffles with meat and fruit, toast and yogurt, omelets and oatmeal, egg casseroles, etc.. All but oatmeal and toast can be made ahead and frozen for quick breakfasts.
As the kids have gotten older, they do more cooking. Dh is really great about pitching in as well as he knows some days are not good ones and I may still be at the table working with a child. Then he doesn't mind frozen pizza or making some instant potatoes because I forgot to put real ones in the crock pot
Company - dh understands that whoever comes gets us as we are. We try to be neat, but no promises when last minute deals.
House - I haven't dusted since I can't remember when. Mom came for a visit once when oldest kids were 3 and 4 - she got them feather dusters and such. They enjoy dusting and younger ones like the tools too. They also love windex and paper towels. One son loves to vacuum and is neat freak anyway so I let him run with it. I accept what they can offer and keep on going - the 4 areas I am picky about (computer areas, laundry room, bathrooms and keeping kitchen cupboards neat and organized) took some time, but all kids are trained in on how I expect things kept in those locations.