Would love to know how you are doing OP?

Not sure if it's been said yet but, baked potatoes in the jacket (skins), butter and whatever topping you have

Mexican bowls - the coles Chilli beans tins (near the chick peas and stuff- really cheap) already have the spices and stuff in. Add any veg that's appropriate - like grated carrot (super cheap), tin of drained corn, maybe some spinach leaves (especially if someone has grown some in the family) and serve the lot over boiled rice. Tasty, nutritious and filling.

When using mince bulk it up with chickpeas that you’ve mashed up. Honestly this is my life saver on extreme weeks or anytime I have an extra few mouths to feed.

Packet of pasta, home brand pasta sauce, block of homebrand cheese, pack of frozen veg, couple tins of tuna, butter, 5 pack of 2min noodles for 99c, flour, tin of baked beans, loaf of bread, bottle of milk and carton of eggs. You can make : Tuna pasta bake, eggy veggie muffins, tuna Mornay, frittata, beans on toast, eggs, veggies and beans, tuna patties, baked beans and cheese toasties, pikelets, noodles and veg, vegemite pasta (make a sauce in the pan with butter and vegemite melted together, then toss cooked pasta through and a little sprinkle of cheese.) Head to woolies with the kids in the morning to grab a loaf of bread and get them all to grab a piece of the free fruit to eat on way to school (or could sneakily save for later if you’re game). Good luck!

How are you getting on OP?

If I knew who you were and you lived near me I would give you 3 dozen eggs. My chooks have overloaded me at the moment. I wish you the best of luck and sending love and hugs. Xox

Mac and Cheese, Mince and Pasta, potato and sausages.
Fried rice

What have you got in the fridge and freezer so we can give you more ideas

Pasta with bacon chopped and eggs. Mix on frying pan

French toast also known as eggy bread

Corn fritters, basically thick pancakes with corn added

Fried rice. Add as much frozen veg as you can, a few eggs for protein. Can be really cheap if you buy the no name brands.

Cheese toasties. I’d stock up on $1 supermarket bread.

Good luck. I would help you if I could. Maybe PayPal if that’s not weird? Let me know x

Cheaper meats like sausages and beef mince can stretch a really long way (chow mein, curried sausages, savory mince etc) Eggs are cheap and versatile as well - quiche, scrambled eggs, zuccini slice etc. Always pair dinners with rice or pasta or have a loaf of bread on the table when eating dinner and encourage the kids to butter a slice or two each. Encourage a glass of milk with dinner also to fill up little tummies and keep their calcium intake up.
Don't be ashamed buying home brand items and shop around at fruit and veg markets for cheap veggie options like potato, corn and peas etc to bulk up the dinner meals - you'll find a small bag of mince can really stretch out, depending on how many you have to feed, a small bag could probably stretch out to 2 meals.
"Luxury" items like juice and chips etc can be left on the shelves until money comes a little more accessible. Home brand frozen pies are about $3 for a pack of 6, Home brand frozen pizzas are about $3 each too so another cheap alternative. Making your own muffins, pikelets and cupcakes are a good idea for a treat for the kids also.
Good luck mumma! And try not to put yourself down too much - you'll find a lot of people have been here before. Hope this helps x

Pasta packet and sauce can be a $3 meal to feed a few mouths with some extra veges in if you like.
Tinned spaghetti and toast..my son's discovered this a few weeks ago and are obsessed, like 60c a can.
Bulk pack sausages cook normal one night make curried the next or something like that with mash or rice.
Big fried rice lot, peas and corn frozen added with soy sauce garlic and bacon. Also filling.
You can buy chicken breasts and slice them longways making 2-4 pieces depending thickness of the breast and have with fried rice etc

Fried rice with fried bacon chopped up very finely. Pre-fry the finely chopped bacon, so it gets crispy and releases its lovely flavour. Makes the rice go a long way. Fried finely chopped onion adds a lovely flavour, but you know what kids are like - they might prefer it without the onion. You can add very finely chopped vegetables for more goodness, like carrot, and peas.

Woolworths plain pack sausages came out as best sausages on a Choice comparison a couple of years ago - lower on sugar, salt and fat than the others tested. And better rated for taste.
Sausages in bread with tomato sauce or ketchup and mild mustard can be a real treat for kids, and perfectly OK.

My partner and I, and my kids, had to live on soup and toast for 6 months because most of his pay had to go to his ex and kids as maintenance, until I was able to get a job. Not ideal, as kids need more than that. but we survived, and you will too.

Once we had been through that tough time I had developed some really cost effective meals that cut our grocery bill down, and we dropped the expensive rubbish off on a permanent basis.

Some great suggestions here in the other answers.

Hi OP - we have a few recipes for tight budgets on the SAHM website - this one might help you! https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-lifestyle/frugal-articles/grocery-budget-when-you-are-broke/

You may have already exhausted this option, but i thiught i better mention incase you havnt.

Call The Salvation Army - they will help

Good luck, and dont feel guilty, your kids have food in their bellies, fruit and breakfast stuff is providing enough nutrition.

Also if you google ‘emergency food relief’ it should come up with some numbers in your area you can reach out to.

Damper

3.5 cups self raising flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon sugar
40g butter
1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 cups water (approx.)

Preheat oven to 180

Dry ingredients, rub in butter, stir in milk and enough water to make sticky dough
Need on flourd surface
PLace on greased tray, cut cross on top, brush with milk bake 45 min

Sometimes i add pureed pumpkin too

Went through this recently when my stupid car broke down and it used damn near my whole pay to fix it. The kids lived on pancakes, cereal, toast, sandwiches, chips etc. Was only for a week and me next pay I was able to start cooking proper meals again. And the kids whinge because they miss having cereal for dinner 🤦‍♀️😂

Toasted sandwiches, quiche, spaghetti on toast, pasta and sauce chuck in any veges you have?

Basic Recipes -Check google for an exact recipe but maybe:

Scones
Pancakes
Cakes
Omelettes
Crepes
Cheese pasta - cheese, pasta, flour, milk
Veg fritters
Omelettes with frozen veg/cheese/leftover meat mixed in

Other ideas:
Toasted sandwiches
Cheesy pasta/2min noodles with tuna/leftover meat and frozen veg cooked with it

Don't feel bad, everyone has good and bad times. Your kids are not hungry and that is all that matters.

Pasta with frozen peas, tinned tuna, olive oil and lemon

Don't stress too much mum, as long as they have some food in their tummies that's all that matters. A few years ago we struggled hard and we used alot of rice and pasta dishes. Toasted sandwiches etc

Pancakes -
Flour
Egg
Milk
Sugar

Or
Eggs on toast.

Sorry hope that helps