Meals usually include a protein, say meat or chicken, and a starch to provide the carbohydrates.  For busy people, some obvious instant starches are instant mashed potatoes and instant (Minute) rice.  However, mashed potatoes have a lot of additives and Minute Rice does not compare to the real thing.  Fortunately, there are alternatives.

Instant Side Dishes

Instant couscous comes in large plastic containers or small packages in regular or whole wheat varieties. All that is required to prepare it is to boil some water with salt and a little oil, add the couscous, cover the pot, and turn the flame off.   The couscous is ready to eat in 2 minutes. You can also save time by pouring boiling water right in the bowl over the couscous. The taste can be varied by adding consommé powder or seasonings to the water.

The Lundberg brown rice mixes are also very good and cook in 10 minutes.

Other quick-cooking grains are whole kasha and quinoa flakes. They are very tasty but they have to appeal to your families.

Quick cooking pasta is also a possibility. These include orzo, pastina, farfel, small shells and bowtie noodles as well as angel hair spaghetti.