Lol @ Amandie rubbing hands, seems so sinister!!!
I second those blogs named above for ideas, sometimes I just need to see what others made and I'm like "oh yeah, I should have thought of that!".
As far as eating processed foods, I just had to decide to stop buying them for the most part. There is no more Rice-a-Roni, no more Kraft mac & cheese, no more Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes.
Sometimes it makes me sad since I really loved those flavors (no wonder I gained so much weight) but now, if I want those dishes, I make them from scratch. Yes it takes more time and planning (which you aren't looking for!) so that makes me wonder if I really really need them.
Most of our sides now are fresh and frozen vegetables with salads too plus whatever protein. Sounds simple and boring but jazzing things up with spices has really made a difference.
Good luck with your new recipes and kudos to you for wanting to make healthier food for your family.