I had four children, a wife with chronic pain, and worked outside the home, after I fought my way through four years of university, and I still cooked wholesome meals with fresh ingredients. But then, for the most part, that's the way we ate at my Mom's house. I learned some good cooking habits from my Dad's hose, but that's where I learned to enjoy all of those not so good for you foods like cold hot dogs, pizza kits, spaghetti kits, instant potatoes, potted meat, etc, etc. He was a bachelor, after all. My grandparents cooked from fresh food as well.
It can be done. Parents made wholesome meals for their families on wood stoves, while they had to work the farm from sunup until dark. It all depends on how much we want it. Evidently, I wanted it bad enough. My wife and kids deserved the best that I could give them. That's just the way I think. And besides, with my love for veggies, and properly cooked meats, including all things desert, what choice did I have?
Seeeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North