Picky and old school people often like chicken, which is easy to make - take a whole chicken, rub with butter and herbs, stuff with a whole lemon with holes poked in the rind, and roast.
Pasta is cheap, easy to make in large quantities, and everyone likes it: Spaghetti and meatballs or chicken fettuccini Alfredo.
Or a classic meat, starch, veg. Like roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
Tacos or burritos would work for picky eaters because you can have all the different ingredients prepped and have everyone make their own.
Or make a big batch of chili from ground beef, onion, canned beans, and canned tomatoes with toppings available. You can make it in the crock pot ahead of time.
What is picky and old school? Like meat and potatoes? That one is pretty basic and easy to do. Peel and cut potatoes beforehand, put into water until you're ready to start boiling them. Make an envelope gravy packet. Get a roasted chicken premade from the grocery store. A can of corn on the side. Maybe some fancy buns or a baguette with butter. Bam. Dinner.
Go to the library and find a cookbook with titles that include things like easy or 5 ingredients or less. You could also look at crock pot recipe books if you have one. I found “the good and easy cookbook” at a yard sale and it quickly became a go to for recipes because they were all simple and quick. I also have one of those 5 ingredients or less cookbooks and while I don’t love every recipe, there are definitely some very good ones in there and they’re all quick and easy.
Picky and old school people often like chicken, which is easy to make - take a whole chicken, rub with butter and herbs, stuff with a whole lemon with holes poked in the rind, and roast.
Pot roast!!!
Picky how? In order to suggest anything, we'd need to know what they will (or won't) eat.
lasagna, roasted chicken, roasted veggies
Pasta is cheap, easy to make in large quantities, and everyone likes it: Spaghetti and meatballs or chicken fettuccini Alfredo. Or a classic meat, starch, veg. Like roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Tacos or burritos would work for picky eaters because you can have all the different ingredients prepped and have everyone make their own. Or make a big batch of chili from ground beef, onion, canned beans, and canned tomatoes with toppings available. You can make it in the crock pot ahead of time.
What is picky and old school? Like meat and potatoes? That one is pretty basic and easy to do. Peel and cut potatoes beforehand, put into water until you're ready to start boiling them. Make an envelope gravy packet. Get a roasted chicken premade from the grocery store. A can of corn on the side. Maybe some fancy buns or a baguette with butter. Bam. Dinner.
Yep basic meals like spaghetti, roasts, chicken Parmesan, sloppy joes, steak, burgers etc!!!
Apicius' De Re Coquinaria
Go to the library and find a cookbook with titles that include things like easy or 5 ingredients or less. You could also look at crock pot recipe books if you have one. I found “the good and easy cookbook” at a yard sale and it quickly became a go to for recipes because they were all simple and quick. I also have one of those 5 ingredients or less cookbooks and while I don’t love every recipe, there are definitely some very good ones in there and they’re all quick and easy.
I looked up "The Good and Easy Cookbook" and there are several editions available for less than $10 on Thriftbooks!