Oddly enough our mother was lacking in the kitchen, like seriously. When asking my sisters what meal really stuck out that mom could cook. The reply was Mrs. Paul's fish sticks and spaghetti . Her Christmas & Thanksgiving meals were spot on, everything else mediocre.
To be fair her PB&J sandwiches along with liverwurst, lettuce, tomato on a hard roll........... award winning

Brian mentioned school / cafeteria lunches. Hot buttered noodles with brown gravy. The white rice with carrots and turkey was a winner. Once i went to HS. who had time for lunch.................