If you can get Ellie to eat pasta with a tomato sauce, make a huge sauce (or have Joe do it) and freeze it in meal sized portions. It's easy enough to defrost on a night when you don't have the time or energy and you can hide tons of veg in it like spinach or ground up carrots or zucchini. Freezing soups are good for lazy nights too. You can make some quick grilled cheeses if you want something on the side.

I also make fritatta's a lot when I'm tired. They're quick and easy, and you can put anything you have on hand in them.