And for saving money on your protein, I don't think anything can beat cooking your own beans or peas from dry. I usually keep about a dozen jars full of a variety of beans in my cupboard.
Another favorite of my kids is Yellow Pea Soup.
It's just yellow peas (like green peas. only pretty
)
Cook until fairly soft with salt, pepper and a generous amount of onion. I also add in some sliced carrots when I start the peas because it adds a bit of a sweet taste.
When peas start to soften, I add barley. And a bit later, more sliced carrots. These will stay in whole slices - the carrots put in earlier will cook down.
I make a huge batch and freeze in meal-size portions. I make it quite thick because it doesn't take much space in the freezer. When you thaw it, you can add water to the consistency you desire. (Though my kids prefer it just a bit thinner than mashed potatoes
)