For me a 'meal' might be a ready made sandwich or a fried egg with bread. Maybe your mother thinks a meal is not a meal unless potatoes and two veg. I recommend instant potato with plenty of butter mixed in. Ready cut and washed veg packs also save labour as do frozen peas and fish fingers.
Maybe make big batch of tea for the day and microwave as needed?
Re painting metal bistro garden set
Last weekend, in Rutland, the first statue in Britain of the late Elizabeth II was unveiled.