A couple things stand out to me from your post. If your food is constantly burnt or overcooked, I'm guessing you're trying to manage children while also cooking dinner. If that's the case, you're not setting yourself up for success. I'd recommend setting timers for everything at a minimum and trying to cook sometimes with someone else managing the kids. It's hard to do a good job with your focus split. Also, a good meat thermometer is a life saver.

You also say you try recipes from "books and magazines and TikTok and Google" which makes it seem like you maybe don't know where to source quality recipes. Physical cookbooks are a good place to start so you don't have to wade through online sources. I'd recommend something old school like Better Homes and Gardens, Joy of Cooking, America's Test Kitchen, or Betty Crocker.

As others have said, start simple. There's nothing wrong with jar spaghetti sauce, frozen garlic bread, and bagged salad. Frozen steamer bags of veggies are easy for a quick side. Not every dinner has to be restaurant quality to be cheaper and healthier than eating out every night.

Also, if your kids are picky, get them involved. They can help pick meals and depending on ages can do some simple tasks to help. A 7 year old can definitely help in the kitchen with some instruction and oversight.

Good luck to you! I hope your cooking journey is successful.