Any advice for slow-eaters?

[nmhmum]

For my dd, she is also a very slow eater. I realised that she tends to put the food inside the mouth and chew very long before she swallows it. So I guess this is the reason why she takes so long to finish one bowl of rice. But funny thing is she can eat her favourite things like sweets, fries at super fast speed. :?

[pokemon]

i guessed rice with dishes are not the fav of the kids, thats why they are taking longer to eat compare to western fare.


Maybe can try snipping the meat n veg into smaller pieces, bowl of soup for them to drench the rice to make swallowing faster (at least hv some activity for them), if they can finish by whatever time you tell them, they get to watch tv for 15min, dangle their fav fruit or healthy dessert if they finish the meal fast. Lastly, make sure they are not fed snacks or junk food close to meal time, they may not be that hungry after all.

Although i have no problem with both my kids,but i realised when eating with frens, they tend to talk more than chewing, have to keep reminding them "eat fast fast, then have more time to play. The longer u take to eat, left very little time to play." Sometimes it works.

[sakura_2009]

nmhmum:

For my dd, she is also a very slow eater. I realised that she tends to put the food inside the mouth and chew very long before she swallows it. So I guess this is the reason why she takes so long to finish one bowl of rice. But funny thing is she can eat her favourite things like sweets, fries at super fast speed. :?

Hi nmhmum - just curious, is your daughter at an ideal weight?

MY DS is also a super slow eater...he tends to keep the food inside his mouth for a looonnggg time before swallowing. He has been like that since young - can't seem to change this habit even though now he's already in P3 - always last in finishing his meals, whether at home or at the childcare (when he was younger), and now at the student care...Kena complain by teachers many times liao...think they also gave up on him BTW, he's underweight

[fussyMummy]

sakura_2009:

... BTW, he's underweight

My DD also... :stupid:

[nmhmum]

sakura_2009:

nmhmum:

For my dd, she is also a very slow eater. I realised that she tends to put the food inside the mouth and chew very long before she swallows it. So I guess this is the reason why she takes so long to finish one bowl of rice. But funny thing is she can eat her favourite things like sweets, fries at super fast speed. :?

Hi nmhmum - just curious, is your daughter at an ideal weight?

MY DS is also a super slow eater...he tends to keep the food inside his mouth for a looonnggg time before swallowing. He has been like that since young - can't seem to change this habit even though now he's already in P3 - always last in finishing his meals, whether at home or at the childcare (when he was younger), and now at the student care...Kena complain by teachers many times liao...think they also gave up on him BTW, he's underweight

Hi Sakura_2009,

My dd is in P2 now and only weighs around 19kg. I consider her to be very underweight but strange thing is when the Health Promotion Board's nurse came to take her weight in Feb this year, she was only classified as slightly underweight. Also she was not chosen to take the \"special\" milk. So I guess she is not too bad. Anyway, As long she is healthy, I not so worried cos last time her mummy also very skinny, but after giving birth, all the fats cannot be removed

[nmhmum]

pokemon:

i guessed rice with dishes are not the fav of the kids, thats why they are taking longer to eat compare to western fare.


Maybe can try snipping the meat n veg into smaller pieces, bowl of soup for them to drench the rice to make swallowing faster (at least hv some activity for them), if they can finish by whatever time you tell them, they get to watch tv for 15min, dangle their fav fruit or healthy dessert if they finish the meal fast. Lastly, make sure they are not fed snacks or junk food close to meal time, they may not be that hungry after all.

Although i have no problem with both my kids,but i realised when eating with frens, they tend to talk more than chewing, have to keep reminding them \"eat fast fast, then have more time to play. The longer u take to eat, left very little time to play.\" Sometimes it works.

You are right , pokemon. I realised when she takes western food or junk food, she can eat very fast. I think maybe it is also due to the home-cooked food that is a bit bland ( we try to put as little oil & soya sauce as possible for their meals only ). I think the chewing very long and not swallowing is more of a habit. I ever do an experiment with my kids. The same food, my DS only takes about 5 chews to swallow the food, but my dd can takes about 15 chews, then swallow the food .

[sakura_2009]

nmhmum:

Hi Sakura_2009,

My dd is in P2 now and only weighs around 19kg. I consider her to be very underweight but strange thing is when the Health Promotion Board's nurse came to take her weight in Feb this year, she was only classified as slightly underweight. Also she was not chosen to take the \"special\" milk. So I guess she is not too bad. Anyway, As long she is healthy, I not so worried cos last time her mummy also very skinny, but after giving birth, all the fats cannot be removed

DS is P3 and weighs 22 kg. For a boy, I also thought he's very underweight but MOH nurses also say he's only slightly underweight :? Anywa, as long as he's healthy, I'm ok lar....

Seems like kids who tend to eat very slow, especially on 'proper' meals, but superfast in junk food like fries, chips and other fried stuff, tend to be on the 'lighter' side, - but I always have this perception that junk food makes a kid fatter/heavier, or have I misunderstood? :?

[nmhmum]

sakura_2009:

nmhmum:

Hi Sakura_2009,

My dd is in P2 now and only weighs around 19kg. I consider her to be very underweight but strange thing is when the Health Promotion Board's nurse came to take her weight in Feb this year, she was only classified as slightly underweight. Also she was not chosen to take the \"special\" milk. So I guess she is not too bad. Anyway, As long she is healthy, I not so worried cos last time her mummy also very skinny, but after giving birth, all the fats cannot be removed

DS is P3 and weighs 22 kg. For a boy, I also thought he's very underweight but MOH nurses also say he's only slightly underweight :? Anywa, as long as he's healthy, I'm ok lar....

Seems like kids who tend to eat very slow, especially on 'proper' meals, but superfast in junk food like fries, chips and other fried stuff, tend to be on the 'lighter' side, - but I always have this perception that junk food makes a kid fatter/heavier, or have I misunderstood? :?

I think junk food will only makes your kid heavier if u consume it frequently and in big quantities. I actually limit my kids on junk food. So I guess if i do not limit them, maybe they will be fatter?

[sakura_2009]

nmhmum:

I think junk food will only makes your kid heavier if u consume it frequently and in big quantities. I actually limit my kids on junk food. So I guess if i do not limit them, maybe they will be fatter?

Well, you are probably right :lol: Jokes aside, yes, as parents, we ought to keep them off from junk food as much as possible - I'd rather DS stay thin than unhealthy

[cnimed]

If they are hungry they will eat fast. If they are not hungry they will eat slowly lor.


For us, half an hour is the standard. Toys are not allowed, chatting is encouraged - afterall eating should be family time. After half an hour, plates are cleared regardless of how much is left. If they don't finish their food, they can't ask for supper after dinner. Portions are sized according to their appetites.

Re chewing - if you're using lean meat it can be harder to chew. My children hate that. I tenderise the meat first by pounding/using a bit of vinegar/slice very thinly and cook very quickly.
If making meatballs, add some breadcrumbs so that it's softer and easier to chew.

Children do like finger food. It doesn't have to always be unhealthy. You can give them small pita sandwiches, homemade meatballs with a dip and celery/carrot sticks at the side, sweet potatoes boiled and cubed, edamame (green soy beans still in pods), cherry tomatoes and cubed cheese to eat with toothpicks, small roasted potatoes with chicken drumlets etc. Add a small salad or sliced fruits at the side and a box of tissue paper.