Any advice for slow-eaters?

[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.

[jeanieg]

wah, poor mussymommy, 1 1/2 hrs is pretty long.. so my situation not so bad la

[Akin]

the main concern for slow eater is normally they get distracted easily or not concentrating when they have food n their mouth as such they will keep chewing and chewing even though it’s time to swallow it.

[auntieM]

My DS used to eat slowly and get distracted all the time :x .. ..

I now give him a little more playtime if he eat properly/ faster..
If he 'eats' into his playtime, just too bad lor.
Heng this method works for me so far

[Simplymii]

Hi, My 23 mth old gal has become a slow eater (she will keep the food in her mouth) since 5 mths ago. She had her MMR and had fever… since then her appetite dropped… but her milk intake increased at night.


I can’t seem to get her appetitie back and she just keep falling sick (cough) when she is about to recover.

She is taking less than a bowl each meal. I realise that she has not put on since her 18 mth check up.

Anyone who has same experience pls share with me if you have any remedy/tips/supplement/advice that works.

Thank you.

[Akin]

same same, this is what i have told him and yes! He's improving.. Will continue to improve him from here. :lol:

[mocharita]

For me, my priority is to remind my kiddo to eat slowly and enjoy the food since he was a baby. I’m particular when it comes to digestion and good table manners. I don’t give him a time frame or an allocated time as when he has to finish his meals.


When he’s done with eating or uninterested (finished or unfinished food), I removed his plate. If he’s hungry later, I won’t fix him supper. I never have problems with feeding. My motto is “ You wanna eat, EAT. Don’t want to eat, Don’t. You are hungry again?? Too bad, kitchen is closed! It works fine and I don’t have problems when it comes to meals time at all.

[kids_r_innocent]

Yup... as for me, i will try to leave the tings tat they like to do, after dinner e.g watching DVDs and will try to ask them wat they would like for din. I will change the type of food tat i cook so tat they wun find it boring e.g Mon - cook porridge, Tue - cook noodles etc.

[rains]

fussyMummy:

Hi,


My DD is P4 this year...

I have same problem, been 10 years........~~~~!!! :clubmyself:

She is a slow-eater since baby... :x If force her to eat faster, then she will vomit out all the food at the end... :slapshead:

Remind... nag.... scold..... after all still the same... but if I never voice out, she can takes about 1 1/2 hours to \"enjoy\" her meal :faint: .... :stupid:

Hi,

I'm with you. My kid is also P4, and the problem has been around for 10 years. Everybody has scolded her for eating too slowly. I've tried all types of method I could think of: time her, limit her meal time to 20 - 30 min, scold her, take away her meal after time limit (which she's most happy with), feed her, dangle carrots like 'we'll go (here and there) after you finish your food', refuse her any food after mealtime even when she complains of hunger becos she didn't finish her last meal.

She often tells me she's 'very hungry' and when the food is in front of her, she doesn't eat, or in best case scenario, she takes a few mouthfuls and stops eating.

My kid's mouth doesn't move when there's food inside. She doesn't chew until I point at her cheek to get her to show me that it's moving.

I'm just short of taking a funnel and shoving the food into her throat.

[jesschan]

Rains,


Is your gal slow in eating or picky about food? My niece takes a very long time to eat when she is alone with my mum at home. But if I am there eating with her, her eating speed improves tremendously because she feels embarassed eating slowly in presence of other people …