DS is driving me nuts.

[gscrym]

I gave him his lunch today, 1 small ham sandwich. With mucking about, it took him 3hrs to eat half.

It took him an hour to eat a small plate of chicken pie and potatoes.

He keeps talking, playing around and going to the toilet when he's supposed to be eating.

Should I set a time and take his food away if he's not finished? As far as I know, he doesn't do this at school. DH sometimes feeds him and makes it a game but DS is nearly 6 and I think he's too old for this.

I've also cut out snacks other than fruit.

Any helpful advice would be welcome.

Oh and the telly was switched off at meal times.

Cut all snacks.
Present food at regular times.
Take unfinished food away after a certain time (give him warnings of this)
Don't let him graze at friend's houses.
Don't have meals as a game, he must learn table manners. He should be able to feed himself.
Or leave all mealtimes to DH and go and read a book

Once he's hungry he'll eat.
He may just have a small appetite...

I blame DH, he has no interest in food either.

DS does say things like 'what can I have to eat', after he's eaten a meal. He's been told there'll be no juice, milk etc tonight and if he wants a drink, he can have water. He'll happily sit and drink a big mug of milk or fruit juice.

I've just broke the news to him and he said in his best teenager voice 'that's totally not fair mummy' and stomped off.

It is tiresome isn't it.
DS can be really slow and like to chat. It usually takes an hour to eat a meal although that's starter, main course and dessert. (We eat the French way)
I don't like to hurry him too much because meals are about socialising and it is better to eat slowly than too fast and MIL lost her appetite when she was a child because they hurried her too much (convent school).
At breakfast I have to say, five more minutes and then you have to stop eating and get dressed otherwise you'll be late for school.
At other meal times, when he is being slow the rest of us wait five minutes and then continue with next course. If he hasn't finished by the time we have finished dessert, it's tough, that's the end of the meal and washing up time. That usually focuses him.
People on here have suggested setting a timer for 20 minutes but that seems a bit rushed for me (but then they probably only have a main course)

I'd love it if DS would do 2 courses but at the moment, he faffs his way through 1. If I put a plate of biscuits in front of him, I think he'd probably inhale them.

I've tried to say to him that he'll have more time to play if he eats quicker but that just makes him talk more.