Slow eating

[Lisassister]

Hi. I'm new to this and wonder if anyone has any advice. My 5, nearly 6,year old ds is very slow when it comes to eating his food. He won't say he's full, and wants to finish but takes FOREVER! This is fine at home and if we're on a time limit because of bedtime, going out etc, I just set a timer and after that point, the food is taken away and he is fine with this. However, lunch at school is becoming an issue, to the point where his teacher asked for a word and brought it up with me. He doesn't have a big lunch - e.g. a smallish filled pitta, plain yoghurt with fruit & honey, and a few crisps in a small tub, but his teacher said he is often last to finish and subsequently doesn't get to go outside and play before afternoon school. I've decided to tell him that everyday he isn't the last to finish, he can have 10p for his money box, which he seems very excited about, but I'm not convinced it will work... I wondered if anyone has any experience/tips in this area? As I say, the main problem is school lunch. Thanks!

could you ask the teacher to take his lunch box away 10mins before the end, and what he hasnt eaten by then he doesnt get to eat?

I would fill him up at breakfast time -a good hot cereal, porridge or hot milk weetabix.

Lunch to one peice of bread and cut the crusts of to make two small quares of sandwhich. small box of rasins or a mini babebel. a frube yogurt that is more like a drink so will go in faster

See how he gets on with that.

The babybel will give him some protien and the sandwhich with crusts cut off makes it easier to eat.

My DD was like this....I can still remeber her eating one pea at a time, and she never got to finish her school lunch either.

As IvyKaty said, make sure he gets a good breakfast, and maybe give him something bread based like a scone or pancake for break time.

DD did gradually get faster at eating, if that helps

Thanks very much for all your advice. The size of his lunch is already about the same as a couple of you have suggested, and he does have a good breakfast. Mind you, since he's been back this week, he's been finishing quicker and hasn't yet been last! I think he was a bit under the weather last week and was therefore slower than normal. To be honest, I'm not a fan of the teacher who spoke to me about it (his class has 2 teachers and a TA), and I get the feeling she's made a bigger deal out of it than was necessary. I did write my thoughts in the contact book but surprise, surprise, she hasn't responded! Thanks again, you all made me feel much better!