How long do your kids take to eat their tea?

[kando]

DD1 (age 3) has been taking an absolute AGE to eat her tea. Last night and tonight it has taken her an hour to eat it. Her meal wasn't anything new, in fact she asked for it (although without the vegetables, obviously!) She's gone from being quite good (ie eating it fairly quickly with no help from me) to taking ages, although if I helped her she'd be finished a lot sooner. I've put my foot down over helping to feed her as I have dd2 (16 months) to deal with too, and I think at 3 she should be able to manage herself.

I totally lost my patience with her tonight over it - I shouted at her so loudly (from the kitchen, not right in front of her) that I hurt my throat!

Is it unreasonable of me to expect a 3 year old to eat their tea in about 40 minutes? How long do your kids take to eat their tea - do you set a "time limit" and if so, how do you stick to it?

oh of course well it's one of those dishes you can vary but it is basically fried onion and potato with bits of meat. We use cubes of corned beef and often add peas as well to make a complete meal. It is very quick to make.

Left over meat cooked with potatoes and onions (ie "stoved potatoes" ). It doesn't sound much but is very tasty.

Everyone has slight variations on what is a very homely dish, but basically it is fried onions (preferably suing dripping) and sliced potatoes, to which is added the chopped left over meat plus some stock/gravy and then it is covered and left to simmer/bake for a while. Season well. Even the left over meat is optional if you use a good stock! My dh is the one who makes it at home - he is the one who comes from a traditional Scottish family, whereas I am a mongrel!

My posting crossed with Eulalia's At least we were consistent!

sounds delicious ladies will give it a go one day any particular meat recommended?

Yup, Dot1 -- worse teatime routine I've ever heard.
But who cares about that... has she had her baby? Does anybody know????

Where is dot1? You'd have thought as soon as the baby was born she'd have been on the net - forget the family etc.

Stace - no - just whatever you've got around! Slicing some of the potato thinner, so it disintigrates to thicken up the sauce is one secret of good stovies. Do a search on the internet! SOme of the recipes cook the potato inadvnce, some fry it for a wee bit with the onions - it's case of working out what's best for you, the time you have available and the left overs you have available!

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There has already been an announcement under announcements. Really jmg1 keep up!

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