Food issues - is it a phase?

[FrillyMilly]

DD is 3.5 and has always been an alright eater. Eats a good variety of foods, could eat more veg but I don't push it too much. However lately she has been taking ages to eat her food. Tonight we had meatballs and pasta. After an hour and a half she had eaten a third of it. She holds the food in her mouth for ages and refuses to swallow it until its practically disintegrated. I've been offering her water to encourage her to swallow it but it makes no difference. If I try any sort of bribery/punishment full on meltdown occurs.

She kept saying she was full but I was encouraging her to eat more. After an hour and half of this id had enough and took the remainder away. Not long after 'I'm hungry, I'm hungry'. I didn't give her anything though and she went to bed fine.

I don't know what to do. She used to wolf her food down no problem and this is getting ridiculous. Has anyone got any advice? I've really had enough of meal time battles.

I think it's a phase. She's just testing the boundaries. If she's been a good eager before then you know she can do it. I would maybe just set a limit, say 30 mins and give her a warning when there's 10 then 5 mins left that it'll be taken away of not eaten. If you stick to this every time she should eventually realise she has to eat it or it'll be gone.

Don't badger her too much during the meal, just a gentle reminder of the time left then ignore ignore and eat your meal/ chat amongst yourselves as usual.

Eager? Eater