We sat at the table tonight for over an hour for my little one to eat a single sandwich. We wasted so much time that we couldn't go out to play.

How can I get a sense of urgency into her! I am NOT wanting to force her to eat more than she is willing-do not accuse me of that. What I want is for her to eat, or to tell me that she is done so that we can go onto other things. Not to sit here all day long, and then for her to have a hissy fit if I want to take her plate away, or heaven forbid-go do something else.

Ha....I feel your pain. I guess at this stage you just have to use your head on them, if she can understand that she will get to do "x" once she's finish eating then you can use that tactic. My son is still too young to understand that.

I think it's a stage. I don't think you can get a sense of urgency into her. She's just eating her sandwich at her own pace, which seems to be a little slower than yours. I used to just adjust our timeline to suit their pace.

Does she take an hour to eat for every meal? or is this only happening now and then?
To answer the question though, I would choose something you know she really likes to do and tell her when she's finished eating you guys can do that particular thing.

It's all the time, almost every meal. There are one or two meals-what I would consider comfort foods like corned beef hash, or rice with marmite and cheese that she will wolf down.

She WILL eat veggies fast. Give her a plate of steamed broccoli and it will be gone in five minutes. Carrots too, and cauliflower. She just isn't interested in anything else and I wouldn't get any protein in her without a very long wait.

It is perfectly normal for a young child to eat slowly. I know it can be a pain, but trust me in that it is a developmental phase that will pass in due time. I went through it with my own daughter (who is now 8) and am currently at that stage with my 15 month old right now. I feel your aggravation, however, when there are things you need to get done and you are being help up by a slow eater!

I think it's hard for the little one to concentrate on just eating when there is so much going around her. I'm sure she'll get whatever food she needs even if she doesn't finish it all. I don't know her age but maybe it is a stage. :) Good luck!