Eating

Both of my girls take an extraordinarily long time to eat any meal.  Breakfast, for example, was 30 minutes this morning to consume one cup of yogurt and a glass of milk.  30 minutes.  Afterwards, I had a bowl of cereal and timed myself to see if I have expectations that aren't realistic.  It took me 6 minutes to eat my cereal, including an interruption to change a diaper.  WTH?  Lunch and dinner can take upwards of 45 minutes to eat, even with me helping E.  L will stare off in space, talk talk talk TALK, poke at her food, or just play with her silverware, plate, etc.  I'm constantly telling her "eat," "pick up your fork," "eat your [insert food here]," or "stop talking, start eating."  Doesn't seem to make a difference.  E will sit in her chair for about 10 minutes eating various things, and then she'll spend the next 20 minutes yelling about being "stuck" in her chair (aka strapped in so she can't stand up), struggling to get out, refusing to eat, and just being a pain in my @$$. 

Any suggestions?  Please don't say "they're probably not hungry," because I know for a fact that they are.  I just need them to stop taking forever to eat and to focus!!!!