Looking for commiseration and tips.

I have a 3 year old DD, and 2 year old DS.

My DD has always been a slow eater, hour long sitting for meals since she was wee. They are both fabulous eaters in terms of variety, we cannot complain there, they pretty much eat anything we put on the plate.

Now that they are a little older, every mealtime is plagued with giggles and foolishness.

I realize a little fun here and there is fun, but it's getting to the point where every meal is games and silly. If we remove them from the table for some time away it's screaming and tantrums and awful. DH and I try to balance each other, sometimes it really gets to him, other times (like this morning) I absolutely lose my cool.

I don't really have two eating spaces/rooms in our house, but I am at the point I want to separate them for meal time, it's completely impractical.

We both WOHM and with DD starting school in September I know our efficiency around breakfast and dinner will be important. We offer zero screen time in/around meals and there are no toys or anything other than people, dishes/cutlery and food at the table.

Does anyone have any tips/tricks/reading resources for keeping the foolishness out of mealtime without feeling like a drill sergeant and meal times being completely silent.

I am really just hoping we can get into some routine for weekday mornings that doesn't involve me nagging at them to keep moving and turn off the silly.