Challenges and Successes in Addressing Food Selectivity in Children With Developmental Disabilities During Preschool Mealtimes

Abstract

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. We evaluated the effects of a multicomponent intervention to address food selectivity issues of 3 preschoolers with developmental disabilities. The intervention comprised strategies evidencing ecological validity in both research and practice. All sessions took place during typical mealtimes in children's classroom or lunchroom, with peers present, and a school-based staff member serving as the instructor. A multiple probe design across behaviors (touch, smell, taste, and eat), with a nested changing criterion design in the final tier, was used to evaluate changes in eating behaviors. Exploratory behaviors related to eating increased for all children; however, the designed intervention did not result in increased consumption of nonpreferred foods. Modifications resulted in one child demonstrating consistent increases in the consumption of nonpreferred foods, but these modifications did not result in increased consumption for other children. Challenges and future directions in treating food selectivity using resources typically available during mealtimes in preschool settings are discussed.