Effect of two methods of introducing foods during feeding treatment on acceptance of previously rejected items

Abstract

The effects of using a single food item (e.g. bread) versus using multiple items (e.g. bread, pasta, and rice) when establishing food acceptance via an escape prevention procedure were investigated with six children who presented with food selectivity. Eating was exposed to a differential reinforcement of food acceptance treatment package but food acceptance did not improve. Criterion levels of appropriate eating (>80% acceptance, <20% expulsion, and <20% disruption) were subsequently established with either nonremoval of the spoon or physical guidance for each of the participants. Three of the children were presented with only one food item during acquisition of acceptance. The other children were presented with three different food items from the same food group. It was found that acquisition of acceptance was more rapid for the single-item group but that food acceptance was more likely to generalize to previously rejected items for the multi-item group. The implications for clinical intervention are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.