How to Expand A Picky Eater’s Diet: Feeding and Food Chaining
2019-02-19
Since feeding involves all sensory systems (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste), eating is the most difficult sensory task that children face. Feeding issues are especially common in children with autism, including those with Aspergers, because of difficulties with sensory processing. In many cases, this leads to eating challenges at mealtimes.
“Food chaining,” from the book by the same name, is based on the child’s natural preferences and successful eating experiences—specifically the idea that we eat what we like. Food chaining introduces new foods that have the same flavors or sensory features as foods that are already preferred by the child, increasing the likelihood that the child will like the food.
A food chain consists of four levels that build upon one another. By following the levels of the food chain, the child will be able to build upon success with small changes.
For example, if your child’s accepted food is chicken nuggets, a sample food chain might look like this:
| Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
| Maintain & Expand Current Taste & Texture | Vary Taste & Maintain Texture | Maintain Taste & Vary Texture | Vary Taste & Texture |
| Other brands and sizes of chicken nuggets (i.e., strips/popcorn/bites, both fast food & home-prepared); fried chicken patties cut into pieces (fast food & home prepared) | Different flavored chicken nuggets (barbeque, honey mustard, hickory smoked, etc.) Use sauces/dips to vary tastes. | Chicken strips (not breaded); chicken leg/drumstick; chicken breast; ground chicken patties | Breaded seafood (scallops, shrimp); breaded fish (fast food & home-prepared); breaded turkey breast; breaded vegetables; breaded baked chicken; crusted/breaded pork tenderloin; ground meats |
Here are some other food chaining tips:
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