Review “Eating Tips” document with parents before you start this teaching procedure.

Step #1 – Get parents to fill out a “Food Consumption Chart” for one week. Your chart may need to be individualized more for your student. If the parent is overwhelmed and cannot do this, have them fill out the “Food Log – Categories” sheet instead.

Step #2 – Analyze the data on the food log. Is there a pattern? Are the tolerated foods similar is some way?

Examples: Are the foods all carbs? Are they all white? Are they all bland? Are they all smooth? Are there any fruits that the student will tolerate? Any vegetables? Any meats?

Step #3 – Based on the data from the food log, create a hierarchy of foods. Put the foods that the student is most likely to accept first on the list. Sometimes, we have even needed to start with already accepted foods, but presented in a different way (e.g., a sandwich cut in a different direction, goldfish crackers in a baggie instead of a container, etc.)

Use “Hierarchical Exposure to increase Food Flexibility” or “Food Rating Scale Data Sheet” data sheet for the first few foods that you choose to introduce.

Step #4 – Start teaching using “Eats a Variety of Food” teaching procedure. Also look to The Autism Feeding Specialist for more tips and tricks.

Step #5 – Data collection. “Food Rating Scale” is an easy way to collect data.

The data collection system is based on this article.