Just Right Challenge Feeding Protocol: Case-Report for Guiding Clinical Reasoning and Future Research in Food Selectivity Treatment

Abstract

Food selectivity impacts health and quality of life for children with developmental disabilities. Best practice protocols are still in development and use of escape extinction, systematic desensitization and parent education are elements that may be part of effective multi-component treatment. The Just Right Challenge Feeding Protocol (JRCFP) includes each of these elements to drive changes in food acceptance for children with developmental disabilities. This case-report provides detailed information about how a group of children progress through treatment. Children in this case-report had 15 or less foods in their food inventory and profiles indicating the presence of sensory over-responsivity. Every 5–10 weeks, each child moved up one step in the Food Interaction Hierarchy (e.g. touch, taste, eat). Significant increases in vegetable and fruit acceptance and mealtime quality are noted and parent compliance on home program assignments is described. This information is valuable for guiding clinical reasoning and future research of treatment for food selectivity.