Increasing In-School Food Consumption of an Elementary Student with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: A Case Study

Abstract

Researchers conducted the present case study to address the immediate need of a student who consumed food at home and refused all food and liquids in her elementary school setting. In order to increase in-school food consumption, researchers developed a multicomponent treatment package that included antecedent adjustments (time and place food was offered), contingent reinforcement (access to highly preferred item following consumption of less preferred food item), and shaping procedures to adjust the weight of highly preferred and less preferred food items. Food consumption increased from 0% food consumed during baseline sessions to 100% of food items consumed during intervention sessions. Food consumption generalized to snack time and later to lunch. Follow-up data collected during three weeks postintervention demonstrated the student continued to consume her entire lunch during lunchtime.