Comparing Simultaneous and Sequential Food Presentation to Increase Consumption of Novel Target Foods
Sequential bite order beats side-by-side placement for most autistic kids with food selectivity, even without escape extinction.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Three autistic children in a public school classroom took part.
Each lunch session the teacher tried two food orders in random order.
Simultaneous: a bite of the liked food sat next to the new food on one plate.
Sequential: the child first ate the new food bite, then got the liked food bite right after.
No one made the kids stay at the table or used any escape extinction.
What they found
Two of the three kids ate more of the new food when bites came in the sequential order.
The third kid ate the same small amount under both orders.
Sequential won without any extra rewards or pressure.
How this fits with other research
Whelan et al. (2019) showed sequential works only if the liked food is a true reinforcer.
They gave the liked bite only after the new bite, just like Davis did, but they also praised.
Davis removed praise and still saw gains, showing the order alone can be powerful.
Ahearn (2003) first used simultaneous presentation with condiments and saw quick acceptance.
Davis found simultaneous alone was weaker, suggesting the early win came from the extra condiment, not just the side-by-side set-up.
Together the studies say: keep the contingency, skip the extras, and sequential beats simultaneous.
Why it matters
You can try sequential bites before moving to escape extinction.
Place the new food bite on the fork first, then hand the child the liked food bite right after swallowing.
Track daily data; if you see no jump after a week, then consider adding praise or other supports.
This keeps meals short, low-stress, and classroom-friendly.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Two methods of food presentation (simultaneous and sequential) were compared in an adapted alternating treatment design to determine effects on consumption of target foods for three children with autism in a school setting. Preferred and nonpreferred target foods were nominated by parents, and consumption of reported preferred and nonpreferred foods was directly tested. Preferred and nonpreferred foods were then paired together and assigned to one of two conditions. In the simultaneous condition, bites of preferred and nonpreferred food were presented at the same time, with the nonpreferred food placed behind or inside the preferred food. In the sequential condition, a bite of preferred food was delivered contingent on consumption of a bite of nonpreferred food. Consumption increased in the sequential condition for two out of three participants. Implications for treatment of food selectivity in a school setting are discussed.This study describes two simple interventions to increase consumption of nonpreferred foods that can be implemented in a classroom settingThese data contribute to previous studies comparing sequential versus simultaneous presentation of foods by conducting the procedures in participants’ natural settingResults indicate the efficacy of sequential presentation of preferred and nonpreferred foods without the use of escape extinctionResults also suggest further research comparing sequential versus simultaneous food presentation is warranted, given the few direct comparisons that currently exist and their overall mixed results regarding relative efficacy This study describes two simple interventions to increase consumption of nonpreferred foods that can be implemented in a classroom setting These data contribute to previous studies comparing sequential versus simultaneous presentation of foods by conducting the procedures in participants’ natural setting Results indicate the efficacy of sequential presentation of preferred and nonpreferred foods without the use of escape extinction Results also suggest further research comparing sequential versus simultaneous food presentation is warranted, given the few direct comparisons that currently exist and their overall mixed results regarding relative efficacy
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2023 · doi:10.1007/s40617-023-00789-x