Food selectivity, mealtime behavior problems, spousal stress, and family food choices in children with and without autism spectrum disorder.
Parents can run the Autism MEAL Plan at home and quickly see calmer meals, more bites, and less stress.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers tested the Autism MEAL Plan, a short parent-training program for feeding issues.
Families of autistic children got the plan right away. A wait-list group served as the control.
Parents learned to use ABA steps during meals at home. They recorded bites, stress, and family food choices.
What they found
Parents who used the plan said their kids took more bites and had fewer tantrums at the table.
The same parents also felt less mealtime stress than the wait-list families.
The study showed the plan is doable for families without a therapist in the house.
How this fits with other research
Simeon et al. (2025) looked at 61 feeding studies and found most are tiny and measure things differently. The MEAL Plan is one of the few that used an RCT, so it adds a stronger brick to a shaky wall.
TVEmerson et al. (2023) ran a phone-app version of parent feeding coaching. Their mixed results show tech can help, but only if parents keep using the app. The MEAL Plan’s paper packet still wins for simplicity.
Bloomfield et al. (2021) moved parent training to Zoom and also saw more bites. Together these studies say the coach can be in the room, on a screen, or even in a workbook—what matters is teaching the parent.
Why it matters
You don’t need a clinic kitchen to start fixing feeding problems. Give parents a clear step-by-step plan, check in weekly, and they can increase acceptance while lowering their own stress. Use the MEAL Plan as a ready-made curriculum or as proof that parent-mediated feeding works when you keep it simple and brief.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Feeding problems represent a frequent concern reported by caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders, and growing evidence suggests atypical patterns of intake may place this population at risk of nutritional and/or related medical issues, including chronic vitamin and mineral deficiencies, poor bone growth, and obesity. This combination of factors emphasizes a clear need to identify and disseminate evidence-based treatment of feeding problems associated with autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral intervention represents an effective treatment for chronic feeding concerns in this population; however, evidence has largely been established with trained therapists working in highly structured settings. This pilot study seeks to fill this gap in the literature by describing and evaluating the Autism MEAL Plan, a behaviorally based parent-training curriculum to address feeding problems associated with autism spectrum disorders. We assessed the feasibility of the intervention in terms of program content and study protocol (e.g. recruitment and retention of participants, assessment procedures), as well as efficacy in terms of changes in feeding behaviors. A total of 10 families participated in the treatment condition, and the program was evaluated using a waitlist control design (n = 9), representing the first randomized-control study of a feeding intervention in autism spectrum disorders. Results provide provisional support regarding the utility of the program, including high social validity, parent perception of effectiveness, and reduced levels of caregiver stress following intervention. Implications, limitations, and future directions for this line of research are discussed.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2015 · doi:10.1177/1362361313489190