Feeding and Growth
Common signs of typical picky eating.
What is refusing new foods, wanting foods prepared a certain way, refusing foods that touch, or eating well one day and less the next.
What does ARFID stand for?
What is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Fewer than how many consistently accepted foods may be a red flag?
What is fewer than 20 accepted foods.
PFD stands for...
What is Pediatric Feeding Disorder.
Children with autism may have feeding challenges related to sensitivity to what?
What is texture, smell, color, temperature, taste, or appearance.
In typical picky eating, growth is usually...
What is appropriate or normal?
ARFID is not driven by concerns about what?
What is body image, weight, or shape?
What should staff consider when a caregiver says accepted foods are being lost over time?
What is a red flag and may require referral or further assessment.
True or false: Asking a child to take “just one bite” is recommended for picky eating.
What is FALSE.
True or false: Autism-related food selectivity can lead to nutrient gaps if entire food groups are avoided.
What is TRUE.
A gentle strategy that starts with foods the child already accepts and makes small changes over time to expand variety.
What is food chaining?
Name one common ARFID presentation.
What is sensory sensitivity, low interest in eating, poor appetite, or fear of choking, vomiting, pain, or allergic reaction.
Name two feeding safety red flags.
What is coughing, choking, gagging, wet voice, congestion during/after meals, aspiration concerns, or swallowing difficulty.
Name the four domains of Pediatric Feeding Disorder.
What is Medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and psychosocial.
A child only accepts foods that are the same brand, shape, and color. This may be related to what?
What is preference for sameness, routines, or predictability.
Give one example of food chaining from chicken nuggets.
Chicken nuggets → different brand of nuggets → homemade breaded chicken → baked chicken strips → grilled chicken pieces.
Staff should diagnose ARFID during a nutrition appointment.
What is False.
Staff can identify concerns and refer, but they do not diagnose ARFID.
A child has poor weight gain, limited variety, and relies heavily on Pediasure. Who should be involved?
An RD/dietitian and the child’s healthcare provider; possibly a feeding team depending on other concerns.
Reflux, vomiting, constipation, allergies, pain, prematurity, and respiratory issues fall under which PFD domain?
What is Medical Domain.
A child with autism has severe distress with meals and limited accepted foods. What should staff consider?
What is Referral to RD, pediatrician, OT, SLP/feeding therapist, or feeding team depending on concerns.
What is the main takeaway when deciding if picky eating needs referral?
What is the impact on growth, nutrition, safety, development, and family functioning.
Name two ways ARFID may be different from typical picky eating.
What is intake may be too low, growth may falter, variety may be very limited, restriction may persist or worsen, mealtimes may cause significant distress, or deficiencies may be present.
A child gags with textures, pockets food in their cheeks, and has trouble chewing. Which provider may be most appropriate to refer to?
Speech-language pathologist or feeding therapist.
Trouble chewing, swallowing, progressing textures, cup drinking, or self-feeding falls under which PFD domain?
What is Feeding skill.
What is one supportive feeding approach for a child with autism and food selectivity?
What is predictable routines, safe foods, low-pressure exposure, food chaining, sensory accommodations, or referral when needed.