The first copy of The Eating
Game was completed on March 1, 2007 for Ethan who was 6 years old and is
autistic. At the time he was happiest eating just hot dogs and rice! He was
very excited the first day he used The Eating Game because had hot dogs and
rice for breakfast! - a story I like to tell to illustrate that a key feature
of The Eating Game is that the child is in control of the choices! They like
that!
The
user needs to have only 2 skills:
• be
able to make a choice
• be
able to match 4 colors (blue, yellow, green and red)
(NOTE: verbal or literacy skills not needed)
There
are over 200 food pictures in four different food groups and colors: 1 inch pictures,
5 mil laminated card stock with a hook and loop button that will support
alternative choices made by those on CFGF diets or any other dietary
restrictions
• Milk and
Alternatives - Blue
•
Grains - Yellow
• Fruit
and Vegetables - Green
• Meat and
Alternatives - Red
There
are planning charts for each of the age groups in Canada's Food Guide: five are
included in the binder: 2-3, 4-8, 9-13, females 14-18, males 14-18 but there
are also 4 more that are available if needed: females 19-50 and 51+, males 19-50
and 51+. It is being used in some group homes and by folks in assisted living
programs. The charts are also 5 mil laminated card stock with hook &
loop buttons to accept the food pictures. There are storage pages to put the
pictures on that the parent chooses to present to the child.
Initially
the parent chooses the food pictures to present based on:
• foods
the child can eat (special dietary considerations)
• foods
the child has eaten in their lifetime
• foods
available at the time
• foods
the parent chooses!
Once
the pictures are presented for the child's choice, it has to be totally their
choice. They must choose pictures to match the colored squares on their
planning chart. Once they have done this they have chosen to eat the foods
recommended by Canada's Food Guide for their age group. They can later be
exchanged but the new choice must be the same color.
NOTE: The choice Ethan made of hot dogs & rice for breakfast
only happened once, because then he realized he couldn't have it for lunch or
supper! However, he was pretty excited to be able to make that choice which
also convinced him he was in control!
There
are some pictures that Canada's Food Guide might not recommend, like chocolate
cake with the "grains pics" but I felt they needed to be included.
The reality is that these foods will be eaten and perhaps not all that bad a
choice when made in moderation (and the parent is really in control of what is
presented!) If a child who is a poor eater can start eating most of what
Canada's Food Guide recommends then maybe they deserve a treat too! The cake or
other choice could also be used as a reinforcer to enhance motivation!
Ethan
was eating over 200 new foods in 15 months and he still (after 29 months) uses
The Eating Game although is eating almost everything! Being able to make the
choices and being in control is important. This makes mealtime very predictable
and the visual supports are a great communication tool! Meals are no longer a
surprise - pretty significant for a lot of kids with ASD!
Since 2007 other The
Eating Game products have been developed and it is now available in English,
French and Mi’kmaq. There is a MIY (Make It Yourself) Kit and a Digital
Downloadable Edition. The Eater’s Choice Daily Meal Planner offers the user the
same convenient reusable meal planner without the pictures.
The Eating Game now has Patent Rights ~
US Patent #8,333,593 B2 granted in Dec 2013
Canadian Patent
# 2,612,218 granted in Jan 2014
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