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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
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Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
Published on: June 5, 2016
Use of an interactive game to increase food acceptance--a pilot study
1Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre, Chedoke Division, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. gillisl@hhsc.ca
Child: Care, Health and Development
|August 9, 2003
Summary
An interactive food game successfully increased food variety and acceptance in children with chronic food refusal. This method improved dietary intake and was maintained long-term.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Behavioral Interventions
- Childhood Food Refusal
Background:
- Limited effective strategies exist for improving food selection in children with persistent food refusal.
- Educational games can enhance knowledge of healthy eating but may not consistently lead to behavioral changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate an interactive food game's efficacy in increasing food acceptance among healthy-weight, school-aged children experiencing chronic food refusal.
Main Methods:
- Children participated in clinic-based sessions involving an interactive game with a therapist and parent, where non-preferred foods were consumed.
- Food consumption was monitored weekly, with dietary analysis conducted by a Registered Dietitian thrice over one year.
Main Results:
- Participants demonstrated an expanded repertoire of consumed foods and achieved a more balanced dietary intake.
- These dietary improvements were integrated into daily home meal patterns and sustained for the one-year study duration.
Conclusions:
- An interactive food game proved effective in enhancing food variety for healthy children with chronic food refusal.
- Findings from this small-scale study (three subjects) will inform future research on this intervention.
