ABA Feeding Therapy for Picky Eating in Cherry Hill, NJ
When mealtimes are a daily battle, a BCBA-led feeding program can help your child try new foods, sit for meals and build self-feeding skills, one small step at a time.
Yes. Innovative ABA runs feeding and food-selectivity programs inside ABA therapy for children with autism. A BCBA assesses your child's eating behavior, then builds a gradual plan to accept new foods, handle mealtimes and feed themselves. Medical concerns are checked first by your pediatrician. Call (732) 691-1299 for a free consultation and insurance check.
Clinically reviewed by Charles Knoppel, BCBA · Updated October 2026
At a glance
| Where | 1939 NJ-70, Cherry Hill Township, NJ 08003 (our only center); also in-home |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open 24 hours, 7 days |
| Focus | Food selectivity, mealtime behavior, new foods, self-feeding |
| Medical first | Pediatrician, SLP or OT clears swallowing & growth concerns; we coordinate |
| Insurance | Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare + most major plans; free benefits check |
| Clinical lead | Charles Knoppel, BCBA, Clinical Director |
Can ABA therapy help a picky eater with autism?
For many children on the autism spectrum, eating is about much more than taste. A child may eat only a handful of foods, only one brand, only crunchy textures or only foods of a certain color. A new food on the plate can lead to crying, gagging, pushing the plate away or leaving the table. Parents often tell us mealtimes have become the hardest part of the day.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can help with the behavior side of eating. A feeding program looks at what happens before, during and after meals, then teaches new skills in small, planned steps with plenty of reinforcement. The goal is not to force food. It is to make trying something new feel safe and manageable, so your child's list of accepted foods can slowly grow.
Why do some children get so stuck on a few foods? Sensory differences can make certain textures, smells or temperatures feel overwhelming. A strong need for sameness can make a familiar food feel safe and a new one feel risky. Over time, refusing a food may also be reinforced, because pushing the plate away ends the meal or brings a favorite food instead. ABA looks at these patterns one child at a time rather than assuming one cause.
Feeding goals are built into your child's overall ABA treatment plan, written and supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and carried out by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Because we are small by design, your child's BCBA is close to the day-to-day work and can adjust the plan as the data comes in. Every child moves at a different pace, and we do not promise a specific result or timeline.
When should you see a doctor before starting ABA for feeding?
Some eating problems are medical, not behavioral, and those need to be checked first. ABA does not replace a medical evaluation. Talk with your pediatrician before starting a feeding program, and right away, if your child shows any of the signs below. Your doctor may refer you to a feeding specialist, such as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or occupational therapist (OT), or to a gastroenterologist.
Once your child is medically cleared, your BCBA coordinates with the pediatrician and any SLP or OT on the team, with your permission. That way the behavior plan fits safely with what the medical providers recommend, such as which textures are safe to introduce.
- Swallowing or chokingcoughing, choking or gagging during most meals, or trouble swallowing liquids or solids.
- Weight or growthweight loss, not gaining weight, or a pediatrician's concern about growth or nutrition.
- Pain or refluxsigns of reflux, vomiting, constipation or pain linked to eating.
- Very limited dieta diet so narrow that whole food groups are missing, which a doctor or dietitian should review.
What does an ABA feeding program actually work on?
Every feeding plan starts with an assessment. Your BCBA asks what your child eats now, what happens at meals, and what you have already tried. We may watch a meal, review a food log and, when behavior at the table is a concern, complete a functional behavior assessment (FBA) to learn why it happens, such as escaping a non-preferred food or getting attention.
From there, goals are specific and measurable. Your child's RBT records data at every feeding session: which foods were presented, how many bites were accepted and how much help was needed. Your BCBA reviews the data and adjusts the plan when progress stalls or a goal is met.
- Food selectivitygradually adding new foods, textures and brands next to foods your child already likes.
- Accepting new foodssmall steps such as tolerating a food on the plate, touching it, smelling it, then tasting it.
- Mealtime behaviorsitting at the table, staying calm when a new food appears and ending the meal appropriately.
- Self-feeding skillsusing a spoon, fork or open cup, and eating with less help from adults.
- Routineseating at a regular time and place, which makes meals more predictable for your child.
How do feeding goals fit with your child's other ABA programs?
Feeding is rarely a stand-alone goal. Snack and lunch are natural teaching moments in our Full-Day Center-Based ABA program at our Cherry Hill center, where your child practices with a consistent RBT and sees other children eating too. Many children also need practice where meals really happen, so In-Home ABA Therapy lets us work at your kitchen table with your plates, your foods and your schedule.
Skills learned in one setting do not always show up in another, so generalization is part of the plan from the start. Your BCBA will plan for new foods to be accepted with different people, at home and, when it fits, at school or a restaurant. For younger children, feeding goals often sit alongside the early communication goals in our Early Intervention ABA program. If your child is under 3 and also receives services through New Jersey's Early Intervention System, we can share goals with that team when you ask us to.
How can parents help at home?
You eat with your child far more often than any therapist does, so you are the most important part of a feeding plan. Through Parent Training & Support, your BCBA shows you exactly how sessions are run: how to present a new food, what to say, how to reinforce small wins and what to do if your child refuses or gets upset. Then you practice with coaching until it feels natural.
Small changes add up. Keeping meals calm, offering a new food in a very small amount next to a favorite food and following the same steps your child's RBT uses all help skills carry over. If you live near our center on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, see our Cherry Hill ABA page for how families nearby combine center days and home sessions. When you are ready, contact us to talk through your child's eating and check your insurance benefits for free.
ABA programs for your family
Full-Day Center-Based ABA
Structured, full-day programming at our Cherry Hill center, with school-readiness built in.
Learn more →ABA Therapy for Children
One-on-one, play-based ABA that builds communication, social and daily-living skills.
Learn more →In-Home ABA Therapy
Therapy in your home, where routines like meals, bedtime and play happen.
Learn more →Early Intervention ABA
Support for toddlers and preschoolers during the years skills grow fastest.
Learn more →School & Community-Based ABA
Help carrying skills into classrooms, playgrounds, stores and outings.
Learn more →Social Skills Development
Turn-taking, conversation, play and friendship skills, practiced with peers.
Learn more →
Charles Knoppel, BCBA
Clinical Director — Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Charles leads our clinical team and oversees every child’s treatment plan. He reviewed this page for clinical accuracy in October 2026. Meet our team →
Frequently asked questions
Does Innovative ABA offer feeding therapy?
Yes. We run feeding and food-selectivity programs as part of ABA therapy for children with autism. A BCBA assesses your child's eating behavior and builds goals for accepting new foods, mealtime behavior and self-feeding. Sessions can happen at our Cherry Hill center or at home. Medical concerns should be checked by your pediatrician first, and we coordinate with your child's providers.
Is picky eating in autism a behavior problem or a medical problem?
It can be either, or both. Many children with autism are selective eaters because of sensory preferences, routines or learned avoidance, which ABA can address. But choking, trouble swallowing, reflux, pain or weight loss can point to a medical cause. That is why a pediatrician, and often an SLP or OT feeding specialist, should evaluate your child before or alongside ABA.
Will my child be forced to eat foods they don't like?
No. Our feeding programs use gradual steps and positive reinforcement, not force. A new food might start by simply sitting on the plate, then being touched or smelled, before your child is ever asked to taste it. Your BCBA watches the data and moves at your child's pace, adjusting the plan if a step is too hard.
How long does it take for an ABA feeding program to work?
It varies a lot from child to child, and we cannot promise a timeline or result. Some children accept new foods within weeks, while others need months of small steps. Progress depends on how limited the diet is, any medical or sensory factors, and how consistently the plan is practiced at home. Your BCBA reviews data with you regularly.
Does insurance cover ABA for feeding problems?
Often, when feeding goals are part of a medically necessary ABA treatment plan for a child with an autism diagnosis. New Jersey's autism mandate requires many state-regulated plans to cover ABA, and we work with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare and most major plans. Self-funded plans vary. We verify your benefits for free.
Do you work with my child's speech or occupational therapist?
Yes, with your permission. Feeding often involves more than one provider. A speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist may handle oral-motor skills, chewing or swallowing safety, while ABA focuses on behavior around eating. Your BCBA shares data and aligns goals with them and with your pediatrician, so everyone is working from a safe, consistent plan.
Can feeding goals be worked on at home?
Yes. Many families add feeding goals to in-home ABA so practice happens at the real kitchen table with real family meals. Your BCBA also coaches you through parent training, so you can run the same steps at dinner and on weekends. Home practice is one of the biggest factors in helping new foods stick.
Talk to a BCBA about mealtimes
Schedule a free consultation and insurance check. We'll listen to what meals look like now and explain how a feeding plan could fit your child.