TEACHING MEAL PLANNING TO YOUTH WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION IN NATURAL SETTINGS

Meal planning is a critical area of development for persons diagnosed with mental retardation and/or mental illness. Although substantial in terest in meal planning has been shown by professionals in the field, there remains a need to validate instructional programs that enable pe rsons with disabilities to plan healthful meals. The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of a meal planning training strat egy on skills required for planning nutritious meals. The recommended dietary allowances of vitamins and minerals were used as criteria in m easuring the healthfulness of actual meals. A multiple probe design ac ross individuals was used to evaluate the efficacy of the meal plannin g training. results indicated that the meal planning training procedur es were effective in increasing healthy food choices and nutritional v alue of meals. All participants maintained 100% of the recommended die tary allowances, while keeping the total number of calories consumed p er day at the level recommended for age and gender.