Food Acceptance Map

Map your food preferences across all categories

⏱️ 5 minutes Difficulty: Easy (3/10)

Select all foods you eat regularly from each category

Food Acceptance Map

⏱️ Takes approximately 5 minutes

Question 1 of 6

What is a Food Acceptance Map?

A Food Acceptance Map is a comprehensive assessment of the foods you eat across different categories. This assessment uses multiple-choice questions to identify which foods you accept from each major food category. This provides a clear picture of your dietary variety and food acceptance patterns.

How It Works

The Food Acceptance Map consists of 6 multiple-choice questions, one for each major food category:

  • Proteins - Meat, fish, eggs, legumes, and plant-based proteins (10 options)
  • Vegetables - Fresh and cooked vegetables (12 options)
  • Fruits - Fresh and dried fruits (10 options)
  • Grains & Carbs - Bread, rice, pasta, and other carbohydrates (9 options)
  • Dairy - Milk, cheese, yogurt, and dairy products (5 options)
  • Snacks & Treats - Cookies, chips, candy, and other snacks (6 options)

For each category, you can select all the foods you eat regularly. The assessment calculates your acceptance percentage for each category and your overall food acceptance score across all 52 foods.

Why This Matters

Understanding your food acceptance map helps you:

  • See which food categories you're most and least accepting of
  • Identify gaps in your dietary variety
  • Set specific goals for expanding food acceptance
  • Track progress over time as you add new foods
  • Understand the scope of your food preferences

Interpreting Your Score

Good Variety (70-100%)

You have good food variety across most categories. You accept a wide range of foods and have flexibility in your eating patterns. This supports good nutrition and social eating flexibility.

Moderate Variety (40-69%)

You have moderate food variety. You accept foods from multiple categories but may have some gaps. There's room to expand your food acceptance, particularly in categories where your acceptance is lower.

Limited Variety (0-39%)

You have limited food variety. You may accept foods from only a few categories, or have very limited acceptance within categories. This may impact your nutrition and social eating. Consider strategies to gradually expand your food acceptance, starting with foods similar to ones you already accept.

Strategies for Improvement

If you want to expand your food acceptance:

  • Food Chaining - Start with foods you accept, then try very similar foods
  • Category Focus - Work on one category at a time
  • Preparation Variations - Try the same food prepared differently (cooked vs raw, different textures)
  • Gradual Exposure - Look, smell, touch before tasting (no pressure to eat)
  • Celebrate Small Wins - Any new food acceptance is progress

When to Seek Professional Help

Consider professional help if your food acceptance: is very limited (fewer than 15-20 foods total), causes nutritional deficiencies, severely impacts your social life, or causes significant distress. A registered dietitian or feeding therapist can help you develop a personalized plan to expand your food acceptance.

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I answer the multiple-choice questions?

For each category question, select all the foods you eat regularly. You can select multiple options - there's no limit. Only select foods you eat comfortably and regularly, not foods you've only tried once or eat very rarely.

What if I don't eat any foods from a category?

That's okay! Simply don't select any options for that category. The assessment will calculate your score based on the foods you do accept. This helps identify which categories may need more attention.

Can I retake this assessment?

Yes! Retaking the Food Acceptance Map over time can help you track progress as you expand your food acceptance. Many people find it motivating to see their acceptance percentages increase across categories.

What if I have dietary restrictions (allergies, religious, etc.)?

This assessment is about foods you can and do eat, not foods you avoid for medical, religious, or ethical reasons. Focus on foods within your dietary framework that you accept. The score reflects your acceptance within your dietary constraints.