Children with autism spectrum disorder may have difficulty with sensory processing, social interactions, and communication, which can contribute to feeding difficulties and failure to thrive. Providing structured meal times is an important intervention to help establish a routine and promote consistency and predictability.

Structured meal times involve setting a specific time for meals and snacks, providing a calm and quiet environment, and limiting distractions. This can help the child focus on the task of eating and reduce sensory overload that may interfere with feeding. The nurse should also ensure that the child is seated comfortably and at an appropriate height for feeding.

Offering food even if disinterested (B), incorporating play during meals (C), and allowing multiple food choices (D) are not necessarily helpful interventions for a toddler with autism spectrum disorder and failure to thrive. Offering food when the child is not interested may reinforce negative feeding behaviors and can contribute to further feeding difficulties. Incorporating play during meals may distract the child from the task of eating and can be counterproductive. Allowing multiple food choices can be overwhelming for the child and may not promote a consistent and structured feeding routine.

Therefore, the nurse should prioritize providing structured meal times as an important intervention for promoting feeding and growth in a toddler with autism spectrum disorder and failure to thrive.