“ When talking about sensory diets, the occupational therapist can be compared to a dietitian. The dietitian provides the diet; it is up to the dieter to perform the diet as designed. The same is true of a student with a sensory diet”

First and  foremost, a sensory diet is not like the typical ‘diet’. It  is not a food diet; it does not determine specific foods one can and cannot eat and it does not restrict caloric intake. A sensory diet is the name used to refer to a series of activities that are performed by a person in  order to feel calm, alert, focused, or aroused. In other words, sensory diets provide an individual with activities that help them be at their optimal state of mind. Sensory diets are tailor made for an individual by an occupational therapist. The activities are chosen by the OT to meet the specific sensory needs of the individual, then the individual completes the diet on their own time. In the case of a student having a sensory diet at school, there are three types of activities that could be found as part of the student’s diet. Type 1: whole class participation; the OT may chose to create a diet that an entire classroom of students can participate in all together. Type 2: independent activities; the OT could also develop a diet that the student performs independently in the back of the classroom with distant supervision from the teacher or classroom aide. Type 3: Direct assistance;  the OT may chose to use activities that require direct assistance from the teacher or classroom aide. The types of activities present on a sensory diet are at the discretion of the OT and are intended to be least restrictive while best meeting the students' needs.