Troubles with Veggies

[Xtreme575]

Ok, so I think I created a problem... When I first got Paco, he breakfasted on broccoli and carrots and red grapes. As we progressed together, I added variety, asparagus, kale, green beens, peppers, cauliflower, beets, I've tried him on all sorts of veggies.

Where I think I've erred, is that after he completely gave up on his baby food I thought it would be nice of me to add the "Pretty Bird Birdy Banquet" bean mix warmed up with his salad.

Today, as a test, I thought I would see if he would eat his salad without the bean mix, not a chance! He looked at the salad and put his nose up. I waited about an hour, and then added the beans, sure enough, he gobbled up the beans and some veggies. Is this a really bad thing???

Should I try to get him back to just veggies? The Pretty Bird seems quite healthy, and has fortified vitamins and minerals that get added, it even smells good. I just worry that should they ever discontinue the product, then am I going to be seriously screwed or what?

Thoughts, suggestions?

[Jayd]

Spock here,Suggestion, It sounds like Paco has a good diet, [Pretty Bird has a lot of vit/min] Your Paco's diet we'll vary even from day to day. You might try giving Paco his fresh veggies in the afternoon. Our Grey's are suppose to have around 18-21% good fat[non-sat]. If you get a chance try: "Beak-Appetite" brand wet food.[we really like it]Switch off each day on what veggies you feed. Another trick is to "juice" veggies and give it as a *drink treat* blend your veggie,,,[broc is strong] You can also let him sip Low sodium V8 juice YUM. Remember: dark green veggies, and lightly cooked carrots rule.
Spock<br><br>Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/03/11 01:08

[Greywings]

What kind of beans? Some are good and some are not a healthy choice. I do not think you have a big problem there you have him on a good diet just as it is. If you want to mix some pelleted food into the fresh try that or cook into some bean and grain mix or birdy bread.

[Jayd]

:laugh: Hi, I decided that Jay and Spock get all the fun and I am going to put my two cents in for a change...:laugh: Here's a "mash" recipe that's easy, cheap, good for them and all our fids love it. Ingredients: Yellow and green split peas, lentils, adzuki or mung beans (adzuki preferred), cinnamon, anise seed, basmati brown rice. Preparation: All these items are easy to cook, cook peas and lentils al dente. The rice has to be well-cooked. Blend all ingredients together and put into ice cube trays or flattened freezer bags and freeze. When you are ready to serve, take out a portion, add a pinch of anise seed and sprinkle with cinnamon, heat and serve at room temp to 105 degrees.
Stage two: Now, you can also add lightly cooked carrots, any finely chopped veggies, cooked Orzo pasta, any other type of cooked pasta, ginger, molasses, a squeeze of fresh orange, mashed banana, apple or pear. The base will last up to six months in the freezer (:woohoo: Ours don't last that long).
Maggie<br><br>Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/03/11 17:28

[crossfit]

Jayd,

What is "balsamic brown rice"? Do you mean basmati? Or is the rice have balsamic vinegar?

Sorry, just confused.

Beth

[Jayd]

Sorry, senior moment, had Italian for dinner thanks for the correction... SIDE NOTE: Always cook rice well done.....Jayd<br><br>Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/03/11 18:04

[Xtreme575]

Thanks for everyone's input on Paco's veggie issue, and Jay, thank you so much for the great ideas! Maggie, I really appreciate you sharing the recipe with me, I'll be sure to try it for sure!!!

I only feed him raw string beans (I think that's what they are called, I hate beans :sick: ) in his salad, but then use the Pretty Bird, Birdy Banquet which is a mash similar to the recipe that Maggie offered with cooked beans. He was eating the Birdy Banquet, but not touching the veggies...

I did figure out how to get him to eat his veggies though, I'm now steaming them. He loves them! Leave it to me to get a parrot who insists that everything be steamed. He's cleaning up the bowl now though, lots of greens, beets and carrots, and other veg that I rotate through.

So, I'm not getting up an extra 15 minutes early to start his breafast! This is a total of 45 minutes earlier than normal for a non-morning person for the love of a bird! Also, the smell of steamed jalepeno peppers is something I could have lived without, but hey, anything for the love of the birds!

Now, off to the kitchen for me to see how many ingredients I have on hand!