Has your parrot improved YOUR diet?

[Dbeguy]

Since my eldest nephew was weaned my sister has said that she believes that her diet has improved. She now considers what is healthiest for him and cooks accordingly. Since its accepted that a companion parrot is like having a toddler, I wonder whether getting a parrot and then considering fat, salt, and fresh veggies/fruit spills over into one's own diet.

Since It's hard for me to cook for myself (I'm a graduate student that lives alone). This is something I must consider when (and if) the time comes that I accept responsibility for a feathered charge.

What does everyone think? is it true? or is it like the fallacy of getting a dog "to encourage you to exercise?"

[Michael]

Yeah, I've been eating nothing but pellets and produce ever since

[Dbeguy]

Yeah, I've been eating nothing but pellets and produce ever since

Good one Mr. Wizard!

let's take oatmeal for instance, I would expect that if you wanted your parrot to enjoy a taste you'd cook the whole pot without salt. When you sit down to your own bowl, you'd have to consider how much salt you'd add for yourself. Right now I'd just make the instant kind that already has salt and whatever else added.

One might take the opportunity of eating more fresh produce if you're going to be buying it for your bird anyways.

[Lady Lavender]

:amazon:
My animals have most definitely improved my nutritional habits. Before keeping birds and tortoises Kale was just a garnish on the side of my plate in a restaurant. Now, I throw a handful of kale along with flax seed and spiralina into our morning berry smoothies. I keep more low sugar fresh fruit and veggies on hand and make meals that we (people and pets) can have together. I make rotisserie chicken instead of baked or fried because my amazon prefers it and make steamed brown rice instead of white because it is better for all of them and me.

[William]

Ya kinda I guess I dunno maybe

[Michael]

It's kinda true. I buy more fruit/veggies for the birds and end up eating them myself as well. I try not to eat food I wouldn't be willing to give to them.

[Dbeguy]

Came across soothing unusual,

Has anyone ever bought this "le Grass Café" product? Apparently its wheatgrass for your parrot. My first impression is that this might be a little excessive. I don't know though. If you already make your own wheatgrass smoothies, it would be nothing to grow a little more for your bird. Then again I don't have any desire to eat wheatgrass myself

http://www.trueloveaviary.com/legrasscafe.html

[Pajarita]

Actually, no. But this is because I already had a good diet from before and because I buy large quantities for the birds and they are consumed entirely on a daily basis as I have a lot of birds. Having said this, I have gotten used to eating 'strange' things for breakfast (like raw green beans) because I always eat some of the produce I give them as a bonding/teaching tool.

[Dbeguy]

I have gotten used to eating 'strange' things for breakfast (like raw green beans).

Well just so long as you're not chomping on cuttlebone!

I always eat some of the produce I give them as a bonding/teaching tool.

Seriously, though do you find that letting your birds see you eating something encourages them to try the food item?

[Pajarita]

To tell you the truth, I think they learn how to eat new things more from the parrots that have been here longer than they do from me but I do believe that what I call my 'food mantra' does work. What I do is eat whatever it is that I am serving them always saying the same thing. For example, if I am serving apples I would say: "Apple. Apple is good. It's good" and eat it first, before I start putting out the plates (they eat from paper plates placed on the platforms or the top of cages and several birds share the same one). I also do it every time I put out fresh water saying: "Thirsty. Water. Water is good" I do the first one to create a conditioned response where they would associate this 'mantra' with the assurance that this particular food is good to eat and this helps tremendously when you are incorporating new stuff they have never tried before (again, with the ones that have been with me for years but the new ones learn from the old ones). But I use the water one because parrots that get lost die from dehydration before they die of hunger so I teach them this so they could ask another human being for water if they happen to get lost. And they do know what I am saying because I have this male Senegal who must have been told by his previous owners: "Eat it!" whenever offered food because, whenever I say the 'it's good' thing, he goes around telling the other parrots 'Eat it!' LOL