It's Mash Making Day!

It's been two days since I ran out of veggie mash! Oh no! It's ok, the birds have been eating cookable foods from higgins, goldenfeast, and homemade quinoa mixes. All of which they love. :)

When I make my "mash" it is 100% veggies and leafy greens. Seperately, I cook big pots of whole grains, beans and spices and I freeze seperately. This makes the veggie mash part is easy- no measuring to make sure you have grains/beans/veggies in balance! Just add in whatever you've got.


I admit I don't always go completely organic. I DO try my best to follow the "clean fifteen" and "dirty dozen" lists. But when I can, I like to shop at local farmer's markets. Great variety, local farmers and organic! Today I went all out.

From the farmer's market: Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Orange Cauliflower, Carrots, Yellow Squash, sweet Purple Peppers, Yellow Tomatoes, Okra, Serrano Peppers, red chard, mint

From the grocery store: Butternut squash, ginger, also garlic

The supplements I am adding (it often changes): red palm oil, chia seeds, avi-greens

I put everything through thr food preocessor very finely. This way there is no picking through for just what they want! Any winter squashes or sweet potato I steam or microwave till very soft.

All mixed up with supplements added:

There was a stowaway  from the market!!

I usually freeze in ice cube trays and then thaw one cube of veggies and one cube of frozen bean/grain mix and stir together. Then I can vary the meals- adding straight veggie mash to scrambled eggs or oatmeal, etc. But even though my birds are similiar sizes, they eat varying amounts. So I am experimenting with using these cute little teeny tupperwear containers instead of ice cube trays. Each one should last three days I think, maybe four? We'll have to see how it goes!Don't hesitant to ask any questions- I will do my best to askwer them. :)

I vary the veggies and leafy greens and fresh herb each time, but almost always include carrots, broccoli, some sort of sweet and/or spicy pepper, sweet potato or winter squash, garlic and ginger. Carrots are always a favorite, as is okra and all types of peppers from super sweet to scary spicy. My birds are NOT good about eating leafy greens (well, Tonka will eat them but not Perry or Violet) so I put lots in every mash- I think they are very important! The nice thing about mash, my birds eat it with anything added. Once they are accustomed to the mash concept, you can change out any or all the veggies that you want and they will still eat it!



Other veggies I will add: radishes, cauliflower, brussell sprouts, all types of summer squashes and winter squashes and pumpkin, turnip, beets, rutabagas,tomatoes in small amounts, kohlrabi, green beans, sugar snap peas, snow peas, all types of cabbages, eggplants.

Other leafy greens I will add: spinach, beet greens, collard greens, mustard greens, romaine, leafy green lettuce, arugula, baby spring mix, carrot tops, dandelion greens.

Other fresh herbs I will add: basil, thyme, cilantro, parsley, oregano.

Other supplements I will add: missing link avian, flax seed, bee pollen, kelp.

I also cook big pots of different types of whole grains, spices and beans/lentils, etc. I freeze that seperately so I can mix and match with the veggie mash.

And I add fruit fresh to each meal each day- Tonka gets a decent amount of fruit, but Perry gets much less, and Violet gets none! So I find it easier to add to each meal. This way I can also change the fruit type each day. I feed alot of berries- blue, black, straw and raspberries, and tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, guava, starfruit, etc. I feed pomegranite seeds on a regular basis as well- freeezing big bags of the seeds when they are in season so I can feed year round. I also feed citrus fruits occasionally- all kinds- lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc. Apples, grapes, etc I feel are too high in sugar but not as high in nutrients so I only feed them as treats. Tonka is allowed more of these since she burns the calories faster! :)