Casserole for a cockatoo
Typist: Bethany
When Leo is out and about I am often asked "what does he eat?" The sight of an adventuring triton cockatoo thrills many but all that is toted along inside his travel case can look puzzling. Leo always travels with at least one huge, dark, leafy green hanging in his Popemobile, a foraging toy full of pellets, a dish of spring water and a dish of fresh food. This fresh food is a spoonful of the casserole that Jason or I make for Leo each morning. We layer brown rice pasta, sprouted mung beans or lentils, winter squash, butternut squash or carrot baby food and unsweetened canned pumpkin into a small glass bowl. After 20 minutes in the toaster oven, we mix the hot dish with a small amount of plain, non-fat yogurt and chopped chard, kale or collard greens. We serve Leo his all organic casserole and he happily digs in. The types of baby food and pumpkin are chosen because of they are high in vitamin A. Serious health issues occur in parrots with vitamin A deficiency. Even birds like Leo who never eat seeds can suffer immune, tissue and organ trauma from a lack of vitamin A. So pumpkin is a delicacy in our house or when traveling, year round. The dogs also like pumpkin from the can or whenever Leo drops it. We are such a healthy bunch of Cascadians!
When Leo is out and about I am often asked "what does he eat?" The sight of an adventuring triton cockatoo thrills many but all that is toted along inside his travel case can look puzzling. Leo always travels with at least one huge, dark, leafy green hanging in his Popemobile, a foraging toy full of pellets, a dish of spring water and a dish of fresh food. This fresh food is a spoonful of the casserole that Jason or I make for Leo each morning. We layer brown rice pasta, sprouted mung beans or lentils, winter squash, butternut squash or carrot baby food and unsweetened canned pumpkin into a small glass bowl. After 20 minutes in the toaster oven, we mix the hot dish with a small amount of plain, non-fat yogurt and chopped chard, kale or collard greens. We serve Leo his all organic casserole and he happily digs in. The types of baby food and pumpkin are chosen because of they are high in vitamin A. Serious health issues occur in parrots with vitamin A deficiency. Even birds like Leo who never eat seeds can suffer immune, tissue and organ trauma from a lack of vitamin A. So pumpkin is a delicacy in our house or when traveling, year round. The dogs also like pumpkin from the can or whenever Leo drops it. We are such a healthy bunch of Cascadians!
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