Need help finding veggies Hope will eat

[Rianna]

I swear, Hope is going to drive her Mommy (ME) crazier than crazy!! lol She is so picky when it comes to eating and I'm running out of ideas to keep her diet healthy.

She is offered FV twice a day and depending on her mood, she may or may not drink it. Along with that, she gets a HHB twice a day (she has yet to eat an entire one so I'm looking for any ideas to make her eat them) and she gets either kale (hated it fresh but loves it frozen), snow peas, mushrooms, or green beans with each meal. Here lately, I've been giving her 5 cranberries in addition to the above food. She loves them fresh and frozen:)
She also gets a few treats from her Daddy each night...either 2 acorns or 2 cranberries. She actually chose a cranberry over an acorn a few nights ago and the hubby almost fainted!! lol He couldn't believe she did that:)

Now, here's my problem...A LOT of veggies on the healthy list are NOT available for me to purchase fresh. I'm even having trouble finding anything frozen she will eat.

She loves carrots and sweet potatoes...but these are limited to a small amount per month.
Bell peppers will be eaten IF they're from our garden...she turns her nose up at the ones from the store.
Broccoli and cauliflower is available and she will sometimes eat that...but, the last time I offered them, she wouldn't touch them.
Most of the other veggies on the list she either refuses to eat or I'm not able to purchase them.

I'm beginning to worry that she's not getting enough of veggies in her diet so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to teach me something:)

I guess I should say that Hope is active and nothing points to her being unhealthy. Some days she forgets she's a squirrel and wants to be pampered and stay inside...but overall, she seems to be healthy and happy.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

p.s. Should this make no sense at all, please forgive me...my head is hurting something fierce:(

[Kat762]

Hi Rhianna,

Squirrels are so fickle, they will LOVE one of their foods, then decide they hate it.Then a month later they will love it again :thinking

A few things I can think of you didn't mention - sugar snap peas,tomatoes ( I give the little cherry tomatoes so my girl can hold them in her hand and eat them ) avocado ( never the pit or skin they are poisonous ) corn on the cob ( I'll break an ear of corn into 3 pieces, for 3 different days ) watermelon, banana, hope this helps :tilt

[CritterMom]

Hi Rhianna,

Squirrels are so fickle, they will LOVE one of their foods, then decide they hate it.Then a month later they will love it again :thinking

A few things I can think of you didn't mention - sugar snap peas,tomatoes ( I give the little cherry tomatoes so my girl can hold them in her hand and eat them ) avocado ( never the pit or skin they are poisonous ) corn on the cob ( I'll break an ear of corn into 3 pieces, for 3 different days ) watermelon, banana, hope this helps :tilt


Go real easy on the corn - really high in phosphorus and since they LOVE it they will eat it to the exclusion of other foods. Sugar snap peas are squirrel crack - they can't get enough. I believe squirrels only like really expensive foods...

[Rianna]

Hi Rhianna,

Squirrels are so fickle, they will LOVE one of their foods, then decide they hate it.Then a month later they will love it again :thinking

A few things I can think of you didn't mention - sugar snap peas,tomatoes ( I give the little cherry tomatoes so my girl can hold them in her hand and eat them ) avocado ( never the pit or skin they are poisonous ) corn on the cob ( I'll break an ear of corn into 3 pieces, for 3 different days ) watermelon, banana, hope this helps :tilt


Thanks for the ideas Kat!
I'll look for the sugar snap peas...I don't know why but I thought those and snow peas were the same thing! lol Duh me!!
I've tried the cherry tomatoes several times and she's never taken a likin' to them. I'll get more and see if her taste buds have changed.
We're not avocado eaters so I seldom buy one for her. She does love them but if I understood it correctly, they're high in fat? Wonder how much I could give her before it becomes an issue?
No go on the corn for Hope. I had a hard time breaking hubby and friends from giving that to her and I don't want her to acquire a taste for corn again.
I did give her watermelon when it was in season. She loved it! I don't know if I can find one right now but I will be on the look out for it...thanks!!
I'll also see how she does with bananas. I've been wanting homemade banana puddin' so now I have a great reason to buy bananas!! lol Ahhh, the little things:)

Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it!

[Rianna]

Go real easy on the corn - really high in phosphorus and since they LOVE it they will eat it to the exclusion of other foods. Sugar snap peas are squirrel crack - they can't get enough. I believe squirrels only like really expensive foods...


LOL@squirrel crack!! Now I've got to find them to see for myself. lol
What about the avocado? How much can she have per week?
Thanks Crittermom!!!

[Kat762]

Thanks for the ideas Kat!
I'll look for the sugar snap peas...I don't know why but I thought those and snow peas were the same thing! lol Duh me!!
I've tried the cherry tomatoes several times and she's never taken a likin' to them. I'll get more and see if her taste buds have changed.
We're not avocado eaters so I seldom buy one for her. She does love them but if I understood it correctly, they're high in fat? Wonder how much I could give her before it becomes an issue?
No go on the corn for Hope. I had a hard time breaking hubby and friends from giving that to her and I don't want her to acquire a taste for corn again.
I did give her watermelon when it was in season. She loved it! I don't know if I can find one right now but I will be on the look out for it...thanks!!
I'll also see how she does with bananas. I've been wanting homemade banana puddin' so now I have a great reason to buy bananas!! lol Ahhh, the little things:)
Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it!


You're welcome, and you and Critter Mom are both right, corn is not the best nutritionally, that's why I only give a small piece, and not 3 days in a row, just 3 different days. I give Andi a small piece of avocado every morning.They are high in fat, but also high in good things.My store also occaisionally has " Slim-Cados :shakehead ) seriously, that's what thry're called, some hybrid with less fat.My squirrel is 7 1/2, and she never got avocado because I don't like them or buy them.About a year ago my hubby suggested them because they are soft ( she is tooth-challenged )and wow, it was like giving her crack:wahoo Funny thing was within a week I noticed a difference in her, more energy, bouncy, she seemed younger.:multi
( Maybe I should try them !:)

[Rianna]

lol Kat...maybe I should try them too! Bet we can't get them around here, tho:( I will pick her up an avocado on my next trip to the grocery store.

Wow, Andi is 7 1/2?? :Love_Icon Hope will turn 2 the end of March...I can't imagine my life without that little squirt! Isn't it amazing how fast they capture your heart?

I do need to correct myself. Hope has SUGAR SNAP PEAS and not the snow peas. I have no idea what I was thinking. She's enjoying some frozen ones as I type:)

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

A couple other veggies you could try are celery (mine will eat it most of the time), zucchini squash, cucumber, and asparagus. They LOVE the zucchini!

My guys will never eat the sugar snap peas, they are strange :dono

[Skul]

One more....chick peas. (garbanzos)

[Rianna]

A couple other veggies you could try are celery (mine will eat it most of the time), zucchini squash, cucumber, and asparagus. They LOVE the zucchini!

My guys will never eat the sugar snap peas, they are strange :dono


I've tried celery and cucumber...both were tossed pretty quick...lol
I'll see if I can find some zucchini squash (is there a limit on how much of this she can eat per week?)
I know I can get the asparagus...she will have a new item added this week. Thanks for the suggestions!!

[Rianna]

One more....chick peas. (garbanzos)


Ok...dumb question time. Is this a fresh item or can she have the canned ones? Not sure if I can find fresh ones here.
Also...would these be in with other frozen veggies??

I promise I'm not making this up...we are limited here on a lot of these veggies...you'd think Walmart Supercenter would have more of a selection but I got a weird look when I went in asking for escarole and Belgian endive. :sanp3

[Skul]

Try Krogers.:D

[Rianna]

Try Krogers.:D


I know you're serious but I laughed out loud when I read this...The closest Krogers is approx. 100 miles from here. I live near a small town...one grocery store, two redlights...you get the picture...lol
The closest Walmarts are 22 miles north and south of me...both are supercenters. Other than that, I don't have much of a selection. There is a new grocery store north of me...I may check it out next time I head up that way. Who knows...it may be the one with all the goodies!! :wahoo

Thanks for all of your suggestions...keep 'em coming!

Oh...*snicker*...are the chick peas fresh or frozen or canned? :dono

[muffinsquirrel]

My squirrel herd will only eat FRESH garbanzos - no canned or frozen. But Oh Boy, do they love the fresh ones! That is the only thing I have ever seen them pass up pecan halves for. My only complaint about them is that they can be really hard to find. Originally found them at Krogers (but only once), but now my WalMart has them. When they quit carrying them, I will go to one of the friendlier grocery stores and request that they carry them, even if it's only a 'special order' small amount just for me. I also intend to plant some this spring.....if I can find the seeds and growing requirements.

Another thing mine really like are rose hips - they like them fresh OR frozen. I bought a whole bunch of Knock Out roses and planted them. They are easy to grow, disease resistant, and very prolific bloomers.

muffinsquirrel

[Rianna]

My squirrel herd will only eat FRESH garbanzos - no canned or frozen. But Oh Boy, do they love the fresh ones! That is the only thing I have ever seen them pass up pecan halves for. My only complaint about them is that they can be really hard to find. Originally found them at Krogers (but only once), but now my WalMart has them. When they quit carrying them, I will go to one of the friendlier grocery stores and request that they carry them, even if it's only a 'special order' small amount just for me. I also intend to plant some this spring.....if I can find the seeds and growing requirements.

Another thing mine really like are rose hips - they like them fresh OR frozen. I bought a whole bunch of Knock Out roses and planted them. They are easy to grow, disease resistant, and very prolific bloomers.

muffinsquirrel

I'll be going by Walmart when I get the call to come pick up my glasses (not from Walmart). Maybe they will have them. If not, I'll stop by the new grocery store and check out their produce.
I'll also see if I can find the seeds and we can get some planted. Hope loves fresh peas from the garden, shelled of course by her Daddy and given as treats:)

I'll check into planting some roses. I lost all of my rose bushes a few years back and never replaced them.

Thanks so much for your help!!

[pappy1264]

Oh, sorry to thread jack, will have to look for chick peas! lol Mine will take yer finger off for a snap pea! lol Radishes, brocolli, very small amounts of shaved carrots, I also give figs, they love them! They only just recently decided they like corn (I only give a very tiny amount, not very often, know all too well the evils of corn, but some is not a bad thing, imho.) Think varied, I basically try to buy one of all the things on the list (or close to it) and mix and match each meal. Try to look at the ratios, so to have a good cal/phos ratio. I also feed spring mix, as well. They eat some of it, but not all of it.

[Busysqrl]

I don't know if you make your HHBs or buy them, but if you make them, you can exclude the Vit A and feed a 1/2 inch chunk of butternut or acorn squash daily. I did the math and that amount is equivilant to the amount of Vit A 2 HHBs would provide. Both my squirrels LOVE those squashes. I think providing natural sources of vitamins is better than a supplement IF your squirrel will eat those squashes and those squashes also provide other vit/min as well. I'd test it first to see if they like it before you remove the Vit A from the HHB. I'm sure you probably can't get these at Walmart, but both my squirrels love Chayote. It's a mexican squash that's high in folic acid with low glycemic load. If you ever see it, pick one up and your squirrel might just love it.

[Rianna]

I don't know if you make your HHBs or buy them, but if you make them, you can exclude the Vit A and feed a 1/2 inch chunk of butternut or acorn squash daily. I did the math and that amount is equivilant to the amount of Vit A 2 HHBs would provide. Both my squirrels LOVE those squashes. I think providing natural sources of vitamins is better than a supplement IF your squirrel will eat those squashes and those squashes also provide other vit/min as well. I'd test it first to see if they like it before you remove the Vit A from the HHB. I'm sure you probably can't get these at Walmart, but both my squirrels love Chayote. It's a mexican squash that's high in folic acid with low glycemic load. If you ever see it, pick one up and your squirrel might just love it.


I buy the HHBs. Since Hope doesn't eat all of her block, would it be ok to give her some acorn or butternut squash? I know I can find that around here. lol
I'll check at Walmart for the Chayote.

I can't find the thread on here but I remember reading something about coconut oil being added to food to make them eat better. If anyone knows anything about coconut oil and/or virgin coconut oil and how to go about adding it to the food, please let me know so I can be on the lookout for that too.

Thanks Busysqrl and thanks Pappy1264...I'll look for the spring mix as well:)

[jo_schmoe]

I buy the HHBs. Since Hope doesn't eat all of her block, would it be ok to give her some acorn or butternut squash? I know I can find that around here. lol
I'll check at Walmart for the Chayote.

I can't find the thread on here but I remember reading something about coconut oil being added to food to make them eat better. If anyone knows anything about coconut oil and/or virgin coconut oil and how to go about adding it to the food, please let me know so I can be on the lookout for that too.

Thanks Busysqrl and thanks Pappy1264...I'll look for the spring mix as well:)

What type of squirrel do you have...and what sort of natural foods do you have in your area??

[Rianna]

Hope is a grey squirrel.

During gardening season, she gets fresh peas, bell peppers, try her on cucumbers but that's a no go for her. I planted "Hope's own Cherry Tomato plant" only to have her bury every one I gave her.
She loves blackberry season and we have to make trips daily to get her the freshest of the fresh:) So far she doesn't like blueberries but I will continue to offer them to her.
Then there's acorns and hickory nuts...plenty of them around our house. She gets magnolia cones when they're available. She loves nibbling on hibiscus flowers, or the stem of them. She gets a pine cone once in a blue moon because she gets the sticky on her...she only gets these when the wilds start eating them.
I have been on the lookout for dandelions but haven't had any luck finding any.
*edited to add* If we're lucky to catch a butterfly, she gets a special treat:) She LOVES them!
I know I'm forgetting something so I will add to it when my brain starts functioning...need more coffee!

She did get her first taste of zucchini and acorn squash for supper last night. It was "nibble, nibble...throw it down...grab a new piece, nibble, nibble" but this morning she went for the acorn squash leftovers as soon as she climbed out of bed. She is now feasting on sugar snap peas and cranberries, along with a HHB. Oh...and her FV:)

[Rianna]

An afterthought...

I was disappointed in Walmart's produce yesterday. Every green they had was wilted and didn't look too appetizing to me. I found the spring mix but every container had several pieces that had turned to brown goo. I didn't want to chance giving Hope something out of there that would make her sick so I passed on that. My local grocery store doesn't offer it so I will have to keep checking whenever I make the Walmart run.

[jo_schmoe]

An afterthought...

I was disappointed in Walmart's produce yesterday. Every green they had was wilted and didn't look too appetizing to me. I found the spring mix but every container had several pieces that had turned to brown goo. I didn't want to chance giving Hope something out of there that would make her sick so I passed on that. My local grocery store doesn't offer it so I will have to keep checking whenever I make the Walmart run.
Ive run into this problem more than once. It seems that the mix that is packaged in the plastic box is the worst for this.
Personally I would try kale. It stays fresh for awhile and its very good for them.
Sounds like you have a nice variety of natural food available. How about plantain or clover?
I think its all about variety and finding out what she likes. Plus with all the different things she is offered it stimulates her. Any tree branches?? Not sure about your area...but I have a great link to a study that was done here by NDSU on trees and their benefits for wildlife. Russian Olive trees seem to be the best....and they keep a lot of their leaves in the winter months.
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/trees/eb38-2.htm#state

[mugzeezma]

My kids prefer Collard greens but I rotate greens.
Cilantro and parsley come in small inexpensive bunches ...try that
kale and collard I also toss the entire huge feaf stem and all for them to so after.

I have a naughty little trick. Actually :D It works

avocado + Greens = greens a mole

mince up your greens and smash some avocado into them.

Finely ground nuts + greens = walsquorf salad

Like it sounds, powder those nuts and sprinkle them onto the greens and toss.
They may not eat all of it but they will start to eat some of them.

You can gradually start weaning the additions a bit at a time after they start eating them well.

[jo_schmoe]

My kids prefer Collard greens but I rotate greens.
Cilantro and parsley come in small inexpensive bunches ...try that
kale and collard I also toss the entire huge feaf stem and all for them to so after.

I have a naughty little trick. Actually :D It works

avocado + Greens = greens a mole

mince up your greens and smash some avocado into them.

Finely ground nuts + greens = walsquorf salad

Like it sounds, powder those nuts and sprinkle them onto the greens and toss.
They may not eat all of it but they will start to eat some of them.

You can gradually start weaning the additions a bit at a time after they start eating them well.

One word.....BRILLIANT!!!

[Rianna]

Ive run into this problem more than once. It seems that the mix that is packaged in the plastic box is the worst for this.
Personally I would try kale. It stays fresh for awhile and its very good for them.
Sounds like you have a nice variety of natural food available. How about plantain or clover?
I think its all about variety and finding out what she likes. Plus with all the different things she is offered it stimulates her. Any tree branches?? Not sure about your area...but I have a great link to a study that was done here by NDSU on trees and their benefits for wildlife. Russian Olive trees seem to be the best....and they keep a lot of their leaves in the winter months.
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/trees/eb38-2.htm#state


Oops, she does eat Kale. I knew I missed something. She seems to prefer frozen over fresh so I chop it and freeze it, stems and all. She loves chewing on the big part of the stems.
Not sure about plantains around here. Will check Walmart next trip. Local store doesn't offer it. All the clover is gone right now. I'll give her some when it starts to peek back out.
Yes, she gets hickory and oak tree branches with leaves and buds if possible. She doesn't care for the sweetgum but I still put some in along with the others. She also gets fresh dirt weekly to play in:)

Thanks for the link...I'll head there shortly!

[Rianna]

My kids prefer Collard greens but I rotate greens.
Cilantro and parsley come in small inexpensive bunches ...try that
kale and collard I also toss the entire huge feaf stem and all for them to so after.

I have a naughty little trick. Actually :D It works

avocado + Greens = greens a mole

mince up your greens and smash some avocado into them.

Finely ground nuts + greens = walsquorf salad

Like it sounds, powder those nuts and sprinkle them onto the greens and toss.
They may not eat all of it but they will start to eat some of them.

You can gradually start weaning the additions a bit at a time after they start eating them well.


Funny you mention collards. I bought some specifically for Hope. Neither hubby or I eat them. She turned her nose up at them immediately! I tried offering them a few more meals but she would have none of that stuff...like Momma and Daddy? lol
However, they didn't go to waste. I cooked them up for Daddy and he said they were great:)

She's had cilantro and nibbled at it. I've been trying to find more but for the past 3 weeks I haven't had any luck finding any.
Is there a certain kind of parsley?? I know my local store has the regular kind...:wahoo

I did buy an avocado yesterday so Miss Priss will be served her first Walsquorf salad for supper!!
I :Love_Icon your naughty little trick!!!
Thanks so much for your ideas!!

[Busysqrl]

I buy the HHBs. Since Hope doesn't eat all of her block, would it be ok to give her some acorn or butternut squash? I know I can find that around here. lol
I'll check at Walmart for the Chayote.



I know there is concern about Vit A toxicity. Personally I don't think you can OD on food sources of Vit A unless your diet consisted 100% of Vit A. Just to be safe, I started making my own HHB so I could regulate the Vit A the way I wanted. If you continue to purchase the HHB with the Vit A in it, I think you could safely give a 1/2 inch chunk per week of a winter squash (butternut, acorn etc).

Be careful with acorns, they can carry aflatoxins which are deadly to squirrels. I never pick them up off the ground. I only offer ones picked directly from a tree. :grouphug