What kind of cooked grains are best?

[kozykitty]

I found out that Gloria, my BFA, likes cooked barley when I gave her some from my barley soup the other night. She loves it. I thought I'd cook her up a mix of grains to add to her chop. I currently have quinoa, barley, bulgar and amaranth. Would a mix of these be good for her? I was going to put it in an ice cube tray and freeze it, thawing one cube out every morning.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

All of those would be good, but if she is anything like my Zilla she will eat whatever you give her off your plate, or if it has any kind of sauceiness or soupiness to it, but if you just cook it and give it to her without sauce or soup she won't eat it.

Zilla LOVES soup! Who would have though a parrot would like soup? Well, not me, but she absolutely loves it! If I make a veggie soup with a bunch of different veggies, no salt, toss in a few herbs (fresh or dried) she will stuff herself. She will literally eat for 20 minutes without making a sound, then rest for 10 or 15 minutes and go back & eat for another 10 or 15!

 

[kozykitty]

That's probably why Gloria liked her barley. It was cooked in veggie broth with canned tomatoes. I picked out the onion for her and gave her the barley and the cabbage. She wasn't interested in the cabbage, but she was purring like a kitten while eating her barley! Maybe I could cook it in broth. She might like that better than plain. If there's something I make just for her, I'll put it on my plate so she thinks I'm sharing my food with her when I give it to her.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Just make sure it's low sodium broth or better yet I make my own most of the time. I know most people have to leave the house to work during the day, but broth is very easy to make in the slow cooker. I work at home, but still use my slow cooker at least 3 times a week. I toss everything in before I open the office and just let it go on low for about 6 to 8 hours, cool & freeze in ice cube trays for later use.

I make Zilla's "sauce" and "soup" this way too. That way when I am having spaghetti she can have some too (with her sauce) or if I'm having soup she can have her soup. She also loves chili, which she can have if I take some out for her before I add the beef in for mine. Spaghetti squash is great for her and she thinks she is getting pasta!

I have found many ways to be creative so she thinks we are having the same thing, even if we aren't.