Time & Money Saving Tips!

We love to save time on prepping fresh produce.
Less time in the kitchen, means more time for PLAY! Enjoy...

• Incorporate your bird’s menu with your weekly produce shopping list. Our weekly schedule usually entails food shopping on Saturdays and preparing/chopping fresh produce for the week on Sunday mornings.
  Set a bowl to the side for your "birdy mix". While chopping the fruits & veggies for human consumption, you are also making a batch of fresh food for your beloved birdies!
• Berries are nutritious and can be fun too! Blueberries and Cranberries can be washed and cleaned. Remove excess moisture with a paper towel and pop them in a ziplock baggie and freeze them, which will extend the shelf life of your berries.
  
  As you need the blueberries or cranberries, take a few out of the baggie and serve them frozen to your birdies along with their fresh food mix. During hot summer months, they will thaw fast and temporarily keep the rest of the fresh food mix cool. And some birdies will even enjoy snacking on them in their frozen state! Simply use the amount you will need for that day and store remainder berries back in your freezer.
• Keep fresh water cool during summer months. Add some crushed ice to your bird’s water to keep it cooler longer.
• Integrate high Vitamin A & C vegetables in your bird’s diet. Items like Red Beets, Butternut & Acorn Squash, Sweet & Red Bliss Potatoes can be easily accessible for you and your birdy!
  
  Peel your ingredients and cut them in small "talon-sized" sticks. Store them in ziplock freezer baggies separately. As you need a few pieces of each ingredient, they are easily accessible from your freezer. Take a few pieces of each for your birdy, put in a glass bowl and microwave for 15-30 seconds. Serve warm! YUM!

The most important tip...Know your bird’s eating habits and do not overbuy produce that has a limited shelf life. Fresh Ingredients: Buy what you need for one week. Fresh to Frozen: Buy enough ingredients to last 2-4 weeks.

Remember, our beloved feathered friends can read our thoughts, make their food with love and serve it with a smile!!

By Monica Gonzalez
Published 8/2/08.
© Grey Feather Toy Creations, LLC™