After Preparing The Food (PICS)

[Yungair23]

Heres less than a weeks worth of Iguana food (it goes bad fairly quickly)..





LEFT SIDE : VEGGIES
Yellow and Green Squash "Summer Squash"
Spaghetti Sqaush
Green Beans
Parsnips

MIDDLE : GREENS
Escasrole, Endive, Raddicho ( Spring Mix Pre Bagged Blend )
Dandelion
Collard

RIGHT SIDE : FRUIT
Blueberries
Kiwi

$21.54..Lasts about 5days.

[Merlin]

Unless I am seriously misjudging the size of your iguana, if that is food for 5 days your greens to vegetables and fruit ratios is way off balance. You could trim that down a lot and reduce the cost considerably.
The vast majority of what you should be feeding are the greens with just a small bit of veggies and even smaller amount of fruit on the side. I am looking at 3 kiwis and a box of blueberries for 5 days? Thats too much fruit in my opinion.
You could also save money by buying the actual greens and staying away from the pre bagged stuff.
I don't know what the prices you are paying but I buy a bunch of each of collard, mustard and turnip for about a buck each!

[prism_wolf]

Very nice spread. It shows good pics of the prepared foods. I do agree with Merlin on the food ratio, though. My guy rarely even gets fruit...although I did splurge for expensive blueberries just today. It does get pretty costly to feed them. I no longer have the "psycho sisters" so today is the first time I've paid less than $40 for 5-7 days worth of food...not because it went bad, but several gallons of loose packed food was eaten in that amount of time. Sooo....either boost the greens or decrease the veggies...you will save money this way.

Hmmm...I think I just bought that same phone about a week ago...

[Yungair23]

Lol i should have stated..He wont eat all that fruit..The blueberries he gets sometimes 1 1nce a day..Thats if he goes potty in the tub. Most of this is wasted. The vast majority of his bowl when prepared is greens there a sprinkle of each veggie and some extral small diced kiwi. Ill get a pic as im going up to get his food together at 10 am.

[Yungair23]

Try to get the Raitio in the 70% Greens and 30% Veggies. Fruit is mixed in every couple of weeks (i rarley get fruit just had the extra cash..).

Mmmmmm Good..

[Yungair23]

Looks good right? Alot of that does get wasted and i never really thought about it as i only care about giving him variety but im going to try to cut back and see how much i'll save.

[Merlin]

It sounds like where you are really losing money is the amount of waste.
If you only cut up enough of the veggies for a day or two at a time they will go a lot farther. It would be simplest to take a cheese grater and just grate off a little as you need it.

[Yungair23]

Sounds good but those tubs of veggies last 7 days usually and there all grated and the green beans get chopped.

[Yungair23]

Anyone care to do some up to date of how their Food process goes?

[Merlin]

Hmmmmm you said earlier that a lot of it gets wasted now you say it doesn't.
I am confused!


I buy 1 bunch each of collard, mustard and turnip, wash them, dry them, remove large center stems, stack the leaves up alternating the types and roll them up like a burrito. Then cut across the roll in 1/4-1/5 inch strips, and then slice them down the center and place in a 1 gallon plastic ice cream tub. They last me much longer that way than by putting them in baggies. I grate whatever veggies I am going to include the day that I use them. Fruit is given by hand whenever the notion hits me. This serves to feed my adult ig and 2 bearded dragons for about a week.

[Yungair23]

Ahh i see. You just cut the greens up before hand and then grate/chop the veggies when need be (each morning). Like i said fruits are not usually on the menu.

[prism_wolf]

I also buy one bunch of collard, mustard and turnip greens and a bag of Mediterranean Blend made by Dole. I take out the large stem and stack the layers and use sharp scissors to cut bite size chunks. I grate the jicama, squashes and parsnips and chop bell peppers and green beans...and whatever veggie needs that particular part of the food processor. Where I differ from Merlin is that it all gets combined and placed into empty parrot seed tubs, similar to ice cream tubs, just a bit smaller. They fit in the dorm frig better. I would wake the house if I prepped food at 4:30 a.m. when I have to be out the door for work at 6:15. Mine is based on convenience and speed. It usually lasts no longer than a week. Fruit also gets given here when the mood hits. They might get some once a month.

I'm not sure how long this will last me. As I said earlier...my wards have diminished by three (2 igs and the beardie), but I still feed Zair, and sell some to two different people from work for their beardies. The parrot, hamsters, rats and cockatiels gets some, too. So hopefully it will still last the week.