As she has grown from a tiny pup to a pretty full grown spaniel, 2Toes has entertained us no end with her eating habits. She has consumed and relished food items varying from bananas to raw karela (bitter gourd /pavekya). As a pup she was fed on cerelac as a baby. She showed her craving for various foodstuff as early as her 2nd day at our home. Mum and me were celebrating her arrival with a pizza and she wanted to be part of the feast. Her whining and finally 'sit in the further most corner of the room' protests showed her thorough disappointment on being denied the treat. She even held the grudge for 24 hours. As she grew up we began to realise that she loved fruits. The smells of mangoes used to drive her crazy with greed. In her 4 human years I believe she has eaten more fruits than I have in my 30 years of existance. Infact after every meal she needs a plantain (green banana) as desert. So that amounts to a minimum of 3 times a day. While eating she gives the impression that she eats her meals in a hurry so as to get to the dessert (plantain) as soon as possible. She has a taste for mangoes, apples, pineapples, bananas, jack fruit, sometimes even pomegranate and water melon. (I had taught her one trick within just half an hour using arils of the pomegranate fruit as incentive).
2Toes choice of foods seems like one who is conscious of diet and healthy foods. While my Mom cuts vegetables 2Toes will patiently wait, as she expects mom to keep a portion of the veg. for her. She has thus eaten bitter gourd (karela), ladies fingers, methi leaves, carrots, cucumbers, french beans, green peas, cabbage, .... all in the raw. And she seems to relish them as she always comes back for more. There was a time when a whole carrot became a regular snack between breakfast & lunch. Occasionally it was substituted with the other vegetables. It was interesting to watch her sit with the carrot (which contrasted against her shiny black fur) held up between her paws as she bit into it.
Besides these naturally occurring foods she loves ice cream (especially mango flavoured). She cannot resist the smell of cheese or peanut butter on bread either. Peanuts, cakes, curd with honey and other items of interest. When she was little, she used to run to the kitchen whenever a coconut was cracked open for a share of the coconut water which Mom & Dad would thoughfully keep for her. She soon learnt the taste of coconut too and not surprisingly relished it.
Currently, her regular day begins with 2 chappatis & milk & a little flavoured supplement followed by a portion of plantain, all this by 7:30 am. Her lunch has to be served sharp at 12 noon. This is a mix of boiled rice and mince meat which she gulps down followed by another portion of kela (plantain). She expects 4 (nothing less, nothing more ) biscuits for 'tea time snack' at 4 in the early evening. (This is one time she does not insist on following up with plantain though she would gladly have if offered). 2Toes is particular about the biscuit being 'Marie'. She has an early dinner (at 7:30/8:00 pm) comprising of a couple of handfuls of 'Pedigree' and yes followed by her 'must have' dessert. If the family is having fruits after their dinner she will patiently wait for her share of the fruit as well.
I have something to learn from her.
"Increase my fruit intake"!!
"Eat on Time" &
"Have an early dinner"
Very interesting and amusing :)
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