Sample Meal Plan

[hmr129]

I'm getting my daughter guinea pigs next weekend and I wanted to have a shopping list/meal plan for the Vegetables in the first month or so while we get used to the process. We'll adjust as we learn their likes/dislikes, but I wanted somewhere to start. I used ChatGPT to help me make this plan, and in looking at it seems aligned with all of the various things I've been reading the last few months, but wanted some feedback, just in case (thanks in advance!):

Week 1 Meal Plan
Day 1:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Bell pepper, Parsley
Day 2:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Carrot, Zucchini
Day 3:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Cilantro, Radish
Day 4:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Cucumber, Bell pepper
Day 5:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Carrot, Parsley
Day 6:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Zucchini, Cilantro
Day 7:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Celery, Radish

Week 2 Meal Plan
Day 1:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Carrot, Zucchini
Day 2:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Bell pepper, Cilantro
Day 3:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Parsley, Radish
Day 4:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Bell pepper, Cucumber
Day 5:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Carrot, Cilantro
Day 6:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Zucchini, Parsley
Day 7:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Grape tomatoes, Radish

Week 3 Meal Plan
Day 1:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Carrot, Parsley
Day 2:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Bell pepper, Zucchini
Day 3:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Cilantro, Radish
Day 4:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Bell pepper, Carrot
Day 5:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Red bell pepper, Parsley
Day 6:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Zucchini, Cilantro
Day 7:
• Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce
• Vegetables: Celery, Parsley

Week 4 Meal Plan
Day 1:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Carrot, Cilantro
Day 2:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Red bell pepper, Zucchini
Day 3:
• Lettuce: Romaine lettuce
• Vegetables: Parsley, Radish
Day 4:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Yellow bell pepper, Carrot
Day 5:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Red bell pepper, Cilantro
Day 6:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Zucchini, Radish
Day 7:
• Lettuce: Red leaf lettuce
• Vegetables: Grape tomatoes, Parsley

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

The four safe veggies are lettuce, bell pepper, cucumber and coriander (cilantro).
These provide a mix of nutrients and they don’t actually need anything else added. Therefore you can just give those four items every day without the need for meal plans or considering anything else.

Anything else you do add should be in moderation and rotation taking account of calcium/oxalate content.

Parsley (along with spinach and kale) is too high in calcium and should only be fed in a very limited amount (1 sprig) and no more than once a week. High calcium content diet can increase the risk of bladder stone formation. However most calcium comes into the diet via pellets and drinking water so local variation plays its part in how they take in and as such owners need to make adjustments to find what works for their piggies.
Carrot (including all fruit) is too high in sugar and doesn’t need to be on the diet. If you are going to give it then it should only be given as a very occasional treat, no more than a very tiny amount and no more than once a week. (mine get some peelings literally once a year when I’m preparing the veg for Christmas dinner, perhaps a thin slice of apple once in the summer!).

The vast majority of piggies don’t like zucchini!

What is very important is that you introduce new veg very slowly, carefully and only one at a time. Giving too much too soon can cause digestive problems and tummy upsets.
So if these are young piggies and you don’t know what their diet was before, then only give them a a sprig of cilantro and nothing else for the first 2-3 days. Then add in one thin slice of bell pepper for the next 2-3 days. Then add in a small amount of lettuce for the next 2-3 days. Then add in a small amount of cucumber for the next 2-3 days. Then build up quantity slowly until they are each getting the recommended one cup of veg per pig per day.
Monitor between each new addition that poops remain firm and well formed. Stop giving all veg entirely for several days if they get soft poops.

If you then wish to add in something else for variety then you need to do the same slow introduction.

The guide below gives details of their diet (including a sample plate showing the addition of occasional celery and once a week spring greens).

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[Truffolo]

I use a water filter as I live in an area with very hard water. Fresh grass is usually their favourite food, but you need to add it to the diet carefully. If left standing it ferments so remove any uneaten grass and build up the amount offered slowly to avoid bloat. Introducing your piggies to grazing needs to be gradual too. Growing lettuce from the cut-off lettuce base in water or a substrate like coconut coir can be fun and the young leaves make a nice treat when freshly picked. The piggies usually eat them very readily as a delicacy. Spring greens also grow back from the base and the small leaves are popular when fresh. Welcome to the forum!

 

[flowerfairy]

Welcome to the forum. What sweet dedication to make up a month's worth of meal plans. Lucky guinea pigs. Hope to see photos once you have them.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
It sounds as if your piggies are going to find themselves in a 5️ home.

Mine adore leaves, especially red leaves, and would be perfectly happy if they didn’t get anything but leaves.
Things like cucumber, peppers are only eaten when there’s nothing else left to eat.

You will soon learn their particular likes and dislikes anyway.

Lovely to have you on the forum and we look forward to pictures when you get your piggies