Question about fresh foods

[Tasariel]

So, I've been doing some research recently, and I've found many differing opinions on what kinds of fresh foods are safe for hamsters. But I'm having a lot of trouble finding any lists of foods that have been definitively proven to be safe. I don't want to feed my new hammie any foods that are possibly bad for him, and I just wanted to know if there was a list of foods that are definitely safe, without any controversy.

[LuvPets]

I found this on another site. I have used it for about 5 months without any problems, but if anyone sees any problems with it whatsoever, PLEASE tell me so I can do the right thing!!!
I have a question about sweet potatoes. Do they need cooked or can they be eaten raw??

Safe Food List for Syrian Hamsters:

Veggies:
Asparagus
Basil
Bean Sprouts
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage (in small amounts)
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chestnuts
Chickweed
Chicory
Clover
Cucumbers
Dandelion flowers and leaves
Endive
Green Beans
Green Pepper
Kale
Orange Pepper
Parsnips
Potatoes (cooked)
Radicchio
Red Pepper
Romaine Lettuce
Spinach
Swiss chard
Turnip
Water Chestnuts
Water Cress
Yellow Pepper
Zucchini

Meat/Protein foods:
Cooked, unseasoned ground beef (lean preferred)
Baked/Steamed, unseasoned Turkey/Chicken
Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Grasshoppers (pet shop only!)
Mealworms (pet shop only!)
Crickets (pet shop only!)
Eggs (boiled/scrambled, plain!)
Plain Tofu
Plain Yogurt (no sugar added)
Dog Biscuits (make sure there is no garlic/onion in these!)


Other Foods:
Acorns
Alfalfa
Baby Food (no onion, garlic, low sugar, and containing NO preservatives)
Buckwheat
Bran or Wheat Germ
Brown rice (cooked, plain)
Cereals (low/no sugar)
Cheese (mild, lower fat, small quantities)
Dry Toast (whole wheat, NO white)
Flax seeds
Lentils
Nuts (except almonds)
Oatmeal (plain, dry, or soak in skim/soy/low fat milk)
Pasta (cooked, plain, wheat or spinach)
Peanuts (plain, unsalted)
Popcorn (plain, unsalted)
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
Soybeans (roasted, salt-free)
Squash Seeds
Sunflower Seeds

Fruits:
Apple (seedless)
Banana
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherry
Grape (seedless)
Honey Dew Melon
Lychee
Mango
Papaya
Peaches (remove pit)
Pear
Plums (remove pit)
Raspberries
Star Fruit
Strawberries
Veggies:
Carrots
Corn
Peas
Squash
Sweet Potatoes




Foods that should never be fed:

Buttercups (flower)
Chocolate (toxic)
Onion (possibly toxic in some animals)
Garlic (possibly toxic in some animals)
Peanut Butter (can get stuck in pouches)
Sandwich meats (contain too much salt, high nitrates)
Almonds (possibly toxic/ Cyanic acid)
Apple Seeds
Canned foods and other processed foods
Candy/ Junk Foods
Pork
Potatoes (raw)
Kidney Beans
Eggplant
Fool’s Parsley
Grape Seeds
Avocado
Raw Rhubarb
Tomato leaves
Citrus fruits (including orange, tangerine, lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc)
Watermelon
Fruit pits/ most fruit seeds
Jams/jellies
Salt
Spices/Seasonings
Leeks
Scallions
Chives
Pickles

[Tasariel]

Thanks so much!

[karlh]

All said above. My 2 RWWs just love avocado... I prepare tiny cubes of it and they prefer it to everything else. When I took Ben for a little op at RSPCA's hospital, they saw him munching on avocado and did not say anything.

The worst thing is citrus fruit. They would not eat it anyway, because of the smell.

Not quite sure about the almonds.


My RWWs had their 2nd birthday on 10th November... so their diet has not done them any harm. small amounts, as a treat , are always welcome change to the regular dry food.




Apart from this, the list is very comprehensive.