20 Human Foods Hamsters Can Eat

When it comes to feeding carrots to hamsters, it’s all about controlling the serving size. These veggies should not be given often, since they contain natural sugar that may trigger obesity and diabetes in hamsters.

A thin slice or a few baby carrot pieces once or twice a week would do. And it is better for them not to overindulge in carrots to avoid stomach problems and nutritional imbalance.

Introduce cucumber as an additional dietary supplement to your hamster. Start with a tiny piece every once in a while before increasing the serving size.

Don’t overfeed cucumbers as it can lead to digestive issues. Feeding a few slices once or twice a week should be enough for hamsters to enjoy a varied diet with zero consequences. 

Unlike most of us, these rodents actually enjoy broccoli as a snack. It can be offered to the hamsters frequently, but in very small portions: one or two small florets every few days will suffice.

Hamsters aren't the only animals to enjoy this food; dogs eat broccoli as a delightful treat too.

While serving, the broccoli should be cleaned and served raw to preserve its nutrients. It should also be contrasted with other vegetables, hamster pellets, and snacks.

It is often believed that cauliflower is bad for hamsters; however, it is mostly a rumor. As a matter of fact, the veggie is harmless and can prove to be nutritious if included in their diet.

Cauliflower comes under a category of leafy vegetables that hamsters consume in the wild. Therefore, the vegetable also stands as a suitable and natural addition to the hamsters' diet.

Because of its high sugar level, banana can be a very sensitive food to hamsters. These fruits are sticky, and if there is some part of it stuck in a hamster's teeth, it may cause dental problems.

However, in small servings, they are indeed great treats. Sweetness in bananas makes them enjoyable treats for hamsters and provides them with an instant energizer.

Never feed your hamster apples without having cleaned the fruit first and cut it into small, chewable pieces. You won't need to take the skin off, as it contains added nutrients, but do ensure that it's clean and pesticide-free.

More to the point, though, take out the seeds entirely before giving the slices to your pet. Apple seeds constitute cyanogenic compounds that are toxic to hamsters and can severely hurt their well-being.

Blueberries may be fed once or twice a week, and only one or two small blueberries at one time. These berries provide nutrition to your pet without any preservatives that harm their raw consumption.

However, blueberries should not be made into food items like pies, muffins, jams, or cheesecakes. This is because these foods contain added sugar, fat, and other nutrients that are potentially harmful to hamsters.

Whenever offering strawberries to your hamsters, ensure they are washed and cut into smaller, manageable, bite-sized portions. Give a small piece once or twice a week, so that they don't overconsume.

It is best to avoid strawberries in their dried form, though. Dried strawberries are added with sugars and preservatives, which are bad for hamsters. Even without these additives, fruits that are dried hold more concentration in the sugar content inside them.

These fruits can be fed in tiny amounts to hamsters after removing seeds. Seeds are considered a choking hazard to these small rodents.

Though grapes are bad for dogs and cats, they don't cause kidney damage to hamsters. You can serve these treats once a week, after carefully cutting them into tiny pieces.

Peas prove a healthy food option for hamsters as this food assists the rodent in developing a robust immune system, and the food also maintains bone health. Fresh or frozen peas can be given to hamsters, though frozen peas must be thawed and brought to room temperature before serving.

If serving peas, clean them well to eliminate the pesticide and contaminants. Provide your hamster with one or two peas a day with other food for proper nutrition. Also, avoid peas in cans as many are loaded with salt and preservatives not good for hamsters.

Oats are not just packed with nutrients, these grains also wear down the ever-growing hamster teeth, keeping their growth in control. Rolled oats are perfect for these rodents, but avoid giving them whole or unclipped oats.

Offer plain, uncooked oats without any added sugars or flavors. You can sprinkle a small pinch of oats into their food bowl or mix them with their regular pellets.

Let your hamster try the different varieties of spinach, such as baby spinach and others. Always offer fresh spinach to hamsters, never cooked because the nutrients are lost, and it will not be so healthy for them. 

Clean it well to avoid pesticides and other impurities. Serve in small amounts, one or two leaves a few times a week, to prevent stomach problems.

Bell peppers are one of those sweet treats that hamsters love because of their bright colors and crunchiness. They add variety to the taste and stimulation of the senses.

Hamsters generally like the slight sweetness contained in bell peppers; this gives them a nice contrast in flavor compared to their regular foods. Giving them small slices or pieces of bell pepper allows nibbling and savoring, hence providing for mental and physical stimulation.

Pumpkin seeds can do wonders on a hamster’s well-being, but only if fed in limited quantities. The average serving portion should not exceed the size of the hamster’s ears.

Dry the pumpkin seeds, preferably in the sun, before giving them to your pet. The hamster will have a relaxing experience of smoothly handling and storing the seeds in their cheek pouches.

These vermins are fond of the crunchiness and refreshing flavor of lettuce. Romaine, green leaf, and red leaf lettuce are variably edible, nutritious, and safe in small amounts.

At the same time, though, iceberg lettuce must be excluded. Since it is highly watery and of low nutritional content, it may provoke diarrhea and disorders in the digestive system of a hamster.

Zucchinis can be given to your hamster a couple of times a week. Just make sure you do not overfeed; give one serving, the size of a thumbnail.

Added sugars, fats, and other ingredients in zucchini bread are harmful to hamsters. On the contrary, zucchini seeds might cause a choking hazard or have compounds that could be toxic to them.

Hamsters crave sunflower seeds for their nutty flavor. However, these seeds are high in fat; so, feed only 1-2 seeds per day to prevent obesity and other health issues.

Secondly, do not feed them salted sunflower seeds, as the added salt is harmful to hamsters. Only feed plain, unsalted sunflower seeds as healthy rewards.

Generally speaking, pasta can be safely fed to hamsters for an occasional treat, but precautions must be taken. Pasta needs always to be thoroughly cooked in advance, for hamsters have a hard time chewing and digesting raw pasta.

Offer small amounts, about one piece of cooked pasta, once or twice a week. And, it should always be plain- sans any sauce, oil, or seasonings that can be toxic to your hamster.

Hamsters tend to enjoy the mild taste of rice. Besides, rice can provide a source of carbohydrates that can offer quick bursts of energy.

Serve the cooked rice with other healthy foods like small pieces of vegetables and fruits. Carrots and apples are the best complementary foods that can be served with rice.

Boil the eggs in medium heat for 12-13 minutes and cool them for easy digestion. Your pet will be grateful for an egg supplement, every once in a while.

Feed a mix of egg whites and yolks, one time per week. Avoid overfeeding by limiting the serving portion to the size of a pea.