GLIDER DIET CALCULATOR
One of the biggest concerns for Glider Parents is choosing a diet. There are a number of recognized diet plans for gliders. Many happy, healthy gliders have been raised on each of these diets but none of them have been proven scientifically to be the perfect diet for all gliders. There currently are no standard nutrient guidelines for glider dietary needs. Gliders like people have likes and dislikes and may refuse a diet even after enjoying it for a long time. So glider parents frequently feel the need to make a change to another diet- or to attempt to modify the current diet in some way to encourage their gliders to eat.
Another concern is providing a diet that meets the glider's need for calcium that approximately meets a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio. Simply put, this means the amount (in mg) of calcium is about twice the amount of phosphorus. This needs to be considered for the TOTAL DIET not just the fruits and vegetables offered.
For detalis on each of the recognized diet plans including ingredients, how to prepare and what additional foods are required by each diet please check each original web site from the LINKS page.
The GLIDER DIET CALCULATOR is an Excel spread sheet that assists with the calculation of several nutritional elements including protein, sugars, fat and fiber, as well as the calcium to phosphorus ratio. The recognized diets have been calculated so that their nutritional content can be compared. By selecting a diet and entering the serving amount in TBS or fraction of a TBS (1 tsp=.33 T, 2 tsp=.66 T etc) then selecting vegetables and fruits, also in TBS, the calculator will show the total nutritional value for the combination selected.
This GLIDER DIET CALCULATOR is a tool to help glider parents ensure their overall diet has a balanced Ca:P ratio and to help compare the protein, sugar, fat and fiber provided by the foods they have chosen to feed their gliders.
As additional information becomes available it will be added to the spreadsheet.
UPDATED 9/2/2009
If you would like to compare various foods or do your own calculations use the PDF Nutrient List which shows nutrients in 1 TBS portions for each item (unless another amount is indicated)
UPDATED 9/2/2009
PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ANY DATA ENTRY ERRORS IN THE DIET CALCULATOR OR CORRECTIONS NEEDED TO ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECOGNIZED DIETS. Every effort has been made to "prepare on paper" each diet as directed.
NEW: DIET CALCULATOR AND NUTRIENT LIST HAVE BEEN REVISED WITH SOME CORRECTIONS AND THE ADDITION OF THE BLENDED DIET
