If you’re the proud parent of a blue-and-gold macaw, one of the most important ways to show your love is by feeding him or her the right diet. Sadly, most medical problems of pet birds still stem from poor nutrition.

Start by learning what these birds eat in the wild. A typical menu for a free-ranging blue-and-gold is heavy on veggies, with smaller helpings of fruits, nuts and seeds and a smattering of insects, snails and small animals.

An easy way to meet your bird’s nutritional needs is by offering 75 percent of the diet as pellets formulated for macaws. Add a variety of veggies, grains (like pasta and rice) and smaller helpings of fruit — but not avocado, which is toxic to birds. Small amounts of chicken provide protein, and Brazil nuts offer essential fats. Macaws are very sensitive to excess vitamin D, so stay away from supplements.