There is hardly another creature whose looks and general well-being depend most on his daily food intake. In fact, it is because so many people are not familiar with the basic food requirements of iguanas, that many die unwarranted deaths.

Iguanas are herbivores which means that they are essentially plant eaters. These "plants" include all kinds of leafy greens that can be found in your supermarket or farmer’s market, for example, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, some occasional kale and spinach, romaine and red or green leafed lettuce. Do not feed your iguana iceberg lettuce, which contains absolutely no nutrients and is mainly composed of water.

Iguanas also enjoy and need a large variety of raw vegetables. While most of us didn’t always want to "eat our vegetables" when we were kids, the iguana is the total opposite. He loves his veggies every day! This vegetable pyramid includes yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, butternut squash, turnips, green beans, peas, lima beans, carrots, parsnip and okra. Tomatoes, bell peppers and corn should be fed sparingly, as they are hard to digest and often pass through the iguana’s system with little nutritional value.

Finally, at the bottom of the iguana’s food pyramid are fruits. Much like a "cherry on top of a sundae," the iguana will gladly devour such fruits as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, melon, apple, banana, kiwi, peaches, figs and grapes. Fruits should not dominate the menu plan though, as they may soften the iguana’s stool too much.

Let us start by looking first at the "baby" or hatchling iguana. Barely measuring eight inches in total length, the hatchling is intensely serious, if not frantic in his search for something eatable. Like most "animal babies," he needs foods that are palatable, cut in tiny pieces and soft. Begin by preparing a small portion of leafy greens, whether mustard or turnip greens, a little bit of romaine or red-leaf lettuce. Wash the greens thoroughly and tear or chop into tiny pieces. Prepare another similar portion of freshly washed vegetables, such as yellow squash, zucchini, green beans or peas. Chop or grate all hard vegetables into fine pieces or even give it a quick zap with the food processor. Take a few pieces of washed fruit, perhaps one or two small grapes, a piece of apple or banana and also chop into fine pieces. Lightly toss ingredients together and add a small pinch of calcium powder under it. Serve in a shallow dish, so the hatchling doesn’t have to crane his neck while eating. Even a clean flowerpot dish will do. Equally important is a dish of fresh water in the enclosure at all times. If your iguana begins defecating in it, wash it out thoroughly and replace again with fresh water. Add another separate dish of fresh drinking water on the side. Iguanas do not chew their food but simply gulp it down and let their stomach do the rest of the digestive work. Therefore, it is imperative that their food is in bite-sized pieces and not too large that they may choke on it. As a little treat, take a small bunch of fresh greens and attach them with a clothespin in the enclosure where your iguana can reach and tear off pieces at leisure. This also gives them the opportunity to exercise some of their natural instincts in foraging for food.

Although hatchlings may feed at small intervals throughout the day, after an initial warm-up, wake-up period in the morning, the iguana begins feeding around midday. Having eaten his fill, he usually settles down the rest of the day, digesting his food by basking or engaging in roaming and exploring activities. If defecation follows at any time, the iguana may return to his food dish for another helping, especially as they grow older and become more expressive in voicing their likes and dislikes. In other words, your older iguana will clearly let you know when it’s time for you to refill his food dish!

Beware of "picky eaters!" By starting your iguana out early with a large variety of greens, vegetables and fruits, he won’t become used to certain foods and ignore all others. Also, avoid utilizing commercial iguana food, if at all possible. I mean, wouldn’t you rather have a nice "home-cooked meal" instead of a "TV-dinner" too! By feeding your iguana a broad spectrum of freshly washed leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, you provide them with all the healthy nutrients and natural liquids that they need to maintain their brilliant green color, strong bones and spikes. The feeding of any kind of animal protein such as dog or cat food and insects is detrimental to their metabolism and general health.

An iguana of one year or more and two feet longer can gradually be introduced to larger pieces and quantities of the same foods as mentioned previously. You might even see him begin to lick his plate clean and demand another serving in the late afternoon. This is natural because he is growing at a phenomenal rate and requires constant nourishment. When you have your iguana out for supervised roaming, you will also notice his attempts "to sample" everything and anything, so keep any poisonous objects or pesticides out of his reach. Do not let him "dine" on any household plants or flowers, or berries and bushes outside in the garden. Iguanas are intensely curious creatures and by sampling or biting into foreign objects, try to determine if it’s eatable or of significance to their surroundings.

Let’s face it, your iguana’s diet is just as important as yours and demands a serious, lifetime commitment from the owner! By providing your iguana with nutritious greens, vegetables and fruits, along with a calcium supplement and Vitamin D (natural sunlight), a large, roomy enclosure and the opportunity to be "a member of the family," he will reward you with his exotic beauty and affection for many years to come