Fresh Foods
Serving sizes are pretty small (as in a teaspoon or half-inch cube) for a rat, so avoid giving large amounts of fruits or vegetables, or diarrhea may result.

Treats...

  • fruit: apples, cherries, grapes, banana, strawberries, other berries, melons, plums.
  • vegetables: broccoli, potatoes, peas, carrot, cooked sweet potato, kale, parsley, bok choy, squash.
  • cooked liver, other very lean meats (cooked)
  • whole wheat pasta and bread
  • cooked beans (including soya)
  • yogurt (especially with live cultures)
  • brown rice
  • unsweetened breakfast cereals
  • mealworms
  • small dog biscuits
  • some leftovers from your meals are okay in moderation, but avoid fatty or sugary scraps and items off the list below.
  • special treats (given only occasionally): whole nuts in the shell (almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts), sunflower seeds (high in fat), carob chips
What Not to Feed
  • chocolate
  • raw beans
  • raw sweet potato
  • cabbage, brussel sprouts
  • green potatoes
  • sweet sugary treats, any other "junk food"
  • caffeinated beverages
  • carbonated drinks
Store-Bought Foods
Look for a diet made especially for rats. A pellet or block (essentially a large pellet) type diet is generally considered best. The rat blocks can be available at all times. A commonly recommended diet is Oxbow Hay's "Regal Rat." A rat and mouse diet that meets the same general requirements (e.g low calorie, low fat) is a good compromise if you cannot find a good rat diet

Store-bought Treats
Many pet store treats, such as yogurt drops or the treat sticks are quite high in sugar and/or fat and should be given very rarely if at all.