+ You™
Explore these helpful ideas on how to add eating interest, fun, and health benefit to your pet’s diet while reducing food waste and environmental impact.*
BACKGROUND AND PHILOSOPHY
When it comes to our pets' diets, the clear goal should be to mimic, as closely as possible, the archetypal (original, primitive) diet. Domestic animals are often seen as creatures a world apart from their wild counterparts (wolves, bobcats, coyotes, lynx), but this is a false dichotomy. While physical attributes differ, our pets are almost genetically indistinguishable from wild canines and felines. And of course, they have a shared history stretching back millions of years, which means their nutritional needs are far more alike than different.
With this logic and science as the backdrop, you'll probably find it intuitive to add to your pet's diet at home. If you practice an omnivorous diet, then there's little doubt that you regularly have food leftovers and trimmings, as well as recently expired foods that are reflective of your pet's carnivorous roots. Instead of disposing and wasting these foods, they can add much needed eating interest, fun, and healthy food (protein) variety to your pet's diet.
With this logic and science as the backdrop, you'll probably find it intuitive to add to your pet's diet at home. If you practice an omnivorous diet, then there's little doubt that you regularly have food leftovers and trimmings, as well as recently expired foods that are reflective of your pet's carnivorous roots. Instead of disposing and wasting these foods, they can add much needed eating interest, fun, and healthy food (protein) variety to your pet's diet.
GETTING STARTED
While the idea of feeding leftovers and trimmings to your pet is logical and intuitive, actually beginning the practice will be intimidating for some. For decades the pet food and veterinary industries have promoted the idea of feeding strictly pet food (oftentimes a single food) to pets. At the same time, some warn against pet owners feeding foods from home with false scare tactics.
And so to counteract all of that misinformation, we've put together a beginner's guide. A handful of helpful feeding ideas that will hopefully have you empowered, and get you headed down the right path.
And so to counteract all of that misinformation, we've put together a beginner's guide. A handful of helpful feeding ideas that will hopefully have you empowered, and get you headed down the right path.
+ YOU
It is up to you to go beyond packaged pet foods. Despite what you’ve been told by pet industry profiteers, you can become empowered, and you can positively direct your pet’s health destiny with a bit of logic and initiative at home.
What follows are basic suggestions for easy, home food supplementation for your pet.
I. DAIRY FOODS
Milk: The more whole and less processed, the better. Some animals are unable to tolerate milk, particularly as they get older, because they are unable to digest the milk sugar, lactose. Thus, milk may result in loose stools for these animals. However, mixing with live, active culture yogurt and diluting with purified water does help many animals tolerate dairy products.
Other excellent dairy products (made from raw whole milk if possible) are cheeses, cottage cheese and yogurt. When choosing yogurt, avoid the sugar/jam varieties and use whole milk plain or homemade. To be most beneficial, the live yogurt cultures have to be added after any pasteurization of the product – look for the words “active yogurt cultures” on the package. All dairy products can be fed alone, mixed together, mixed with Sustainable Pet Foods™, or with other home prepared foods.
I. DAIRY FOODS
Milk: The more whole and less processed, the better. Some animals are unable to tolerate milk, particularly as they get older, because they are unable to digest the milk sugar, lactose. Thus, milk may result in loose stools for these animals. However, mixing with live, active culture yogurt and diluting with purified water does help many animals tolerate dairy products.
Other excellent dairy products (made from raw whole milk if possible) are cheeses, cottage cheese and yogurt. When choosing yogurt, avoid the sugar/jam varieties and use whole milk plain or homemade. To be most beneficial, the live yogurt cultures have to be added after any pasteurization of the product – look for the words “active yogurt cultures” on the package. All dairy products can be fed alone, mixed together, mixed with Sustainable Pet Foods™, or with other home prepared foods.
II. MEATS & EGGS
The ideal “meat” product would be the entire natural prey your pet’s ancestors once hunted. This is not likely to be achieved, but nevertheless, feeding meat should mimic this model as closely as possible. In the wild when carnivores make a kill, they eat the viscera (organs), muscle meat, and bones. Fresh grocery store raw meats, including chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb, should be cut into small ¼" - 1" pieces if they are difficult for your pet to chew. (This is unlikely, however, unless there is dental disease present.) If cleanliness of the meat is in question, rinse it well, and cleanse with a natural food cleaner.
Organ meats, such as liver, kidney, heart and giblets, can be used in combination with the muscle meats mentioned above in a ratio of approximately one part organs to five parts meat. Such fresh meats should be a prominent fresh food you add to your pet’s diet. Many of these high nutrient value foods end up as waste at your local grocery, but are available upon request with butchers.
Cooked meats and table scraps may be fed with benefit. Keep in mind that these meats are generally less processed/cooked, and nutritionally superior to what is present in most commercial pet foods. Lightly broiled or baked meats are best, while charcoaled, fried and deep-fried are less ideal.
Any leftover eggs from breakfast are a "no-brainer" addition to your pet's diet too. Already know that you might not use up an entire carton before expiration? Crack an egg and blend it in raw form with any of your pet's meals.
The ideal “meat” product would be the entire natural prey your pet’s ancestors once hunted. This is not likely to be achieved, but nevertheless, feeding meat should mimic this model as closely as possible. In the wild when carnivores make a kill, they eat the viscera (organs), muscle meat, and bones. Fresh grocery store raw meats, including chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb, should be cut into small ¼" - 1" pieces if they are difficult for your pet to chew. (This is unlikely, however, unless there is dental disease present.) If cleanliness of the meat is in question, rinse it well, and cleanse with a natural food cleaner.
Organ meats, such as liver, kidney, heart and giblets, can be used in combination with the muscle meats mentioned above in a ratio of approximately one part organs to five parts meat. Such fresh meats should be a prominent fresh food you add to your pet’s diet. Many of these high nutrient value foods end up as waste at your local grocery, but are available upon request with butchers.
Cooked meats and table scraps may be fed with benefit. Keep in mind that these meats are generally less processed/cooked, and nutritionally superior to what is present in most commercial pet foods. Lightly broiled or baked meats are best, while charcoaled, fried and deep-fried are less ideal.
Any leftover eggs from breakfast are a "no-brainer" addition to your pet's diet too. Already know that you might not use up an entire carton before expiration? Crack an egg and blend it in raw form with any of your pet's meals.
III. VEGETABLES, FRUITS AND NUTS
Believe it or not, many pets relish these foods. To introduce your pet to these, simply grate, very finely dice, or puree any fruit, vegetable or nut that you yourself would eat. Your pet may eat most eagerly if you are sharing the treat and eating the same raw fruits or vegetables at the same time. A small amount is best to begin, and fruits in particular should not be fed in excess.
Raw cashews, pecans, peanuts, etc. (not the salted, cooked in-oil nuts) are all excellent foods and most pets eagerly accept them. Soak and rinse pecans and almonds for 12-24 hours to increase their digestibility. Make sure nuts are crushed or mashed quite thoroughly. If they are swallowed whole, they will not be properly digested.
Believe it or not, many pets relish these foods. To introduce your pet to these, simply grate, very finely dice, or puree any fruit, vegetable or nut that you yourself would eat. Your pet may eat most eagerly if you are sharing the treat and eating the same raw fruits or vegetables at the same time. A small amount is best to begin, and fruits in particular should not be fed in excess.
Raw cashews, pecans, peanuts, etc. (not the salted, cooked in-oil nuts) are all excellent foods and most pets eagerly accept them. Soak and rinse pecans and almonds for 12-24 hours to increase their digestibility. Make sure nuts are crushed or mashed quite thoroughly. If they are swallowed whole, they will not be properly digested.
IV. GRASSES / SALADS
The reason cats and dogs frequently eat grass is because they crave and enjoy it – especially if they are feeling ill or are on an exclusively processed commercial pet food diet. It is as simple as that. In the wild, pets will actually graze on grasses, roots and sprouts as they find them. This should be a small, occasional addition to your pet’s diet.
The reason cats and dogs frequently eat grass is because they crave and enjoy it – especially if they are feeling ill or are on an exclusively processed commercial pet food diet. It is as simple as that. In the wild, pets will actually graze on grasses, roots and sprouts as they find them. This should be a small, occasional addition to your pet’s diet.
V. GRAINS AND LEGUMES
Grains should be a much smaller portion of your pet’s diet since they are technically not a natural food for carnivores. Raw, organically grown rolled oats or raw barley flakes, soaked in milk overnight result in a treat that many pets will relish.
Porridges of oats, brown rice, millet, amaranth, or quinoa can also be used occasionally. Sprouted grains, raised at home, make excellent additions to your pet’s diet and are eagerly accepted when combined with other foods.
Tofu is an excellent soy protein food which is relatively taste-free but pleasant, allowing you to easily blend it into other foods your pet is eating.
Grains should be a much smaller portion of your pet’s diet since they are technically not a natural food for carnivores. Raw, organically grown rolled oats or raw barley flakes, soaked in milk overnight result in a treat that many pets will relish.
Porridges of oats, brown rice, millet, amaranth, or quinoa can also be used occasionally. Sprouted grains, raised at home, make excellent additions to your pet’s diet and are eagerly accepted when combined with other foods.
Tofu is an excellent soy protein food which is relatively taste-free but pleasant, allowing you to easily blend it into other foods your pet is eating.
Any of the above-mentioned foods, as well as dozens of other suitable foods, can be fed in variety on a daily basis.
As a specific example, if you have a dog who usually eats three cups of Sustainable Pet Foods™ per day, you might offer him or her ½ cup of yogurt, ½ cup of meat, and one to two cups of Sustainable Pet Foods™.
The next day, you could give him or her ¼ cup of grated carrots, ¼ cup of grated cheese and a whole diced apple with his Sustainable Pet Foods™ serving.
As a specific example, if you have a dog who usually eats three cups of Sustainable Pet Foods™ per day, you might offer him or her ½ cup of yogurt, ½ cup of meat, and one to two cups of Sustainable Pet Foods™.
The next day, you could give him or her ¼ cup of grated carrots, ¼ cup of grated cheese and a whole diced apple with his Sustainable Pet Foods™ serving.
IN CONCLUSION
When you feed yourself and/or your children, set an extra “place at the table” for your pet. If you are dicing fruits or chopping salad vegetables for the family, get into the habit of making a cat or dog “salad,” custom-made for your pet, at the same time. Before emptying out the fridge, or tossing a recently expired food, consider whether it would be of nutritional benefit to your dog or cat.
Variety, imagination and creativity hold the key to unlocking your pet’s maximum health. At the same time, thinking differently about our pet's relationship to our foods encourages less food waste.
Increased long-term pet health, and less food waste -- it's a win-win. Make a positive impact by thinking + You.
Variety, imagination and creativity hold the key to unlocking your pet’s maximum health. At the same time, thinking differently about our pet's relationship to our foods encourages less food waste.
Increased long-term pet health, and less food waste -- it's a win-win. Make a positive impact by thinking + You.
*DISCLAIMER: This guide includes basic recommendations for adding home prepared, "human" foods to your pet's diet. It is not a comprehensive guide, and should not be considered a substitute for your own research and due diligence. Certain foods, e.g. chocolate, grapes, raisins, et al. should not be fed to pets under any circumstances. We are promoting the common sense introduction of suitable, biologically appropriate foods to your pet's diet, which does not include the full spectrum of human foods. If you are not confident in the appropriateness of any given food for your pet, then do not feed it.