It’s okay, I admit it. I’m fascinated, too curious, not at all obsessed with the idea of ​​”you are what you eat”. If you could see me, you would say that I need to lose more than a few pounds and it certainly doesn’t seem like I practice what I love so much. I know in my gut (literally), that my consumption of overly processed foods, restaurant lunches, sweets, and chips will slowly but surely do great harm and most likely take a few years off my life. To my credit, I get up early every morning and exercise in an effort to, if not lose weight, then at least avoid the diabetes that runs in my family. So if my family needs to eat better, what about my pets?

Hopefully, all of you have read my article on the horrible things found in commercial pet food. If not, check it out at the link below. When I discovered what was in the kibble we were feeding to both our dog and cat, I researched the alternatives and came up with a great all-natural dry pet food. I have been very happy with the results of the change with Annie, our cat, but for some reason, Dax just doesn’t accept it. In fact, he really isn’t crazy about dry food in general. He’ll eat it when he’s hungry, but let’s just say he doesn’t seem to enjoy eating it. I have tried several brands and nothing turns the bippy on it. Instead, he jumps for joy when I give him a scrambled egg or some leftover chicken. And salmon! Katy, lock the door!

Here we are. As I try to convince myself to better feed my human family, perhaps Dax would also be better off on a more natural diet of fresh foods. I’m not committing to anything right now, but I’m willing to do some research and see how compelling it is. Do you want to go?

You know, when I think back to my grandparents’ farm visits, I never saw my grandmother feed her dog anything but table scraps. I don’t think I ever saw a bag of dog food in her house. Now, today, table scraps would mean pizza, French fries, and other bad examples of human “food.” But not back then. My grandparents raised grass-fed beef, which they slaughtered and ate. My grandmother had a big garden and Dad had acres of corn. They grew what they ate and the leftovers Beau got were good, healthy, all natural and pesticide free.

So the first question that comes to mind is that of total nutrients. I know that the premium dry foods I have been buying assure me that they are formulated to provide all the nutrients Dax needs. So how can I provide everything my dog ​​needs in a homemade diet? Well, let’s see what the experts have to say. They tell me to aim for the variety to ensure a balance of nutrients.

I am told that my dog ​​and cat are natural carnivores and that meat and other protein sources should be high on the ingredient list for this new way of eating. They also tell me to feed raw meat. Okay, now wait a minute. That disgusts me. What about e-coli and salmonella and all that other nasty stuff found in raw meat? Well, it seems that your dog’s stomach has a much higher acid content than yours and can handle raw meat just fine. In fact, raw meat is much richer in nutrients than cooked meat.

Swap lean meats like turkey, liver, mackerel, chicken, tuna, heart, lean hamburger, duck, rabbit, or fish. Try ground meats for convenience and ease of eating.

Meat alone shouldn’t be the only source of protein for our critters. There are many other ways to increase your protein intake. Eggs are an excellent and inexpensive source of low-fat protein. Again, experts recommend feeding them raw. Also try the cottage cheese. Whole grains are another cost-effective source of high-quality protein, as well as carbohydrates and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Grains, however, should definitely be cooked before feeding to aid in digestion. The most profitable sources of good grains are oatmeal, cornmeal, millet, and bulgur (whatever that is).

The list goes on. Beans and other vegetables like peas and lentils are great sources of protein. Cook them as you would for your family. These are good for cooking in large quantities and freezing in meal portions.

Well, we have covered protein. Whats Next? Vegetables. Vegetables are vital for adding vitamins, minerals and roughage. Some can be fed raw, such as grated carrots, squash, lettuce and other greens, and grated beets. Others, like corn, peas, green beans, and broccoli, need to be cooked. Please! No canned vegetables! Our focus here is on fresh food. If the vegetables are not organically grown, make sure you wash them well, even use a little soap, and then rinse well.

Now that the basics have been taken care of, the next thing experts say we need to consider is supplements. Obviously, both cats and dogs, but especially dogs, have a high calcium requirement. Calcium can be added to a fresh food diet in a number of ways. A common source of calcium is bones. This is where the experts take very different paths. Some advocate feeding your dog raw bones. Others object based on the fact that cow bones may contain high levels of lead or may splinter. Those opposed to raw bones recommend the use of bone meal. Now let me stop and emphasize here that they are not referring to the bone meal found at your local garden center. It is toxic to animals. The bone meal recommended for feeding is the one found in health food stores recommended for human consumption or some say, better yet, a bone meal made especially for animals. I’m thinking a big pet store might be a good source or maybe a good feed store.

A great source of natural calcium can be found in something we all throw away: eggshells. Who knows? In his book, The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, Dr. Richard Pitcairn recommends washing eggshells immediately after cracking and letting them dry. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes, then grind to a fine powder. This can be sprinkled over your pet’s food. If you prefer, he can even crush the calcium tablets into a powder. Do not give them whole to your pet.

Other recommended supplements include nutritional or brewer’s yeast for its B vitamins, iron, and other nutrients; oils like fish oil and cod liver oil for Omega-3 and Omega-6 benefits; Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant and can be found in wheat germ or simply poke and squeeze a capsule onto your pet’s food.

So the last question that comes to mind is this: I’ve always heard that a dog needs dry, crunchy food to help keep their teeth clean. This remains true with a fresh food diet. A good all-natural, crunchy dog ​​biscuit fed once or twice a day will help exercise gums and clean teeth.

This is a brief introduction to the world of feeding fresh pet food. I know I no longer feel guilty about feeding Dax leftover meat and eggs. If you want to know more, please visit my website frequently. I will be posting more detailed articles on this topic. In the meantime, happy eating!