Nutrition You CAN Share with your Dogs!
(my dogs Issac and Cassi)
My two dogs are my children. Since they are part of my family, I think it’s only fair to discuss nutrition for them too. Sometimes when I am eating, Issac and Cassi will give me their saddest puppy dog eyes and I cannot help but to want to give them a treat right off of my plate. We keep hearing that people food is bad for dogs, and that if you switch your dog’s diet, you can upset his stomach. But if it’s true that people food is bad for dogs, how come the ingredients list of many of their foods contains “people food”?
Beneful brand dog food looks like tasty beef stew complete with peas and carrots! (Trust me it doesn’t taste anything like it looks!). Or how about dogs in the wild (wolves, foxes, and African Wild Dogs), they don’t eat the same food every day. Wild dogs are scavengers and eat what they can find. Are their stomachs always upset?
The truth is, not all people food is bad for you dog! Here is a list of some healthy people foods you can give you dog. Oh, and remember, like you, dogs can also have food allergies and food intolerances so you still need to keep an eye.
· Boiled Hamburger meet/Boiled chicken/plain white rice- is an excellent meal to give your dogs if they have an upset stomach. The meat is also packed with protein which is healthy for them.
· Apples are a great treat for a dog and are good sources of fiber for them. Just like for humans, make sure you get organic apples and wash them well,-or peel it (we don’t want pesticides). Also, apple seeds contain cyanide so no apple seeds or cores for them. No apple seeds for people either!
· Hard boiled eggs or scrambled eggs will give your dog an extra shiny coat. Just make sure to leave out the good stuff (salt, pepper, milk). Never give your dog raw eggs for the same reason you wouldn’t eat raw eggs: Salmonella!
· Non Fat Yogurt (plain) is a good treat full of probiotics as well as protein, calcium, phosphorus, B12, potassium, zinc, and iodine. It contains friendly bacteria that help keep bad bacteria away.
· Sweet Potato is loaded with nutrients your dog will love such as carotenoids, Vitamin C, and Phytochemicals (anti-inflammatories and pain relievers). They are also good sources of potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, and many other essential minerals that your pet needs just as you do.
· Salmon. You need Omega 3’s and so does your dog! It does wonders for his skin, coat, brain, and is also a good anti-inflammatory. It’s also a great source of protein. Next time you are making salmon for yourself, throw and extra fillet (no seasoning) in for your dog.
· Swiss chard (Spinach family). Just like for humans, you should blanch it first because it frees up the oxalates (which binds minerals and can cause kidney stones), sweetens the leaves, and dissolves the cell walls allowing it to release its nutrients. Chard is great for bone health, blood vessel integrity, eye health, and immune function. Mix chard with olive oil and enjoy it with your four-legged friend.
· For your Asian/Hawaiian dog (like mine!) dried seaweed (Nori). It’s full of protein, galactans (soluble fiber), Vitamin C, E, all the B vitamins, zinc, copper, and Chlorophyll which helps regulate metabolism and has anti-tumor properties. You can feed them the dry sheets, soak it and mix into their food, or even make doggy sushi with plain white rice.
I never just give my dogs a treat, they have to earn them.
So next time you are preparing a meal, take a look at your ingredients and see if you can make a similar meal for you dog. Just keep their versions plain and free of seasonings. That way you can dine together! OR….
…if you don’t have a dog, everything on this list is healthy for you as well and for the same reasons!
Dobelle, A. (2013). 7 Human Foods that you can Feed your Dog. Retrieved from http://www.veria.com/healthy-home/7-human-foods-that-you-can-feed-your-dog
Heuberger, R. (n.d.). From The BARK: 10 Ways to Liven up your Dogs Dinner. Retrieved from http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-ways-to-liven-up-your-dogs-dinner.html?page=1
