Get ready to discover epic and healthy homemade meals for your pets. From picking key ingredients to the preparation process, we have gathered everything you need.
Why homemade foods?
Scientifically, there is no evidence that homemade pet meals are always a better option for pets' health. But still, we believe that the food carved with love and care is way more special than the packaged meals. Also, homemade pet meals are a better option for people who care to provide a preservative-free meal for their pets.
Going for homemade pet meals provides you the entire right to choose the key ingredients. So, this creates a huge pleasure for the pet parents to pick the right nutrients. But you have to choose wisely. To make it simple, we have come up with some intriguing facts that you should check before picking the ingredients.
- Do check whether your dog is vegetarian, vegan, or an omnivore and plan the meal accordingly.
- Provide the pet with nutrients they are lacking.
- If your pet is allergic to particular foods, please avoid them.
- Certain mushrooms are way too allergic for pets, so go for mushrooms like maitake, turkeytail, button mushrooms, etc.
- Try avoiding more spice and oil in the pet food.
- Go for a boneless and skinless chicken.
- Do not include grapes and raisins in pets' meals since they are considered causing kidney-related issues.
- Avoid chocolate and caffeine-related products in pets' food.
- Go for an easy digestible meal like chicken, rice, pumpkin, broth, fish, etc.
- Do not try to give chives to your pets since they are considered way too toxic for them.
- Get suggestions from your vet before going for frequent homemade pet meals.
Now, it's time to prepare the meal!
Healthy Menus:
- Rice and Chicken Bowl
- Veggie stew
- Egg drop soup with rice
- Cupcake bites
- Fish and veggies
1) Rice and Chicken Bowl
Key ingredients:
- White Rice - 250 gms
- Chicken - 100 gms
- Water - As required
Preparation:
- Dice the chicken into small to medium-sized pieces.
- Add chicken, rice, and an adequate amount of water in a vessel.
- Place the vessel on the stove and start to cook.
- Add a pinch of salt to enhance the taste.
- Stir occasionally and cook it for about 25-30 minutes.
- Serve the food after allowing it to cool.
Essential Benefits:
✔ White rice improves the bowel movements of the pets.✔ Chicken meets the daily protein requirement.
✔ Additionally, chicken provides certain amino acids that help in overall health care.
✔ This whole meal eases the digestion process.
2) Veggie Stew
Key ingredients:
- Carrots
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Pumpkin
- Rice
- Water
- Salt
Preparation:
- Cut the vegetable into small pieces.
- Add water, rice, and vegetables (except pumpkin) to a cooking pot.
- Meanwhile, puree the pumpkin and keep aside.
- Once the rice and veggies are cooked properly, add the pumpkin puree.
- After 5 minutes, turn off the stove.
- After cooling down for a while, blend the whole mixture.
- Add a pinch of salt and spices like nutmeg to enhance the taste.
- Now, it is ready to serve!
Essential Benefits:
✔ Beets provide fiber for pets, while carrots are rich in vitamin A and C. Both the veggies protect the pets skin texture as well as their digestion process.✔ Broccoli delivers varieties of goodness for one's pet. They contain antioxidants, fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and calcium.
✔ This helps the pet to have a healthy immune system and a strong bone density.
3) Egg drop soup with rice
Key ingredients:
- Rice
- Water
- Green beans
- Carrot
- Eggs
Preparation:
- Cook rice separately and keep aside.
- Add water to the cooking vessel.
- When the water starts boiling, add carrots and green beans.
- Let the veggies cook for about 5-7 minutes.
- Then, drop the eggs in the mixture and stir it.
- Turn off the heat after 2 minutes.
- Add this egg drop veggie soup to the rice and mix it well.
- Now it's ready for serving.
Essential Benefits:
✔ When you have already cooked rice with you, then the preparation time for this meal is not more than 10 minutes. So, it's a time-saving meal.✔ Green beans are usually low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.
4) Cupcake bites
Key ingredients:
- Peanut butter - 1 tbsp
- Banana - half
- Egg - 1
- Greek yogurt - 1 tbsp
- Baking soda - 1 pinch
Preparation:
- Peel and mash the banana.
- Add egg, banana, peanut butter, and baking soda in a bowl and give it a whisk.
- Take a scoop and place it in the pan.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the mixture for 20–30 minutes.
- After taking it out of the oven, top the cupcake with Greek yogurt and serve.
Note: Using baking soda is completely your choice. Can skip if you feel it is unnecessary.
Essential Benefits:
✔ Bananas help to maintain healthier skin and coat. Along with that, they improve the digestion process.✔ Peanut butter contains protein and certain nutrients. You can use them moderate amounts to enhance your pets taste buds.
✔ Greek yogurt is rich in probiotics that help in maintaining proper gut health.
5) Fish and veggies
Key ingredients:
- Tilapia or fish of your choice
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrot
- Asparagus
- Coconut oil
- Salt
Preparation:
- Dice the carrot and sweet potatoes into medium-sized pieces.
- Cut asparagus into fine pieces.
- Peel the skin of the Tilapia fish and keep aside.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of coconut oil into the cooking pan.
- Add tilapia along with all the veggies.
- After adding salt to the dish, close the lid.
- Let it cook for about one hour.
- Then turn off the heat and mash the mixture evenly.
- Now, the dish is ready to serve.
Essential Benefits:
✔ Pet tilapia fish offer a sufficient quantity of omega-3 fatty acids. They als have a high protein content. In addition, they are a protein-rich food.✔ Asparagus is high in water content, which keeps the pet hydrated for a longer time.
✔ Coconut oil helps in nourishing the skin texture of the pet. Also, they help maintain the ideal weight.
Cooking for our loved ones is always way too special. Hope we have helped you to pick a few healthy homemade pet meals. Do not forget to try these exciting meal options. Trust me, your pet is going to fall in love with you again after tasting these healthy and mouth-watering dishes.
FAQ’S:
Q: Why homemade foods for pets?
A: Homemade pet meals are a better option for people who care to provide a preservative-free meal for their pets.
Q: Can dogs consume mushrooms?
A: Yes! But choose wisely. Certain mushrooms are way too allergic for pets, so go for mushrooms like maitake, turkeytail, button mushrooms, etc.
Q: Should we get a prior suggestion from the vet before giving homemade meals for pets?
A: Yes, it is important to get suggestions from your vet before going for frequent homemade pet meals.
Q: What are all the easy digestible meals for pets?
A: Go for an easy digestible meal like chicken, rice, pumpkin, broth, fish, etc.
Q: Can we add coconut oil to a pet's meal?
Certainly! We can add coconut oil while preparing homemade pet meals. Coconut oil helps in nourishing the skin texture of the pet.