story by

Mary Aho

T

hey say a dog is a man’s best friend. However, any pet is a 
man’s best friend. Most people these days treat their pets 
as one of the family. When it comes to family, you want 
the best for them. One of the easiest ways to spoil your 

pet is making their food. Making your own dog or cat food has lots of 
benefi ts. Knowing what is going into your pet’s food gives you peace 
of mind knowing your dog or cat is getting fresh whole ingredients 
without chemicals and preservatives. Making your own pet food is 
also cost effi cient and fun. If your dog has food allergies, making your 
own food lets you customize the ingredients to make sure your pet is 
getting exactly what they need.

Before you start making your pet’s food, you fi rst need to know 

what they can and cannot eat. Unlike humans, there are several 
foods that will make dogs and cats sick. For dogs and cats, garlic and 
any type of onion should be avoided as well as grapes, chocolate, 
avocados, macadamia nuts, artifi cial sweeteners, and yeast dough. 
Be sure to check with your veterinarian for a full list of foods to avoid 
giving your pet.

When it comes to making your own dog food, the sky is the limit. 

There are all kinds of different combinations you can try. It mostly 
depends on your dog’s preference and sensitivities. Ground chicken, 

ground turkey, and lean ground beef are all great options for protein 
in the mix. For vegetables, pumpkin, butternut squash, peas and 
green beans are good choices. A lot of recipes call for beans like 
kidney beans, pinto beans or lentils. For grains, brown rice is the most 
common ingredient. However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, 
white rice or quinoa is a better option. 

Homemade cat food is different than dog food. Most cat food 

recipes are pureed into a paste. Chicken should be cooked before 
blending. Canned fi sh like tuna, mackerel, and trout can be added. 
Steamed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and green beans add fl avor 
and necessary nutrients. Eggs and cottage cheese are also used in cat 
food recipes. 

Before changing your pet’s food, it is always important to check 

with your veterinarian to make sure all changes are okay for your pet. 
They can also advise you on which ingredients are best for your pet’s 
personal diet needs, and many recommend including a mix of vitamin 
supplements to make sure your pet gets its daily amount of nutrients. 
No matter what you add to your pet’s food, they are sure to love it. 
They are part of the family and it feels good to treat them with the 
best. So next time you’re at the store, pick up these ingredients and 
experiment making your pets and tasty nutritious meal.

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18     |    VIPDestinMagazine.com

18-19 CoastalCuisine_PetFood.indd   1

4/25/19   9:17 AM