DOG FOOD FROM SCRATCH

(PHOTO: My doggy, Trevor, posing with his head poking through the wooden picture-posing stand)

A few months back I ran out of dog food and found that the local retailer no longer carried my favorite natural brand. While I sat in the aisle reading through all of the ingredient labels, I realized that even in the natural brands there are still ingredient lists that are unnecessarily long!

That's when it dawned on me: what better way to know what your pet is really eating than to make their food at home?

After a ton of research and some grocery store shopping, I found a GREAT recipe for dog food that is easy and cheap! On top of the ease of making it and knowing that I'm helping to extend my doggy's life expectancy, Trev LOVES eating it! Since I've had such success, I decided to share the recipe with the SexyHealthyHappy family. WARNING: Check with your vet before trying any new diet for your pet! Also, the recipe has meat in it, so if you prefer a veg/vegan diet for your pets it's still best to buy from your local natural pet store.

Basic rules: Dogs need protein, fat and vitamins/minerals in order to have a complete and healthy diet. They don't need carbohydrates, but a small amount of grain in their diet helps to fill any nutrient-related holes in their diet. The best way to give them a well balanced diet is to feed them a combination of vegetables, meat, and healthy grains. If you do not puree the veggies, they WILL come out in their poop (think corn), so make sure to grind them well. If you add fat (like cooking oils), it can cause diarrhea since they cannot absorb the oils in their intestinal tract. It is best to feed your doggy raw meat, but due to the risk of e-coli and other bacterial contaminants, it is also acceptable to lightly cook the meat.
*In general, you want a ratio of meat to veggies of 2:1. If you add grains, the ratio of meat to veggies+grains should be 1:1.
*Also of note, your dog wont need as much food, so give them about 1/2 what you were feeding them previously. Their poops will also be smaller, so don't be alarmed!

Use the CHEAPEST ground beef (high fat percentage) because the fat content will help keep their coat healthy, plus it saves you money! Veggies you can use (and ROTATE for each batch in order to make sure their diet is balanced):
*Carrots
*Broccoli
*Zucchini
*Green Beans
*Peas
*Spinach
*Potatoes
NOTE: BUY THE VEGGIES FROZEN! This way you don't have to worry about what's in season or the produce going bad.

For the grains, stick with BARLEY and only use it in every-other batch.

RECIPE:
2 lbs ground beef (cheapest available with high fat content)
1/2lb frozen carrots
1/2lb frozen peas
(Optional 1lb of barley, soaked and ready for use)

-Lightly cook the beef using a spray oil or VERY little olive oil
-Puree the vegetables (and grains, if added), then mix the meat and puree in a large bowl
-Scoop individual serving sizes into individual containers and store in the freezer

-When making a new batch, alternate grains every other batch and change the types of veggies every time. You can also alternate ground turkey or chicken into your batch rotations.

When it's feeding time, heat the individual serving size for about 30 seconds (till cool or slightly warm) and feed to fido! Watch him/her scarf it down gleefully!