A complete pet diet requires some 40 or so nutrients, including just the right amount of vitamins, minerals, grains, vegetables, proteins, and fats. To get you started, try these nutritionally sound recipes for healthy dogs and cats provided by the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. Bon appetit! The Doggie Bag Dinner (for dogs)
Ingredient Grain: Cooked white rice
Measure: 320 g (2 c) What’s it for? Carbohydrates. Can be substituted with brown rice, sweet potato, pasta, oatmeal, barley, corn, or peas for variety.
Ingredient Vegetable: Mixed green vegetables
Measure: 25 g (1.5 Tbsp) What’s it for? Provides insoluble fiber (to keep your pup “regular”). Try a variety of green, yellow and red vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, baby spinach, carrots, bell peppers, and squashes. (But no garlic or onions).
Ingredient Protein: Cooked dark meat chicken
Measure: 130 g (4.5 oz) What’s it for? This protein source may be substituted for beef, pork, lamb, turkey, or eggs in the same portions for variety.
Ingredient Fat: Vegetable oil (corn, safflower, or olive) (optional)
Measure: 10-15 g (2-3 Tbsp) What’s it for? If your dog is losing weight on the new diet plan, add in some vegetable oil to bulk up the calorie and fat content, and reweigh in 2 weeks.
Ingredient Vitamin: Balance IT canine
Measure: 10 g (2.5 black scoops) What’s it for? Supplements contain a balanced diet by adding macro- and microminerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Purchase either through your vet or directly through the company. To make: Cook the meat and grain portions first to increase safety and digestibility. Wash the vegetables. Blend all ingredients to keep your pet from picking out single items. Can be made ahead, but because homemade diets don’t have preservatives, store either in small quantities in the refrigerator or in large quantities in the freezer. Warm food is more palatable, so wet slightly and heat it up in the microwave before serving (check for “hot spots” that could burn the mouth first). You can also bake at 325° to 350°F for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to make the food resemble dry varieties (best for dogs resistant to change). Weigh the dog every 2 weeks on this diet and check in with your vet regularly (two or three visits a year) at appointments. Serving size: One day of food for a 30-pound dog More from Prevention: Time For Fido’s Bath? [pagebreak] Meow Munch (for cats)
Ingredient Grain: Cooked white rice
Measure: 50 g (1/3 c) What’s it for? Carbohydrates. Can be substituted with pasta, oatmeal, barley, corn, or peas for variety.
Ingredient Vegetable: Cooked sweet potato without skin
Measure: 30 g (1/5 c) What’s it for? Provides insoluble fiber
Ingredient Protein: Cooked dark meat chicken
Measure: 83 g (3 oz) What’s it for? This protein source may be substituted for beef, pork, lamb, turkey, salmon, or tuna for variety.
Ingredient Fat: Oil (optional)
Measure: 1/4 tsp What’s it for? If your cat is losing weight on this recipe, add in oil, such as fish (tuna, mackerel, sardine) or vegetable (corn, olive, safflower, wheat germ), and reweigh cat in 2 weeks.
Ingredient Vitamin: Balance IT feline
Measure: 2.7 g (1/2 black scoops) What’s it for? Supplements complete a balanced diet by adding macro- and micro-minerals, vitamins, and amnio acids. Purchase either through your vet or directly through the company. *These are the cooked weights and amounts for each food ingredient To make: Cook the meat and grain portions first to increase safety and digestibility. Wash the vegetables. Blend all ingredients to keep your pet from picking out single items. Can be made ahead, but because homemade diets don’t have preservatives or antioxidants, store either in small quantities in the refrigerator or in large quantities in the freezer. Warm food is more palatable, so wet slightly and heat it up in the microwave before serving (check for “hot spots” that could burn the mouth first). You can also bake at 325° to 350°F for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to make the food resemble dry varieties (best for cats resistant to change). Weigh the cat every 2 weeks on this diet and check in with your vet regularly (2 or 3 visits a year) at appointments. Serving size: One day of food for a 12-pound cat More from Prevention: Pet Care Mistakes Good Owners Make
