Homemade Made Easy
Written by: Aaron I
Why Homemade Food is the Best Choice for Your Pet!
When we think about the finer things in life, food is always at the top of the list; and when we think of fine foods, we don’t think of them as plain, processed or overcooked.
We want our food full of fresh, colorful, whole ingredients exploding with flavor and nutrition. This slice of paradise isn’t exclusive to people…
our pets love it too!
Their sense of smell and taste are highly developed, meaning they dream of the fresh, bountiful ingredients just like we do!
So why are we feeding them boring kibble and canned food for every meal? It’s time to make a change; it’s time for homemade! But don’t panic; homemade doesn’t mean buying lots of ingredients at the grocery store and toiling away in the kitchen. There are a number of packaged homemade pet foods that only need to be mixed with water and served. It might sound simple, but it offers a whole new level of taste and nutrition for your pet.
Homemade isn’t just a food type, it’s a food choice! And it’s one of the best choices you can make to give your pets the gift of a long, healthy, and, most importantly, better quality life.
Top 5 Reasons to Switch to Homemade
(Be warned: Pets love it so much, they won’t go back!):
1. Homemade Means “Nature Made” as well
Your dog and cat are not “kibblevores”. They both have extremely advanced digestive systems that crave fresh, nutrient dense, raw foods. In nature, they would be eating an entire animal: this means plenty of raw meat with digestive system supporting probiotics and essential fatty acids; the stomach content of their prey, which would be filled with plant matter that’s high in vitamins and minerals; and a good amount of hydrating fluids from the blood and water rich organs.
Homemade pet food diets recreate this raw meat and vegetable feast, without all the mess!
Some of them feature large, appetizing chunks of raw meat that have been freeze dried, so the protein doesn’t lose the beneficial nutrients that are mostly absent from processed foods. And all of them contain human quality meat with an array of dehydrated fruits and vegetables. These fruits and veggies are not only delicious to your pet, but they’re rich in nutrients missing in the meat, like vitamin C and other antioxidants. Plus, homemade diets are prepared by you with fresh water, which hydrates your pet and offers them a delicious broth.
2. Variety Is the Spice of Life
When you buy your pets’ kibble, you know the type and relative amount of protein because of the guaranteed analysis and ingredients list. But if you were to just look at the food out of the bag, would you know the ingredients? Probably not. That’s because most kibbles and canned foods are so processed and cooked, they become a single texture, with a single color, and a single flavor.
Homemade diets are different! Once you add water, you’ll see quality proteins that plump up, a flavorful broth form, and shredded vegetables that you can actually see. These combine to give your pets a variety of textures and flavors that will keep them happy and healthy.
3. Who Wants Cornflakes Everyday Anyway?
When you commit to a kibble or canned diet for your pets, the most effective way to feed them is to buy the largest bag or case. Unfortunately, this is like buying a 40 pound bag of cornflakes or a bucket of canned pasta! With their relatively short shelf lives and depleting freshness once you open them up, kibble and canned diets are not the first choice when looking for a freshly prepared, homemade diet.
Homemade diets are preserved in unique ways (by freeze drying, air drying, or dehydrating) giving them a stable shelf life.
This lets you mix and match your flavors, so you won’t be feeding the same meal over and over again, giving your pets the diet diversity they crave. (To learn more about the importance of variety, please read our article “Why Switch Foods.”)
4. Your Pet Is Family
Preparing meals for your family isn’t just a means of feeding them; it’s a ritual that teaches us the importance of connection, patience, and love.
Nothing disrupts this experience more than simply dumping kibble or a can into a bowl. Homemade food lets you include your pet in the process! Their food can soak while you prepare yours, and even though most homemade mixes are complete meals, there’s no rule against adding some of your cooking scraps (Only healthy ones, of course. To learn more, read this article about dangerous pet foods to avoid by the ASPCA).
This process lets you bond with your pets in more ways than you might think. It lets you see their food first hand, so you know you’re giving them whole, nutritious meals. Plus, it’s a great way to reinforce your role in your pets’ lives. They’ll know you’re the one who decides when it’s time to eat. You’re not merely providing a meal, you’re providing a routine.
5. Who Doesn’t Want a Homemade Meal?
The truth of the matter is that homemade tastes better, and is healthier for our pets! Most homemade meals allow you to just add fresh water, wait, and serve, which makes a huge difference when compared to processed, premade foods.
The post Homemade Made Easy appeared first on OnlyNaturalPet.com.
