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More awareness of the needs of the pets has led to more and more people preparing homemade pet foods. Preparing the food at home means that you get to decide what goes into it and at the same time guarantee that the pets get all the nutrients that they require. Based on the earlier sections, this article will give an insight into the advantages of preparing homemade pet food together with step by step recipes to follow.
Advantages of Homemade Pet Foods:
- Quality Control: If you prepare the pet food at home, then you have the chance to include fresh and quality ingredients to it. This reduces worries about such things as preservatives, artificial colors, and fillers that are characteristically seen in commercial pet foods. It also enables one to shun allergens or foods that may upset the stomach of the exotic pet.
- Customized Nutrition: This is right because one animal cannot have the same requirements and the other dietary needs as the other animals do. The homemade pet food option will enable the giver to prepare meals that will spur the pet to shed more energy, like feeding an active dog, or give meals that are low in calories, for instance in cases where the pet is obese. These personal reflections can often have significant positive impacts on people’s general state of well-being.
- Bonding Experience: Feeding your pet from the kitchen can help batter the relationship you have with your pet especially if it is a dog. That’s why it warms the heart to see them savor the food which you have prepared from your heart.
Essential Nutrients for Pets
A balanced pet diet should include:
- Protein: Mainly needed for muscular build up and to also repair damaged muscles. Anticipated sources are lean meat, fishes, and eggs among others.
- Carbohydrates: Provide energy. It includes nicely browned rice, quinoa, and sweet-potato among others.
- Fats: Good for the hair and skin which are organs of the body. They are sources such as fish oil, flaxseed oil, and chicken fat.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Beneficial to human health in the totality of it. These needs can be met through taking vegetables, fruits and supplements.
Homemade Pet Foods Recipe
1. Hen and Rice Pudding
Ingredients:
- Brown rice 2 cups when cooked
- Ground chicken, 1 pound with low fat content
- Topping; 1 cup fine chopped carrots
- 1 cup peas preferably fresh peas or frozen but any processed peas would work.
- 1 tablespoon fish oil
Instructions:
- Cook the ground chicken in a large pan until done all the way. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the cooked brown rice, carrots and frozen peas. Mix well.
- Mix in the fish oil for healthy fats into the recipe.
- It is advised that it should be served after the cooling process. The last must be kept in the refrigerator where it can last for up to 3 days.
2. Salmon and Quinoa
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- Fresh salmon = 1/2 pound, no bones and no skin
- 1/2 cup spinach chopped very fine
- 1 egg, boiled and if preferred chopped
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions:
- Grill the salmon for approximately 15 minutes or until it is done. Leave to cool and then crumble into fine pieces.
- Mix the cooked quinoa, spinach and egg to the salmon.
- After that, add the olive oil and with the help of spatula mix it well.
- Serve at room temperature. It is best to refrigerate and consume within three days but it can be kept for up to five days.
Conclusion
Preparing pet food has numerous advantages ranging from the quality of the food to the diet being customized for the pets. Changes should not be made suddenly in the diet of animals, always consult the vet for the proper nutrition of the animal.
Image Source: Getty Images
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