Beyond Diet's Coach Chrissy (who you've probably seen inside the Beyond Diet community) has done a lot of research when it comes to feeding her dog, so I asked her to share some of it with you....
I know I'm not the only one who considers her pet a family member. My four-legged "daughter" is a husky/German shepherd/who-knows-what rescue dog. Her name is Beatrice, and she is about 4 years old - full of energy, curiosity, craziness, and lots and lots of love.
Because I consider her a family member, I feed her like one. My husband and I had an amazing dog before Beatrice (named Nebraska) who passed away from liver cancer a few years ago. When I found out her diagnosis, I completely changed my mindset on what I was feeding her. She had been fed kibble almost all of her life (13 amazing years), and I couldn't help but think the kibble had something to do with the cancer.
I set out to do the best I could with her diagnosis - I wanted to make the rest of Nebraska's life as long and as wonderful as possible. My husband and I took her camping, hiking, cross-country skiing (her favorite), and we cuddled with her as much as she would let us! I found a holistic veterinarian and researched a variety of dog food, as well as how to make my own. The next six months of Nebraska's life changed my outlook on feeding my future pets.
My dog Beatrice now eats home-cooked stew about 90% of the time. There are, of course, days that I run out of stew and don't have time to cook more for her – I have some high-quality, grain-free food for backup on these days. (I also have this kibble on hand because when we got her, Beatrice was so skinny that we had to help her gain weight. Kibble is the best way to help a dog pack on the pounds, which is why so many dogs end up overweight and unhealthy.)
Ingredients
Directions
Place all of the ingredients into a large stockpot. Fill it with water until chicken is covered (about 11-16 cups). Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat until it reaches a simmer. Simmer for 2 hours. Remove the chicken from the pot and let cool. Remove the skin and meat, and place it back into the pot (make sure there aren't ANY BONES in the stew). Use an immersion blender (or you can use a regular blender in batches) to mix all of the food until well combined. *Personally, I add a supplement of canine minerals and micro algae to my dog's food as well. And remember it is always best to talk to your vet if you have any questions or concerns.
Serving Size
*For each additional 20 pounds, add 2 cups. Remember, all pets are individuals, so let your intuition and observations guide you.
I usually cook this homemade stew for Beatrice about once a week to every other week. I store what she's going to eat within 3 days in the refrigerator and freeze the rest of it (Ziploc bags work great).
My dog (and every other dog that I have fed it to) goes NUTS over this food. It is so healthy, and I know EVERYTHING that my dog is eating. No processed foods with additives, preservatives, or ingredients that I can't pronounce...just like her parents eat!
I also give Beatrice coconut oil and fish oil each day. (She loves it - and reminds me every morning if I don't give it to her in a timely fashion!) I noticed a drastic change in her shortly after starting to give her these oils - she no longer itched or scratched like crazy. It is great for her coat and does wonders for her dry skin.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and pulse for 30 seconds. Pour the oil into a dark glass bottle or jar and seal tightly. Best if stored in the refrigerator (keeps up to 2 months).
Serving Size
I highly recommend taking a look at the food you are currently feeding to your dog. Make sure it is high quality and provides enough nourishment for your dog. And give my homemade stew a try - I promise your dog will love it!
Already make your own dog food? Let us know in the comments below!
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