Table of Contents
Foreword 4
Introduction 7
Chapter 1 The Pluses to Making Homemade Pet Food 9
Why Fresh Is Best 10
Organic Is Optional 14
Conscious Food Prep 14
Chapter 2 Variety Is the Spice of Health! 17
A Balancing Act 18
All about Meals 22
Chapter 3 The Best Foods for Your Pet 27
Personalizing Your Pet's Meals 28
Age Considerations 38
All or Nothing? Combining Homemade and Commercial Foods 41
Chapter 4 Essential Building Blocks 45
Meats 46
Fats 50
Bones and Calcium 53
Organ Meats 56
Eggs 58
Seeds: Legumes, Nuts, and Grains 59
Vegetables and Fruits 61
Dark, Leafy Greens 63
Fiber or Roughage 64
Dairy 65
Chapter 5 Fine-Tuning Your Homemade Meal Plan 67
Species-Appropriate Super Foods 68
Essential Nutrients 72
Foods to Avoid 74
Chapter 6 Switching to a Homemade Diet 79
Kitchen Readiness 80
Freezing 81
Plating It Up: Serving Suggestions 81
Keeping it Safe and Clean 83
Making the Switch 84
Chapter 7 Healthy Homemade Recipes 87
Getting Started 88
Healthy Snacks and Treats 160
Appendix 1 Foods That Are Particularly High in Specific Nutrients 168
Appendix 2 Some Favorite High-Quality Commercial Food Brands (If You Cannot Make Your Own Pet Food) 170
Acknowledgments 172
