Whether you’re out of kibble or switching their diets, making meals for your furry friends isn’t as time-consuming as you might think.
It’s all about knowing the key components of a well-balanced meal and the kind of recipes to go with. That’s exactly what I’m about to show you, along with some pointers on how to make your pet’s meal prep more efficient!
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Understanding Pet Nutrition
Just like us, our furbabies require specific nutrients to lead a healthy life. That’s why I’ve decided to start by outlining the basics of pet nutrition, which is identifying the necessary nutrients in dogs’ and cats’ diets:
Protein
Including a protein source in your pet’s diet is critical as it helps in synthesizing essential amino acids. These amino acids play a major role in developing and repairing muscle tissues, protecting the immune system, hair growth, and much more.
Keep in mind that pregnant and lactating pets need more protein in their diet to support their current body changes.
Carbohydrates
Carbs supply your four-legged buddy with adequate energy as they break down in the small intestine into glucose (a common energy source). Glucose is also required for the brain and nervous system to function properly.
Fibers (a type of carbohydrate) work wonders for maintaining pets’ bowel regularity; I’m sure no one likes those infamous runny stools! They also inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in their guts, promoting a healthy digestive system.
Dietary Fats
Pets love its flavor, and it’s also incredibly nourishing, which makes fats a crucial component of any well-balanced diet!
Fats are the optimal source of energy for pets. In fact, they’re more energy dense than carbs and protein. That’s why they’re even more essential in the diet of active dog breeds, like the energetic Great Dane Pitbull mix.
Dietary fats are also an excellent source of fatty acids, which provide numerous benefits for pets! Some of them include improving vitamin absorption, maintaining healthy skin and a shiny coat, and promoting the health of vital organs.
Quick and Healthy Meals
It’s time to get these tails wagging! I’ve gathered some tasty meal recipes for our canines and felines that’ll fuel them up for the day while not taking up much time from your busy schedule.
Just make sure to discuss the menu with your veterinarian first so they can determine whether you’ll need to add nutritional supplements to your pet’s food or not.
Dog Meals
Below are three quick, well-rounded meals you can prepare in 30 minutes or less and will last your dog for 4-8 days.
1. Ground Turkey With Rice and Veggies – 30mins
This meal is easy to prepare and contains all the nourishing ingredients a dog requires. It makes about five servings.
Turkey, the primary source of protein, is rich in essential nutrients, like vitamin B6, which helps with hormone regulation and glucose production. It’s also high in zinc and magnesium, which help to keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy.
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 440
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 64g
- Protein: 23g
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 cups brown rice
- 6 cups water
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 16-ounce package of mixed frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
Instructions:
- Heat water and rice in a large pot.
- Stir in the ground turkey, breaking it up as you go, until it’s evenly distributed throughout the pot.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and continue to cook for 20 minutes.
- Add in the vegetables and cook for another five minutes.
- Allow to cool before refrigerating.
2. Ground Lamb With Eggs – 25mins
If your pooch has a sensitive tummy, this grain-free, low-carb recipe might be just what it needs! Its ingredients also fit the profile of senior dogs’ diets. The recipe yields eight servings.
Lamb is a high-quality protein source to add to your dog’s food, offering adequate levels of dietary fats, vitamins like vitamin B12, and minerals like zinc.
Eggs are also a great addition to your dog’s diet as they’re high in protein and fatty acids; even eggshells have nutritional value!
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 435
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 4g
- Protein: 25g
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground lamb
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 5 oz cooked broccoli, chopped
- 2 oz hemp seeds
- 2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2.5 oz blueberries
- 2.5 oz plain Greek yogurt
Instructions:
- Melt the coconut oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Stir in the ground lamb and allow it to cook for a few minutes.
- When the lamb is fully cooked/browned, place it in a sieve and rinse it with water to remove excess fat.
- Combine the remaining ingredients with the lamb in a mixing bowl and stir well before serving.
3. Chicken and Rice – 30mins
One of the most popular homemade dog foods among pet owners is this traditional chicken and rice meal (up to four servings).
Chicken is a widely used source of protein because it’s packed with nutrients, and most dogs drool over it!
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 349
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 41g
- Protein: 28g
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 cup dry white rice
- 1 medium zucchini, shredded
- 2 medium carrots, shredded
Instructions:
- Place the chicken and rice in a pot and cover with water.
- Heat the pot over high heat until it comes to a boil, then reduce to low heat.
- Continue to cook, covered, for 20 minutes or until the chicken and rice are fully cooked.
- Using a fork, shred the chicken in the rice and set aside to cool.
- Melt coconut oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Saute the shredded vegetables in the skillet for 5 minutes or until soft.
- Stir the veggies into the chicken and rice mixture.
Cat Meals
Felines usually consume less food than dogs, which makes their meal preparation much easier. I’ve compiled three particular recipes that are a go-to on a hectic day!
Remember to consult your veterinarian if taurine supplements are required. Taurine is an essential amino acid in cats that they fail to produce properly. It’s vital for their vision and cardiovascular health, and a lack of it can result in blindness and heart failure.
1. Raw Chicken Organs and Salmon – 15mins
Raw meat organs are a nutrient powerhouse for felines. They’re high in protein, minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients!
Kidneys, for example, are superior sources of iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, and calcium. Add salmon to the organ mix, and you have an irresistible meal for Mr. Fluffers!
The recipe below serves up to 12 bowls.
Ingredients:
- 50g raw chicken liver
- 100g raw chicken heart
- 700g raw chicken wings (bones and skin included)
- 50g raw beef kidney
- 2 cups water
- 100g raw salmon with bones
Instructions:
- Puree all of the organ meat ingredients in a food processor.
- Combine the pureed mixture, salmon, and taurine in a meat grinder.
- Serve and freeze the remaining amount (keeping raw food frozen inhibits bacteria growth).
2. Chicken and Quinoa – 30mins
A basic chicken meal will leave your furball’s tummy satisfied! The quinoa rounds out this meal as it contains high levels of dietary fiber, protein, and vitamins and is also easily digested.
The recipe below makes three servings.
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken breast, skinless and boneless
- 23g spinach
- 46g cooked quinoa
- 1 tsp canola oil
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Place the chicken breast in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Shred the chicken using a fork and set it aside.
- Cover the spinach with water in a cooking pot and cook on high heat.
- Remove the pot from the heat when the steam begins to foam or the spinach becomes tender.
- Cut the spinach into small pieces.
- Mix the cooked quinoa, chicken, and spinach well before serving.
3. Sardine Oat Porridge – 20mins
While oatmeal is known as a nutritious meal in the human foods section, it’s also beneficial to kitties due to its high protein and vitamin content. They also enjoy its taste and texture, but not on its own; this is where sardines come in.
Oily fish, like sardines, excel at providing cats with healthy fats, and the fishy smell they diffuse has most of them swooning!
This porridge recipe yields three bowls.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 can sardine
Instructions:
- Place the oats and water in a pot over high heat.
- Bring the oatmeal to a boil, then reduce to low heat for 5-8 minutes or until it’s cooked/tender.
- Set the oatmeal aside to cool.
- Remove the sardines from the can and place them in a bowl (get rid of the oil).
- Mash the sardines using a fork.
- Mix the oatmeal into the sardine puree, and serve.
Pet Food Delivery Options
Thankfully, there are many convenient pet food delivery services available if you’re pressed for time, and here are the best of them:
For Dog Food
Here are two of the top-rated food delivery services for your pooch:
- Nom Nom: This service makes and delivers high-quality, nutritious meals developed by a board of veterinary nutritionists. It also offers personalized plans!
- We Feed Raw: This brand is an excellent choice for dogs on raw diets. The meals they offer are formulated by Ph.D. nutritionists and made of USDA human-grade meats.
For Cat Food
The following are two of the most renowned brands for delivering cat food:
- Cat Person: This brand offers wet and dry food, both of which are made with premium ingredients and contain no fillers. You start by filling out a questionnaire to personalize the meal plans, and they’ll send you a starter box to see which recipe your cat prefers.
- Savage Cat Food: If your feline is on a raw diet, this brand has you covered. They offer a variety of protein sources to satisfy all bellies!
Avoiding Harmful Foods
Not all table scraps can be fed to your furry friends. There are certain human foods that can endanger your pet’s health, the most common of which are:
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Onions and garlic
- Salty foods
- Avocados
- Raw potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Caffeinated products
Meal Prepping for Pets
Preparing your pet’s meals in advance is a game changer. It saves time and relieves the burden of having to think about what to feed your furbaby every day.
Here are three basic steps to get you started with meal planning:
Step 1: Choose Suitable Ingredients/Recipes
Carefully check recipes’ ingredients against your pet’s allergies to avoid unpleasant reactions. If you don’t know what food triggers these reactions, I suggest you have them undergo allergy testing. These tests are available for both cats and dogs.
Step 2: Determine the Size of the Batch
You have to determine the amount of food your pet consumes daily; this step makes meal prep time-saving. If you overlook it, you may make food batches that’ll only last your pet a couple of days, and then you’ll have to start the cycle all over again.
If you’re a new parent, learn how much your cat should eat or the amount your dog should consume. Then you’ll be able to prepare meals that’ll last them several weeks.
Step 3: Store Properly
Proper food storage is vital for keeping meals safe and fresh for as long as possible. I highly recommend using air-tight containers or ziplock bags to keep air from reaching the food and spoiling it.
Although the safe storage time varies depending on the ingredients used, you can generally leave the food in the refrigerator set at 40°F or lower for up to five days and in the freezer for an average of six months.
Nutritional Success Stories
To help you understand how a pet’s nutrition can affect its overall health, here are two real-life examples:
Joel the Cat’s Story
This is a great example of nutritional success in felines, as Joel was able to heal from digestion issues and skin conditions thanks to dietary changes.
Diego and Gigi’s Story
In this blog post, you’ll learn about the specific positive changes that occurred for Diego and Gigi, two adorable dogs, when their owners switched them to a fresh food diet.
Final Thoughts
The more you practice meal prep for your pet, the easier it gets. Over time, you’ll become more familiar with the ingredients to buy and the quick recipes that come in handy on a busy day!
If you still don’t think meal prepping fits your schedule, you can always go with plan B and use the pet delivery services I mentioned in this article.