Why I Ditched the Kibble and Started Cooking Up a Storm for My Furry Crew

Imagine this: You're trying to eat healthier, and suddenly, it hits you—shouldn't your dogs eat better too? That's exactly the epiphany I had one sunny afternoon while watching my husky, Sky, attempt to eat a butterfly. Trust me, it was a lightbulb moment!

The Great Dog Food Awakening

Let's kick this off with a confession: I wasn’t always a crusader of natural food for my pets. Initially, I tossed whatever kibble was on sale into my cart—until I caught Bella, my border collie, giving me that “we need to talk” glare every mealtime. So, I started researching, and oh boy, the rabbit hole I went down!

Natural pet nutrition isn't just a fancy buzzword; it's about freshness, health, and a lot of happy tail wagging. I mean, if I'm chugging green smoothies and hunting down every organic snack in town, why shouldn't my dogs enjoy the same wellness perks?

Turns out, fresh canine meals could potentially add years to your pups' lives—and let's be honest, who doesn’t want more years of unconditional love and borderline obsessive loyalty?

From Store-Bought to Chef Dad: My Kitchen Misadventures

Armed with a new mission, I swapped my entrepreneur hat for a chef’s hat—figuratively speaking, folks; I didn’t actually wear a hat. Dog meal prep became my new favorite activity, right after making fun of overhyped marketing tactics. Adela, my little sidekick, was all in, suggesting we add glitter to their dinner. We settled for carrots instead.

Experimenting in the kitchen was like conducting weird science experiments that actually worked. Bella, Sky, and even Snowball—who’s not above eating everyone else’s dinner—couldn’t get enough of the gourmet dishes I whipped up.

What's Cooking, Good Looking?

Here’s the scoop on what a typical meal prep day looks like in our home:

Today's Menu

• Lean chicken and turkey—grilled, not fried, thank you very much.
• A rainbow of veggies because, apparently, dogs are stealthy vegans.
• Sweet potatoes mashed to perfection (Sky's personal favorite).
• A dash of turmeric, because why not make it fancy?
• Rice or quinoa—Snowball is a bit of a hipster.

And there you have it—a feast fit for a king, or in this case, three very pampered pooches.

Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

In my experience, transitioning to a natural diet wasn’t just about changing what's in their bowl; it's about adjusting attitudes and expectations—mostly mine. There were skeptical sniffs and a few nose-turns initially, but patience is key. And bacon. Sometimes bacon helps.

What I didn’t anticipate was becoming the designated doggy chef in every friend’s circle. Yes, Karen, I’ll send you the recipe for that salmon-spinach delight your poodle loved so much at the last doggy playdate.