“I never feed my dog people food.” I have heard this numerous times and I have even said it as well. Personally I don’t feed my dog people food but I do feed my dog real food. What is the difference? To me people food is table scraps, leftovers from your dinner that consist of fat or skin from your steak or chicken, salt, pepper and butter laden potatoes, garlic and onions in your pasta sauce and other seasonings that are not good for your dog. These can cause stomach distress or bouts of pancreatitis.
What do I feed my dog that is good for him? I give Guinness what I call “pre-dinner” food. Whole foods such as green peppers, canned green beans (no salt added), carrots, shredded broccoli stalks, sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), cooked brown rice, cooked barley, plain pasta, cottage cheese or fat free Greek yogurt if you dog can handle dairy, watermelon, cantaloupe, and lean cooked meats are great add ins for your dog. None of these foods have any seasonings on them and I slightly cook vegetables to help with digestion. Give them as a treat in moderation, especially the fruits. So share those tidbits during meal prep, your dog will be happy and healthy.
Sweet potato snacks
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut in French fry strips
1-2 teaspoons of olive oil, enough to coat the sweet potato
Preheat oven to 400o. Put ingredients in a bowl and toss to coat in oil. Spread sweet potatoes evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until soft turning the potatoes once while baking. Allow to cool completely and feed occasionally as a snack or add a 1 or 2 strips to your dog’s food at meal time. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, magnesium and iron. Oh and by the way, sweet potatoes are good for you too!
I want Guinness to be part of my holiday celebration which is why I love these sweet potatoes; they are the perfect holiday celebration snack for your furry friend.
Happy and healthy snacking, Joan and Guinness.