Aaand back to reality. It’s a Tuesday. I hate Tuesdays. So far from the weekend and not quite as refreshed as you were on Monday. But, we persevere.
This post is a little different because I wanted to write a part 2 of sorts. If you read
this post about the pet food industry, you’ll know I was going to start trying to give my cats a healthier food option. Update: success. (My parents’ dogs are still enjoying
The Farmer’s Dog).
When scouring the internet to find a good quality food, I compared a few websites to make sure I wasn’t just using one source. Ultimately, I used
this website and
this one to pick a couple of foods that were healthy (
this site is good for dog food). We tried Core Wellness (wet), Nature’s Variety (wet) and Natural Balance (Dry). PetCo didn’t have some of the brands so we picked what we could find.
Upon checkout, I experienced sticker shock. What used to be $32 was now $48, quite the up charge. I felt like a bamboozled Chicagoan forced to pay that new beverage tax, woof. Luckily, I’ve partnered with
Raise, a gift card discount company based right here in Chicago, and I was able to save quite a bit of money. I bought a $100 PetCo gift card for $72 after receiving a $20 credit. Psst: You too can get $20 off any gift card ($40 or more) by
using this link with promo code CHRISTINE20.
After coming to terms with their new, expensive lifestyle, it was taste test time. When I went to feed them, I could immediately see the difference in quality. The new wet food broke up easily and I found actual whole peas and carrots. It seemed fresher and more natural than their old stuff. Roni and Cheese loved the Nature’s Variety and Natural Balance. They even eat the peas! While I haven’t honestly seen any differences on the outside, I feel better knowing I’m giving them the best shot at living a long and healthy life (at the literal expense of my bank account).
What surprised me the most about the pet food post was that people reached out to me to let me know what they feed their pets. Many people cooked their own foods and some have switched over their pet’s diets in favor of a healthier option.
One of my favorite foodie bloggers, April of
TheTipsyHousewife (who also happens to be a chef), gives her dogs a homemade bone broth. I was so interested in this that I asked her all about it. She happily agreed to share her secrets and I’m filling you all in as well. Below are her own words and a recipe to make your own bone broth!
Feeding my pets high-quality food is an important factor in their happiness and health. With four rescue cats and two rescue dogs, a total raw food diet is just not financially possible for my pet family at this time. As a compromise, I have found ways to enhance their current diet at a more affordable cost.
One of the most beneficial changes in my pets’ diet is making them bone broth. The broth helps maintain a healthy gut, supports my pups’ immune system and helps their liver detox. It has helped my 10-year-old Golden Retriever have better joint health, especially after a post ACL surgery, and it is chock full of minerals including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. After having fed my dogs bone broth for the last couple of months, I have seen a drastic increase in their energy levels, they have a much shinier coat and they have fewer allergy issues, which have always plagued my golden.
I make a very easy broth using my Instant Pot that I find works the best, in the quickest cook time possible. The recipe I use is simple:
– 2 Pkgs of Chicken Feet (you can find these from your local butcher)
– 2 Pkgs of Cow Feet (also easily found at your local butcher)
– 1 C of Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Braggs)
– 2 C of Water
– 2 C of Rough Chopped Carrots (you don’t have to peel)
– 2 C of Rough Chopped Celery (include the leaves)
I place all of these ingredients in my Instant Pot and set the pressure cook setting to high, and pressure cook for 120 minutes.
When the timer goes off, strain the bones and veggies out through a strainer and save the broth in jars in the fridge. This recipe yields about 2 weeks worth of broth. When it’s sat in the fridge for a day, the consistency should be like jello. This is from the gelatin in the bones and it is the most beneficial part of the bone broth for your dogs.
At feeding time I scoop two or three heaping tablespoons onto the ground meat and veggie mixture that I combine with their dry food. My dogs eat the broth at jello consistency, other pups may prefer it back in liquid form which can be obtained by heating it up in a pot or a microwave, or by simply leaving it out on the counter until feeding time.
Here’s the best part, you can drink it too! You will see most of the same benefits for you, except for maybe the shiny coat part.
Note: There are many recipes and ways to make broth on your stove top or in a crock pot. I prefer to use the Instant Pot because it draws the most gelatin and nutrients out of the bone. The stove top and crock pot don’t draw as much out, so if you make it that way and it doesn’t take on a gelatin form, that’s ok too!
As always, check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet’s diet.
Lastly, a few of you have been asking for pics of our remodeled bathroom. I suppose this is just an all-around update post. I’ve included those below too.
Also not a big post for fashion (I just got back from vacation people, give me a break)! But this sweater is one of my favorites. I’ve had it now for almost two years and bought it at Evereve. Lately, I’ve been dying to curl up with the kitties in a cozy sweater and sip on some tea (or an adult beverage) so excuse all the sweaters lately. I found a similar sweater below.
