Thanksgiving Leftovers are for the Dogs
Here's how to make a healthy homemade dog food (or food topper) for your dogs from your Thanksgiving leftovers
Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is over and the turkey centerpieces have been laid to rest until next November, there’s always the matter of what to do with the leftovers.
If you have a household like mine, with four-legged family members, might I suggest turning the healthy leftovers into a delicious treat for your pups?
I got the idea yesterday, when I had far more turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans than I could handle. Since I don’t cook my food with creams or sauces, preferring the vegetables to speak for themselves, I had much to work with.
I set out to replicate the food I order online for my dogs (The Farmers Dog), a rather expensive fresh frozen food that my picky 16-year-old Chihuahua and my 8-year-old French Bulldog with the stomach of a Victorian lady-in-waiting, both enjoy (and I go slowly into debt for).
The result was a knock-it-out-of-the-park hit, so I’m sharing it with you.
This is a great way to use your fresh leftovers that haven’t been overly seasoned and sauced.
Thanksgiving Leftover Food for Dogs
Turkey meat (white and dark), with all skin and bones removed, shredded.
Cooked carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, or broccoli that aren’t overly seasoned and sauced.
Brown rice (plain, cooked)
Method
Rinse all the turkey and vegetables under cold water to remove excess salt or seasoning (try to start with only lightly seasoned ingredients).
Mix the turkey and vegetables in a large bowl. Chop all ingredients with a salad chopping tool or mezzaluna until bits are the desired size, per your dog’s needs (you can keep the bits larger for larger breeds; smaller breeds and older pups require smaller, almost minced, pieces.
Add cooked brown rice, using the following ratio (it’s OK to approximate): I cup rice; 1/2 pound turkey; 1/2 pound vegetables. Mix well.
The mixture can be kept in the fridge for about three days and can also be frozen for longer-term storage. When ready to use, just place it in the bottom of the fridge to thaw overnight.
This recipe lacks some nutrients for dogs, so if you’re going to use this recipe for long-term use instead of commercial dog food, you can add some bone meal and some vitamin supplements (consult with your vet).
This recipe also makes a great food topper for picky eaters, in addition to their regular food — and it’s a great way to use up some of your leftovers (and make your dogs part of your family). I’d love to know how it goes if you try it.