20 Days of Chill 2022: What can I cook for you? (Day 5)

I am sure you know all about healthy eating – whether you take part in it or not. There are so many different diets and ways of eating that it can be overwhelming. 

And the reality is, we should probably all eat healthier. 

Alas, this post isn’t about my eating habits. I know I have to improve mine. I think over time I’ve been slightly improving, but I have a long way to go. 

That being said, this is about Harper. 

Being a first-time dog owner, I wanted to make sure that she is getting a well-balanced meal, but at the same time make sure she isn’t bankrupting me. As well, I want to make sure she’s actually eating right – as a lot of these dog diets aren’t as good as people want to believe they are. I know everybody is an expert on Facebook, but the reality is you need to understand your dog and his or her needs. If you deep dive into these groups you will find a ton of opinions and, usually, these people are so set on their opinion and what they do for their dogs, they don’t really think beyond that. 

But let’s look back a few decades. Dogs were living longer and they were eating things like Gravy Train and scraps from the table. That included bones and all sorts of stuff. 

Now, I’m not saying we should go back there, but we need to look at things individually. Alas, I keep going on and such, but let’s get back to the topic at hand. 

What can I cook for you?

Harper’s meals tend to be a little varied. She’s on kibble and she gets that most meals. But for some dinners, I tend to work other things in, Some of it is of the raw diet variety that many seem to advocate. I like to add some fruit and veggies. There are some great canned foods that are really healthy and good meals, as well, and I will use some of that. Most dinners include some pumpkin puree, because it is good for her system as well. 

And yes, sometimes, I plate it up for her. 

I feel like the world we live in now makes it hard to figure everything out. There’s no middle ground. We all do the best we can foodwise, for yourself, family, friends, and pets. Not everybody can or will go the distances others will, and that’s OK. Because in the end, we do the best we can with the resources we have. 

I love trying to figure the best for Harper. I like trying new things with her. I hope dogs have great taste buds and she senses the differences. But I do know dogs have great noses and a lot of these things really smell good! 

In the end, the one item I do with Harper each day doesn’t even require me cooking, rather pairing. Each morning, we have a banana together. I take a bite and then break off a piece for her. We continue it until it’s done. I think it’s a good little bonding thing each day and I’m quite sure we each look forward to it. 

Meals for humans and animals can both be crazy. In the end, though, we are all just looking for ways to eat well and make sure our (or our pet’s) health is as good as it can be to be able to live a great life.
Allow me to share a couple photos of Harper’s meals (and, to be fair, I do not do this all the time)! 

How about all of you? Healthy eating for you? Your pets? How do you tackle it all?

This post is part of the 2022 20 Days of Chill Writing Challenge hosted by A ‘lil HooHaa. Please check out the links (intro I themes) if you’d like to see the setup and  themes! You don’t have to do every theme if you don’t want to! And for those participating, take a moment and check out the other participants!

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