Why Do Dogs Love Human Food - 5 Healthy Things You Should Feed Them
Written By: Taylor Rao
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If you’re a dog owner, you are more than likely used to hearing advice from other dog owners and pet lovers alike. While commentary comes your way out of love, people can really up their “know-it-all” tendencies when talking about the dos and don’ts of pet parenting.
And one of the most common pieces of advice is to never, ever give your dogs people food. They’ll tell you it’s a bad habit for the dog (and for you), will lead to excessive begging during human mealtime, and ultimately can be hard to get under control once you start sneaking scraps under the table.
It does beg the question --no pun intended --why do dogs love human food so much? Once you learn more about what triggers them to perk up and put their paws on the dinner table, you can come up with healthy, alternative solutions to feed your dog that will leave them feeling satisfied and keep your own plate full.
Why do dogs love human food?
Well, what’s not to love? Dogs are extremely food-motivated animals, and when you pair that with a constant need for love and attention from their owners, it makes sense they’d want to share. Basically, if you’re enjoying something, they’d like to enjoy it with you. Plus, their interest is almost always piqued when they see you sitting down with something that looks and smells more appetizing than the hard food in their bowl.
Dogs also love human food for the same reasons we do - the taste! Treats like bread and cheese, in moderation are ok from time to time, but eaten regularly the fats, carbs, and calories will add up for dogs the same way they do for us. And also like us, overindulgence can lead to obesity or diabetes.
Dogs can appear to have an almost insatiable hunger, so the chances of them going after something you’re eating --almost regardless of what it is --is pretty normal. While you won’t want to encourage bad habits like begging or stealing, there are plenty of things you can safely share with your dog, off your plate or specially made for them. Just be sure to keep their portion free of spices and condiments to avoid ingredients they shouldn’t have. Here are some examples of healthy things you can feed your dog to keep them happier, healthier, and well-fed.
5 healthy Human Foods to feed your dog
Feed them fruit
Believe it or not, some of our favorite fruits can pass along similar benefits to our dogs as they do to us. For example, blueberries are an antioxidant-rich fruit that is full of powerful antioxidants, as well as zinc and iron. There’s a handful of vitamins (such as vitamin A and vitamin C), so if you feel like tossing your dog a few blueberries here and there, they’re sure to love it --and benefit from it, too. See also: strawberries, watermelon, raspberries, and pears. You can also pick up dog treats that include fruit like peanut butter with banana or dried apple slices. Just make sure to avoid grapes, raisins, cherries, avocados, and tomatoes.
PS: Before feeding fruit to your dog, be careful about out how much can give them. Typically, less is more. Some fruits naturally have a lot of sugar and fiber and too much can cause intestinal irritation, diarrhea, or bloating. So, don’t let them overdo it, though you know they’ll want to. Also, be careful of pits, stems cores, and seeds which can be choking hazards or even toxic.
Share some sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are another vitamin-rich human food your dog will love, so long as it’s fully cooked and skinned for maximum enjoyment (and safety). Sweet potatoes also add a healthy amount of fiber to your dog’s diet, which can help their digestive system function properly.
And since the theme here is to offer these things in moderation, it’s understandable if you don’t want to spend a ton of time prepping and cooking human food to sneak into your dog’s diet. Instead, to get them their daily dose of sweet potato, consider purchasing meals from Nom Nom, like the chicken cuisine that incorporates sweet potato right into its recipe.
That way, you’re letting the pros take care of crafting a nutritious, safe, and enjoyable meal for your pup, while the only thing you need to do is click “place order.”
Lamb it up
Dogs love lamb, but that isn’t something you necessarily have in your fridge or freezer on a daily basis. Ollie’s lamb is human-grade (seriously!) and is mixed with kale and butternut squash to add nutritional value with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Protein is essential to a balanced doggy diet and plus, food should make all of us happy, right? People and pets alike.
Bonus: Ollie’s lamb recipe is recommended for dogs with allergies.
Give them their greens
Just like people, vegetables are an important part of a dog’s diet to balance out the servings of protein, grains, and other ingredients in standard dog food. But also just like people, it’s unlikely your dog is going to grab a loose carrot that fell on the floor and eat it as their afternoon snack.
If you want to meal prep for your dog, have at it. You can use your culinary skills to blanch, steam, or puree your dog some healthy greens like broccoli, kale, green beans, or spinach and add it into their mealtime routine to make sure they’re getting big and strong every time they eat. Just make sure to skip onions, chives, leeks, and mushrooms.
For those who don’t have the time to prepare their dogs a daily dose of vegetables, Nom Nom, Ollie and Farmer’s Dog offer premade portions that are filled with greens that will be almost unrecognizable to your dog --just in case they don’t like to eat their veggies straight up.
Pack their diet with protein
If lamb or fish seems a little too fancy for your furry friend (though both are good for them), you can always stick with the basic meats like chicken and beef. All of these foods can serve as a proper main course for your pet and can contribute to their overall health, wellbeing, and longevity with a handful of nutritional benefits.
When you try a fresh dog food service you can try variety packs or complete simple questionnaires about your dog’s lifestyle to get a customized recommendation. It won’t take long to figure out which meat your dog likes best and then cater to their preferences each and every week! A meal delivery service for your dog can save you time, money and will surely make you a huge hit with your four-legged BFF. What more could you want?
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