Dog Wellness - Left Over Turkey Treats

Of all the meats available for consumption turkey is the healthiest of them all - mainly because it is lower in fat.  What a great treat it is for us and our dogs when we get to enjoy turkey left overs for the entire week or longer.  Grab hold of a healthy snack for your dog and at the same time envelope dog wellness practices by making his treats at home instead of store bought - for a healthier, less toxic treat with ingredients you can rely on.

Dr. Jon shares this dog treat recipe using left over turkey.

Lazy Turkey Loaf (for dogs)

Ingredients

•    2 pounds ground turkey
•    1/2 cup cooked vegetables
•    1 teaspoon garlic powder*
•    1 egg
•    1/2 cup quick-cook barley
•    1 cup quick-cook oats
•    4 ounces canned no-fat gravy

Directions

 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. In a mixing bowl combine turkey, vegetables, fresh garlic , egg, barley and oats.

3. Mix thoroughly.
4. Spoon into a greased loaf pan and pat down meat mixture until level. Spread gravy on top of loaf and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

5.  Cool and cut into six even slices. Store unused portions in refrigerator.



* Use fresh garlic, 1-2 cloves instead of garlic powder.  Although small amounts of garlic powder is fine - why not use fresh?

Judy Russel shares her dog's favorite treat recipe.  This one is gentle on the stomach, grain free, and low in fat.  A great one for senior dogs and dogs with allergies.

Jerky Turkey Dog Treats 
Courtesy: Judy Russel

Ingredients

1 lb. raw ground turkey (or chicken)
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. finely chopped fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley (optional)

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 225 degrees F.
2.Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree the mixture.
3.Line a jellyroll pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper (it makes clean-up easier) and pour the mixture into it.
4.Spread evenly.
5.Bake two hours with the oven door slightly ajar to allow the moisture to escape.
6.Remove from oven and using a pizza cutter of knife cut into small, individual-sized portions.
7.  Place pieces back in the oven, flipped over, and bake an additional one to two hours, or until the treats are dry and leathery.
 
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Embrace pet wellness practices by ensuring your dog is eating as natural as possible, utilizing a raw food diet, homemade treats, and natural pet health care.

Healthy Cooking- Your Kitchen Must Have This!

Have you heard the latest news and views on coconut oil? I recently learned from Dr. Mercola that not all saturated fats are created equal and coconut oil is a NATURAL saturated fat.  This means it is not man made through the hydrogenation process.  It is this process that creates an unhealthy use of vegetable and seed oils, which takes place when they are heated up.  Healthy cooking means cooking to obtain and sustain health and by using coconut oil you will be doing just that.

A huge health factor of coconut oil is that it houses medium chain fats which have out of this world health benefits.  Coconut has the highest value of these medium chain fats than any other food there is. So not only is it incredibly healthy but it is also an excellent assistance for shedding pounds and has incredible anti-aging powers on the skin.  The Wonders of Coconut Oil.

The two best oils to have in your kitchen to assist you in healthy cooking is coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.  However, even olive oil, although an excellent source of Omega 6, it's health value turns to black when it is heated up, making it unhealthy to use as an oil for cooking.  This is due to the oxidation damage caused by the heat.  Used without being heated, such as in salad dressings, it remains a healthy cooking oil.

Polyunsaturated fats such as corn oil, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola are without a doubt the worst oils to use for cooking. Health officials advise if you are using these oils - toss them out and here's why.

1.  Although it is common belief that frying creates trans-fat, this is not the only problem.  Yes, some trans-fat is created, however they are minor compared to the more toxic chemicals produced from frying Omega 6 oils. When the wonderful antioxidants of these oils is destroyed in the heating process it causes oxidized oil which then causes cyclization, cross linking, double bond shifts, fragmentation and polymerization.  These cause much more damage to the body than trans-fat.

2.  Most vegetable oils oils are GMO.

3.  Excessive consumption of damaged Omega 6 fats contributes to many health concerns.

So what in the heck do you use to cook with?  Coconut oil is the only one that can resist mild heat induced damage.  It also helps promote heart health, weigh loss and thyroid function.

So, if you must fry chose the healthy cooking option of coconut oil - It's the intelligent, healthy choice.