Superfoods and Recipes
What is a Superfood?
Superfoods have generally been defined as foods that are packed with nutrients and compounds that are beneficial to our health. It sounds like something we want for our dogs and for ourselves, right? Unfortunately, there are no industry standards for using the term “Superfood” on either dog or human food. The term can be used on just about any food, regardless of how nutrient-dense that food truly is.
So, we’ve compiled this list of actual pupper-safe superfoods, with a couple of pre-tested and perfected recipes to try them out in - to help make your dog’s nutrition easy for you!
Blueberries
Full of tons of helpful antioxidants, blueberries are a cheap and easily digestible option for your dog. They’ve been shown to help brain function, protect memory function in old age, and slow down the decline of brain cells.
They have also been shown to reduce the risk for some types of cancers! Incredible, right? Blueberries are a great option as a superfood because they’re very easy to include in smoothies and treat recipes
Check out our recommendation for a blueberry smoothie - recipe from Rover: Blueberry Smoothie.
This recipe is especially awesome because it includes another great puppy superfood: yogurt!
Yogurt
Plain, unsweetened yogurt can boost your dog’s digestive system, just like it does for humans! It’s rich in probiotics, protein, and calcium, and there is some evidence that yogurt helps immune system functioning as well. Keep in mind that dogs can be lactose intolerant: yogurt is definitely not the option for these dogs!
If your pup isn’t a fan of the unsweetened flavor, try mixing it with berries (like blueberries or strawberries), but do not resort to sweetened flavors. Artificial sweeteners are not healthy for your pup, and those ingredients can be life-threatening to dogs.
Our recommended recipe includes yogurt and two other very healthy options for pups, strawberries and bananas - recipe from The Cottage Market: Strawberry Banana Smoothie Treats.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are not only good for roasting seeds and decoration: this fall superfood supports healthy eye functioning, and provides nutrients vital for a healthy coat of fur and skin! Pumpkins are high in fiber, which makes them very effective in relieving both diarrhea and constipation. But the benefits don’t stop there - pumpkins are also rich in antioxidants, containing high levels of vitamins A, C, and E.
Serving pumpkin to your dog does come with a warning label: do not serve in a form that includes dog-dangerous additives like garlic, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, or a lot of cinnamon. These are some common additives to look out for - especially if you’re looking at pumpkin puree that’s been sweetened. The kind of pumpkin that comes in a can that you might use around Thanksgiving time for your family-famous pumpkin pie should be kept away from your dog. The high levels of sugar and sodium in these canned goods outweigh any benefit the fruit could provide.
If you cannot access fresh pumpkin, make absolutely sure that you check the ingredient label on the can to ensure pumpkin puree is the ONLY ingredient (no additives). And enjoy our recommended recipe from Love from the Oven: Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats.
Spinach
This leafy green is great for reducing the risk of cancer - studies have shown that the right amount of dark greens can reduce the risk of cancer up to 90%. That’s one of the highest percentages for reducing cancer that’s been found.
Spinach has almost every healthy quality you can imagine - calcium, potassium, antioxidants, iron, and a lot of fiber!
However, the consensus from pet experts seems to be that spinach needs to be given only in small quantities - as too much can easily upset your dog’s stomach and be more difficult for them to digest. So spinach may be a food to avoid if your puppy's stomach gets easily upset!
The best way to prepare spinach for your pup is to steam it; since raw spinach can be harder for them to digest, and boiled spinach can lose its nutritional value. Here’s our recommendation from PetMd on: How to Serve Spinach.
Eggs
Unlike Spinach, eggs are extremely easy to digest for dogs! Eggs are packed with nutrition, and benefit a dog’s diet in the same way they can benefit our own human diets. They have lots of natural protein, are high in Vitamin A and B12, and have healthy levels of Omega-3 fatty acids (which are not the easiest compound to find, but are extremely important for a healthy diet).
Eggs aren’t just easy to digest, but they can actually help with our dog’s overall digestive system function and even help calm an upset tummy. Eggs can either be hard-boiled or scrambled in order for them to be safe for our dogs to eat, and our recommended recipe includes all the steps on how to do it - recipe from Wagging Right: Recipe for Eggs.
Conclusion
If you’re a creative in the kitchen and enjoy giving your dog the royal treatment they deserve, try out one of these tasty recipes for them - or include these awesome superfoods in their diet in another way! These superfoods are some of the best nutrition-packed punches for your dog - but this isn’t a complete list, and may not be the best fit for every dog. Of course, it’s always best practice to consult your vet before making any major changes to your dog’s diet, but these recipes include only foods that are safe (and very beneficial for) dogs.
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Written By: Dog Tired Adventures Team
Co-author & Editor: Jessica Hays
Lead Dog Walker, Social Media & Community Outreach Associate
