Juicy roast turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Just a few of the delicious holiday foods many of us are looking forward to this Thanksgiving. But as you plan your feast, spare a thought for your furry family members. After all, tasty treats aren't just for humans!
Most pet owners know that some of the ingredients in our favorite holiday dishes are bad for cats and dogs. These include onion and garlic, grapes and raisins, chocolate, and alcohol. But the good news is that there are many Thanksgiving foods that are safe for pets to eat. In this post, we'll highlight 6 Thanksgiving foods you can share with your pets. We'll also provide some tasty pet-friendly recipes for you to make at home.
1) Turkey
Turkey is a great source of healthy nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and amino acids. Chop up a small amount of turkey meat and feed as a treat or a meal topper. Nutrient-dense giblets like the heart and kidneys can also be chopped up and added to your pet's food. Make sure there are no bones in the meat and stay away from seasonings like onion and garlic powder. It's also important to avoid feeding your pet turkey skin, as it can cause digestive issues.
2) Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a tasty and nutritious treat for pets. It's full of dietary fiber, and a good source of vitamins A, C, and E. It's also great for the digestive tract, helps maintain urinary health, and aids weight loss. Canned pumpkin is a good option for cats and dogs as it contains the same amount of nutrients as fresh pumpkin and can be easily mixed into food. Make sure you use plain canned pumpkin without any seasonings or additional spices used for pumpkin pie filling. Raw pumpkin seeds are also packed full of nutrients, so mix some into your pet's food instead of throwing them in the trash.
3) Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a good source of A, B, and C vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and other essential nutrients. Feed boiled, baked, or dehydrated sweet potatoes to avoid the risk of an upset stomach. Always feed sweet potatoes in moderation – they're high in carbohydrates and can cause your pet to gain weight. Looking for a simple pet-friendly sweet potato recipe? Try our CocoTherapy Coconut Oil Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
The smell of caramelized sweet potatoes and coconut oil really is amazing! Trust us, you and your furry family members will be coming back for seconds!
CocoTherapy Coconut Oil Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
1 1/2 TBSP CocoTherapy Coconut Oil
1 3/4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tsp coconut sugar* (optional)
Instructions
1) Heat oven to 350 F degrees.
2) Melt CocoTherapy coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat.
3) In a large bowl, toss coconut oil and coconut sugar with sweet potatoes.
4) Spread potatoes in an even layer on a large baking sheet.
5) Roast, tossing occasionally, until soft and caramelized (about 1 hour).
*Coconut sugar has a low Glycemic Index (GI) of 35. Honey is rated at GI 55, and cane sugar at GI 68. Unlike Agave sweetener, coconut sugar is also low in fructose.
4) Green Beans
Fresh green beans are one of our favorite Thanksgiving veggies, and they're great for pets too! Green beans are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain other beneficial nutrients, including calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Feed your pet steamed or boiled green beans as a tasty and nutritious treat. Avoid canned green beans with added salt and beans cooked with oils, spices, or seasonings.
5) Spinach
Spinach is high in iron and a rich source of vitamins A, B, C, and K. It's also full of fiber which aids your pet's digestive system. Steaming spinach before feeding to your pet makes it easier to digest, while ensuring it retains its healthy nutrients. Always serve spinach plain and avoid adding substances that can be toxic to pets such as seasonings that contain onion or garlic.
6) Pet-Friendly Desserts
Most desserts contain ingredients like refined sugar, xylitol, and chocolate that are toxic to cats and dogs. But your pet doesn't have to miss out on sweet Thanksgiving treats! To end this post, we've selected one of our favorite pet-friendly dessert recipes: Banana, Apple, & Cranberry Coconut Biscuits. They're made with our therapeutic-grade CocoTherapy coconut oil, they taste great, and they contain only healthy, natural ingredients. And as an added bonus, these delicious treats can be enjoyed by pets and people alike!
Banana, Apple, & Cranberry Coconut Biscuits
These yummy biscuits will be a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving party spread – and they're packed full of healthy ingredients! Bananas are rich in potassium, high in fiber, and a good source of vitamins C and B6. Apples are low in calories and contain antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Cranberries are also a healthy choice for pets, they're rich in antioxidants which help support your pet's immune system, prevent allergies, and promote healthy skin. They're also high in fiber, which helps keep the digestive system healthy.
Ingredients
6 eggs (room temperature)
1/4 cup melted organic coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP unsweetened applesauce
2 ripe bananas – mashed
2/3 cup freeze-dried cranberries
1 cup organic coconut flour (sifted)
Instructions
1) Preheat oven 350 degrees F
2) Blend together eggs, vanilla, applesauce, melted oil.
3) Add coconut flour. Blend well.
4) Fold in mashed bananas and freeze-dried cranberries.
5) Roll dough to ¼” thickness. Cut with a cookie cutter.
6) Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
7) Bake for around 20-25 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown. When done, turn off oven, and leave biscuits in oven for around 30 minutes for firmer biscuits.
No time to bake? No worries! You can grab a bag of our delicious, human-grade, organic Coco-Charms Pumpkin Pie treats to end a perfect dinner!