Things We Forget About Our Food

Do You Really Know What You’re Eating?

We live in the “land of plenty,” where burgers and milkshakes, and Big Gulps can be bought at all hours of the night, yet most Americans do not know or understand food. It’s easy to pick up a package of chopped meat or a bag of dog food from the local supermarket without a second thought. Besides considering the ingredients, value, taste, and the look of your food, what do you really know about the food you buy? What do you really know about the food you buy for your pets? Food is sacred – it is life sustaining, and a primary requirement for happiness and health, and we should give it more consideration, and appreciate the many factors that provide food on our tables.

We are so lucky to live in the USA where food is so plentiful, and yet most of us do not think twice about the steak broiling on the grill. What is this meat? Where did it come from? More importantly, what was sacrificed so that we could enjoy this gift of food? What we forget when we buy, prepare, and eat our food is this – we must acknowledge the sun, rain, soil, climate, plants, and animals… all the gifts from Mother Earth that contribute to the production of food for us. We and our pets become part of the environment because we are eating it. If what we eat is healthy and vibrant, so will we be. When you open a bag of dog food do you consider where the meat has come from (USA, Mexico, Argentina, China)? Or how the cattle lived before they were “processed” and packaged? As we are often so far removed from the farming/harvesting/packing process, we tend to forget about the suffering that feed animals endure (cramped feedlots, transport in small containers over long distances to slaughter houses) so that we and our pets may not just survive, but thrive.

When we purchase a bag of pet food, or pick up vegetables or gourmet coffee, we often don’t acknowledge the people who toiled in the fields, slaughter houses, and factories (earning minimum wage in poor working conditions) to deliver this food to our proverbial doorstep. There is a kind of miracle in food – the plants and animals of our environment are here to nourish and sustain us and our pets. This is a gift, and should always be treated as such.

I encourage you to spend more time appreciating your food, cooking it with love and good intentions, and enjoying it with friends and family. Don’t just prepare your dinner and sit in front of the TV! Pay attention to what you put into your body, and spend the extra time to prepare home-cooked food with fresh, wholesome ingredients that are chemically-free and diverse. You are worth it! Your pets are worth it!

So How Can You Create Wholesome Food for Your Pets?

I’ve gone into this before but the philosophy is the same. Diets need to be designed according to your pet’s specific needs, condition, age, geographical location, climate, and level of exercise. Not all dogs or cats are the same, even within their own breed. Like us, pets benefit from varied diets. We all saw the documentary “Super Size Me,” where the narrator spent a month consuming the same (McDonalds) meal for every meal, day after day. This is akin to what your dog or cat is eating when you feed him or her commercially produced kibble or canned food day after day.

Food is Powerful

The ancient wisdom of Asia stresses diets that are balanced and complete with fresh ingredients, and taking full advantage of the healing properties of different ingredients. Food as medicine is often referred to as food therapy, and this system is still actively used today by practitioners of acupuncture and Eastern medicine. Food therapy focuses not only on the nutritional aspects of food, but also considers:

  • The energetic qualities (warming, cooling, stimulating, calming)
  • Physiological effects upon the body (improve blood flow and circulation)
  • The healing properties of the ingredients to treat specific diseases
  • How to improve Vitality (Qi)

In my canine nutrition book, Fresh Food and Ancient Wisdom, I translate and interpret Traditional Asian Medicine concepts into an easy formula for combining foods to meet the specific needs of your dog. Following the advice in my book will give you a deeper understanding of how food works and why feeding these types of diets will save your dog from having to undergo expensive veterinary care. (Don’t worry, my cat-loving friends, a kitty book is in the works)!

Over 60% of the US population is obese, and the problem is growing. The Center for Disease Control states that 80% of the diseases that kill the most Americans are related to improper diets and lack of exercise. In my 40+ years of practice as a veterinarian, I would say the same is true for our pets. Improper diets contribute to about 80% of the diseases that need veterinary care. These are just some of the issues I see when pets have been on poor diets for long periods of time:

  • Allergies
  • Skin Problems
  • Digestive Problems : bloat, pancreatitis, chronic diarrhea
  • Cancer
  • Ear Infections
  • Gum and Dental Disease
  • Obesity

Following the recipes in my nutrition book, you can prevent thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, improve the quality of your dog’s life and enjoy more years with your beloved furry friend. The book will open you up to a deeper understanding of how food affects your body and how to use food as medicine for your family and pets. Eating is more than satiating cravings and hunger. It is a Blessing! Why not treat it as such?

Gorgeous photos: James Jordan & **Maurice** via Flickr.