DIY Eat - Quinoa, Ground Turkey, and Carrot Dinner

Special occasion? Make your dog this home-cooked meal with just four healthy ingredients! (You can transition from a store-bought to an all-homemade diet, but keep in mind you’ll need to add supplements like essential fatty acids (fish oil), bonemeal, and a multivitamin for canines. Check with your vet.)

Makes 4 servings for a 50-pound dog

Quinoa is one of my favourite carbs to make for my dogs. They love it, and I can make a lot at once because it lasts for several days. With four dogs, it’s hard to have any leftovers, but quinoa is very easy to buy, make, and store in bulk. For added variety I also cook red quinoa and tricolour quinoa.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• ¼ cup chopped carrot

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1 In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the turkey and cook until it is browned. Drain any excess fat and set it aside to cool.

STEP 2 Cook the quinoa as directed on the package and set it aside to cool. You should have about 2 cups of cooked quinoa.

STEP 3 Puree the carrot in a food processor. You should have about . cup of carrot puree. Store each ingredient in a separate container in the fridge until mealtime.

To make one serving for a 50 pound dog (adjust portions according to your dog’s weight):

• 1 1/3 cups cooked turkey
• ½ cup cooked quinoa 
• 1 tablespoon pureed carrots

In your dog’s bowl, combine the turkey, quinoa, and carrot puree and mix well to combine. Refrigerate any leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days

If you want to add an all-in-one supplement to balance a home-made diet, try Wellytails or Dr. Harveys. Just add your meats and veg and your meal’s complete!

For more healthy, homemade recipes, check out Home Cooking For Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog by Christine M. Filardi. It’s chock full of all sorts of goodness your dog will gladly gobble down, from raw recipes to special occasion treats to home-cooked meals.