The Honest Kitchen - pet food with a passion

Brody’s been munching his way through a large variety of food products lately, both good and bad, so I thought this was a good time to share his latest product review. The folks over at The Honest Kitchen sent us a variety of samples from their dehydrated raw food product line to try out, and Brody was more than happy to oblige.

The food he chose to sample was Embark, one of their two “All life stages” formulations.

1. It starts off looking kind of like green soup mix (it has that bouillon aroma, as well).

2. Then you add warm water, and it kind of looks like green soupy sludge. That’s OK though, it gets better.

3. After it rehydrates, it looks rather like stew. You can serve it as is (like I do), or mix it with fresh veggies and meat like my less lazy clients do. As a person who came close to gagging during my brief foray into the world of a raw vension diet for Apollo, I sincerely appreciate the chicken soup-y non offensive aroma of this stuff. Not that my opinion matters, though.

Did Brody like it?

I think the picture speaks for itself. See the worried look on his face? Despite licking the bowl to a reflective sheen, he is angling to get the remaining bits from the side.

I attempted a video like I’ve done with other product reviews, but trust me when I say we’re all happier without me unleashing it on the blog. It was not my finest work. I had some technical difficulties with the PowerShot, which I’ve never used for video before, and let’s just say I needed a Dramamine to make it through the first 30 seconds. Next time I’ll make my husband shoot it.

Anyway, a little more about the Honest Kitchen product: One of the reasons I like this food, and use it often in my rotation, is the following (from their website):

All our products are safe for human consumption, a requirement for entry into the human food facility where our products are made… Production occurs in a FDA inspected human food facility right here in California, alongside products such as breakfast cereals and beverage mixes for human consumption.

And this: “Our meat and egg ingredients are dehydrated at a high enough temperature to kill any pathogenic bacteria that may be present.” So this is a good choice for someone like me who is interested in raw, but has a hard time with the squidgy factor.

There are lots of other great reasons to check this food out. There is tons and tons of information about The Honest Kitchen’s product line, dedication to sustainably sourced materials, and processing on their website. It’s easy to feel good about and still very convenient.

So let’s share the wealth! I have three samples to hand out: 2 one ounce samples of  Thrive (this is the one I have a big box of for Brody), and a 4 ounce sample of Verve. Leave a comment with which one you’d like to try, and I’ll pick winners at random at the end of the day. Only catch is you must let me know what your dog thinks of it.

Access the original article here: http://www.pawcurious.com/2009/12/product-review-the-honest-kitchen-embark/

The following is a guest post from Lucy Postins. Companion animal nutritionist and founder of The Honest Kitchen, Lucy Postins, is passionate about advanced nutrition and health for pets including complementary modalities such as herbalism and homeopathy. She frequently writes articles for local and national media, conducts radio interviews and educational spots, and occasionally holds educational seminars for pet owners on the importance of good nutrition. For more information, please visit www.TheHonestKitchen.com.

With the holidays upon us, everyone is rushing out to get the perfect gift for everyone on their list. In all the hustle and bustle it can be easy to overlook our animal companions!

Photo credit: Randy Son of Robert’s

To help share the spirit of the season with the four-legged friends in your life, I’ve put together a simple recipe for delicious holiday treats that are sure to make your furry pals beg for more! These festive, fruity treats are the perfect way to show a little extra TLC for your canine companions and they also make a wonderful heartfelt gift for your pup’s friends too! Plus, they are made with common ingredients many people already have in their pantries, so there’s no need to make an extra trip to the grocery store for these thoughtful presents.

Photo credit: The Honest Kitchen

Holiday Noshers

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• ½ cup almond butter
• 1 tsp vanilla essence (optional)
• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• ½ cup Thrive*
• 1 cup instant oats
• ¼ cup dried blueberries

What To Do
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine applesauce, egg, almond butter, vanilla, and water.
In a second bowl, combine oats, Thrive and blueberries.
Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well.
Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead until thoroughly mixed together.
Roll out dough into ¼ inch thick and cut out shapes.
Place on a greased baking sheet and bake 45 minutes.
Cool on a rack before serving.
Store in a sealed container.

This recipe makes about 30 chewy treats..

You can also click here to watch a step-by-step demonstration of how to make these yummy treats!

Looking for another unique gift for the pet lover in your life, or more healthy recipes to share with your dog or cat? My first cook book, Made Out of Love, will be available at TheHonestKitchen.com starting December 18th.

Happy howl-idays!

Lucy

*Thrive is a gluten-free, dehydrated raw dog food from The Honest Kitchen. Email questions@thehonestkitchen.com for a free sample or visit http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/stores/stores.php to find a store in your area.

Access the original article here: http://focusorganic.com/green-gift-idea-for-fido-%E2%80%93-healthy-homemade-treats/

Five Holiday Pet Safety Tips

*Guest post from Lucy Postins, founder and president of the Honest Kitchen

We all look forward to the holidays and spending a little extra time with family and friends – and of course that includes our fur families as well!  But, with the holidays come a slew of different activities, foods and people that can sometimes pose unintended hazards and anxiety for our four-legged friends.

Photo credit: footloosiety

With just a little extra care and attention, you can help ensure your furry best friends are safe and comfortable when the Yule tide festivities and decorations are in full swing. Below are my top five tips to keep your pets happy and healthy his holiday season:

1. Travel – If you travel over the holidays and take your pet with you, be sure he wears his identity tags at all times. Being in a strange place can make pets anxious, more likely to bolt, and less likely to find their way back to you. If traveling by car, be sure to take lots of regular potty breaks to avoid discomfort and the risk of bladder infections. A secure carrier or pet seat belt can make the trip safer for everyone too.
2. Parties – If you have holiday parties at home, make sure your pet is secure and safe when the door is being frequently opened and closed. Ask visitors to respect your pet’s likes or dislikes regarding being petted or held – this is especially important with children in the house who may not yet have good “pet manners.” Remember that party poppers and balloons can be very startling to pets who aren’t seasoned party-goers. Reassure and confine your pet appropriately to help reduce stress.
3. Hidden Holiday Hazards – Many holiday decorations like glass baubles and tinsel can be potentially fatal for your pet if swallowed. Make sure young puppies don’t have free access to decorations on the tree or around the home. Holiday goodies like chocolates, macadamia nuts, and candies can also be harmful, so be sure to keep these out of reach too.
4. Plants – Holiday plants like Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe and Poinsettia are all hazardous (and potentially fatal) if consumed. Keep them up high and out of reach. The stress of the holidays with lots of visitors, disrupted routines and travel can sometimes cause a pet to try nibbling on foliage to try to ease anxiety-related tummy aches. Fresh, growing wheat grass (available from many health food stores) is a much better option.
   Photo credit: martinhoward
5. Food & Treats – Try to keep to your pet’s usual routines for exercise, and particularly meal times. Don’t switch diets when you travel and prevent your pet from gorging on holiday leftovers which can trigger GI upset and pancreas problems when fed in excess. A moderate amount of leftovers are fine for most pets and can add some healthy variety and extra nutrition to her meals. You can also whip up some healthy homemade treats for your four-legged friends. For a quick and simple recipe plus step-by-step instructions, check out my video for yummy Holiday Noshers from my first pet cook book, Made Out of Love, available at The Honest Kitchen starting December 18.

Happy howl-idays!

Lucy

About the Author: Companion animal nutritionist and founder of The Honest Kitchen, Lucy Postins, is passionate about advanced nutrition and health for pets, including complementary modalities such as herbalism and homeopathy. She frequently writes articles for local and national media, conducts radio interviews and educational spots and occasionally holds educational seminars for pet owners on the importance of good nutrition. For more information, please visit The Honest Kitchen.

Access the original article here: http://petopiatv.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/five-pet-holiday-safety-tips