Food for Thought...

You know when you buy a pet for the first time and you religiously google what it can and can’t eat?

For example - here’s what you might find if you were to google what to feed your new pet dog:

• Avoid meat containing preservatives as some pet meats (and even human meat) contain large amounts of sulfur dioxide as a preservative.
• Avoid chocolate - it can be toxic, and sometimes fatal
• Choose a high quality food as poor quality foods produce more waste, can cause digestive problems and are often more expensive (due to the increased quantities that will need to be fed to fulfill nutritional requirements)

Or for rabbits you might read this:

• Provide a constant supply of good quality fresh grass and grass hay. Grass or grass hay is paramount in providing sufficient fibre for gastrointestinal health and encouraging chewing for long periods of time for healthy teeth.
  
  
• Provide plenty of fresh leafy greens & vegetables. As a guide, feed around two packed cups of leafy greens per kg body weight per day.
  
  
• Offer treats if you wish in small quantities (1-2 tablespoons per rabbit per day). Examples include most fruits, root vegetables such as carrot and sweet potato and capsicum.
  
  

NOW…………. imagine that everybody was as fussy with what they fed their children (and themselves), as what they fed their pets.  

For instance, my eldest daughter won’t even feed her rabbit kale unless she’s googled it off 3 separate sites first to make sure it’s safe - but she’ll happily beg me for a bag of lollies when we go to the movies!!  My youngest daughter wants a mouse, and has spent a day compiling a sheet full of food facts for the mouse (see below!), but can’t understand why I won’t allow hotdogs in the house - and my middle child…..well, he wants a shark, but that’s a WHOLE other story!  I guess my point is - if they applied the same standards to their diet as they did to their pets - we’d never have conflict in my house ever again!



We definitely lift our nutritional expectations when it comes to our pets.  When was the last time you bought your dog or cat takeaway?  Would you even dream of feeding your pets ice-cream and lollies?  Would you put soft drink in their water bowl????

We also lift our health expectations for our furry friends.  If our pets got diarrhoea - we would instantly want to know what was wrong with them (and not just because picking up doggy diarrhoea from the backyard is not a pleasant job!).  We would probably also assume it must be something to do with their diet….but how many of us put up with constant tummy troubles, and never really equate it with what we are eating, or never address it and so it becomes our new ‘normal’?

If I were to compile a factsheet and put it up on the world wide web for you all to find the next time you google what to feed your new ‘pet human’ - here’s a few of the instructions I  would put in there:

• Humans should have plenty of fresh drinking water available at all times.  Water is by far the best drink for your human.  
  
  
• Offer treats in small amounts if you wish, but remember that treats are just for special occasions.  The human diet should not be made up of treats.  
  
  
• Sugar can be damaging to a human’s immune system, may cause weight gain, and may lead to erratic behaviour.  Although unrefined sugars are a better option, they should still only be used in limited amounts as they fall into the 'treat’ category.
  
  
• Artificial colours, additives and sweeteners are not designed for human consumption.  They may cause multiple problems, particularly in young humans.  Some side effects include asthma, bedwetting, hayfever, speech delays, behavioural difficulties and there have even been some studies linking their use to cancers. Natural foods are best for humans.
  
  
• Humans should consume lots of plant based foods.  It helps keep their digestive system healthy and provides nutrients to nourish their bodies.  
  
  
• Humans should not eat processed foods - they can be addictive and may lead to overeating, weight gain and numerous health problems.  
  
  
• Home-cooked meals are the best option for humans.  Fast food and takeaway food may be high in sodium, trans fats and sugars and they contain much less nutrients than home cooked alternatives.   Plus by cooking at home, feeding your human will be much less expensive.
  
  

There are many more I’d like to add (and I’m sure you could all add a few more to this list too), but these are just some of the basics.  Forget the nuances of individual dietary requirements - as a general rule if we followed these guidelines, and treated our own bodies as respectfully as we treated our animals, we’d probably be a lot better off!  


If it’s not good enough for your pet - maybe it’s not good enough for your human either…..!!

Rebecca Milham
Naturopath & Nutritionist

The Natural Health and Wellness Clinic