Just like the name says, this is a recipe for trail mix for dogs. It's made with leftovers that you already have in your refrigerator and fruits and vegetables that you've got hanging around. I like to make this recipe after preparing a big meal that leaves me lots of leftovers. It's a great way to empty the fridge and create a nutritious, healthy snack for your pup.
Not only does this trail mix make a great snack for your pet, it can also be used as a food topper to provide your pet with added nutrients. If you can't afford a top quality dog food, you can add this trail mix to Fido's food a few times each week to give him a fresh, high quality nutritional boost.
As I mention in my video guide, I often take my dogs hiking. This leftover trail mix makes a great protein-rich snack for the trail. Because it's made up of many chopped ingredients, you can also use it for training treats. It's a low-calorie treat made with fresh foods, so it will be healthier than most commercial training treats.
MORE RECIPES HERE: Homemade Dog Food & Treats Recipes
Leftovers Trail Mix for Dogs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup of meat (I used chicken livers, but you can use any type of meat you'd like)
- 2 cups of sweet potatoes (chopped)
- 1 cup of dog-friendly vegetables (chopped)
- 1/2 cup dog-friendly fruit (chopped)
Directions
Preheat your oven to 200°.
This might be the easiest recipe that I've ever shared. You'll need to chop the fruits and vegetables. You'll also need to cut the meat into small pieces.
As you can see, I used chicken livers as my protein source. Muscle meat (beef, chicken, turkey, duck, etc.) is a great choice for your dog. But, organ meat offers some additional benefits and are packed more densely than muscle meat.
Organ meats are loaded with heavy doses of Vitamin B1, B2, B6, folic acid and Vitamin B12. They also have high levels of required minerals like iron, phosphorus, copper, iodine and magnesium. On top of this, organ meats provide fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K that are important for necessary bodily functions.
Lung, kidney, pancreas and liver can often be found at local butcher shops. But, if you don't have organ meat lying around in your refrigerator, substitute some high quality muscle meat instead.
You can also see that I used bananas, apples, green beans and carrots in this recipe. You can substitute these with any other dog-friendly fruits and vegetables that you have on hand. Some great choices include:
- blueberries
- cranberries
- cantalope
- cranbverries
- mango
- asparagus
- broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- cauliflower
- pumpkin
- peas
Once you've chopped all of your ingredients, simply spread them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the trail mix in your 200° oven for 4-6 hours. The recipe is finished when all of the ingredients have been dehydrated.
If you happen to have a dehydrator, you can put the ingredients in the dehydrator instead of the oven. This will probably be much faster.
Because there are no preservatives in this homemade recipe, you should store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last about 7-10 days when stored this way.
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