Snack time has become bonding time for me and our dogs. It started a few years ago when I was munching baby carrots in the kitchen. I gave a piece to my dog, and it’s been a tradition to snack together ever since and we’ve expanded our list of foods we snack on together.
Notes: Always consult your veterinarian if changing or adding new ingredients to your dog’s diet. Introduce new ingredients gradually. Strive for balance and moderation. Certain fruits and vegetables can be harmful and might not be safe for your dogs to eat. Also, remember that the portions I listed below are for dogs between 10-14 lbs. This is by no means an exhaustive list of fruits and veggies dogs can eat, but it’s the ones my dogs love.
Apples
My dogs prefer red apples, but they eat green as well. I remove the seeds and core, quarter the apple and give them 1/4 inch-thick apple squares. My two dogs share 1/4 of a medium-size apple.
Bananas
I cut the banana into 1/4 inch-thick pieces. In our house, we have what we call a banana-tax. Every time we eat a banana, about 1/6 of it goes to our dogs. In fact, they can hear a banana being peeled in any part of the house.
Blueberries
A good source of antioxidants and vitamins and it’s low calorie.
Carrots
I slice a carrot into bite-size pieces or if you prefer, buy carrot chips, these are pre-cut carrots, sliced thinly.
Cucumbers
I usually give them thinly sliced cucumbers after they eat their meal. It freshens their breath.
Dates
After their dinner, we get one pitiless date each as dessert. My dogs love dates and it’s easy to give more but resist. I divide each date into 4 pieces for them. Make sure you remove the pit.
Pears
Similar to the way I serve apples.
Strawberries
I quarter strawberries and give it to them in moderation. Not only are strawberries rich in vitamins, but they contain malic-acid, a tooth-whitening enzyme.
Sweet Potatoes (Steamed or Microwaved)
My dogs’ favorite breakfast after our morning walk. I cut 1/2 thick sweet potato rounds and steam them for about 5 minutes in an Instant Pot. This technique makes it easy for the skin to simply fall off. Alternatively, you can place the sliced sweet potatoes in the microwave and cover with a wet paper towel. Microwave for 3 minutes and then check if they are soft enough. I usually have to microwave one medium-sized sweet potato 2x for 3 minutes. It’s best to cook them in 3 minute intervals so they don’t dry up and become hard.
Summer Treats
Cantaloupe and Watermelons: When in season, perfect for a hot day.
Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts
I tried steamed broccoli and baked brussels sprouts and my dogs liked the taste, but I noticed that it made them gassy even in small quantities, so I stopped feeding these to them.
