Homecooking possibly?

[Britster]

So, I'm sort of/kind of/briefly considering homecooking, at least... to a point, with Jackson. It's still a big fat "maybe". I honestly hardly cook for myself, but I am starting to more, so figure maybe I could whip up some stuff for Jackson in the process.

I just have a few questions for those who homecook or have in the past:

- How often do you cook (like once a week, more/less?)
- How do you store it (like daily meals, each day in it's own container, etc?)
- How do you know how much to feed? (with kibble, I know I do 1/4 cup 2x per day)
- Approx how much do you spend monthly?
- How often do you shop for food (do you just buy stuff when you go to the grocery store for your own food, etc?)
- Besides purchasing a supplement like Balance It, what are you essentially buying... chicken, rice, etc?


Even if I don't do it full-time, I may consider buying stuff to make up to mix in with his kibble meals vs. buying canned food. And obviously that wouldn't have to be balanced properly since it would just be added to kibble.

But any tips or thoughts appreciated. Just kind of toying with the idea at the moment.

[jenja20]

Hi Britster!

I make meatballs for my yorkie She's a medium size so she eats like a palm size of a meatball. We usually incorporate beef/pork (ground), carrots, peas, bread, (sometimes rice or oatmeal) and maybe some apples or pears to add in sweetness.

We freeze the meatballs so when it's her dinner time we just microwave it. My yorkie tends to hate dry food and canned food, so compared to those two she loves it!

They usually last about... 3 weeks to a month, really depends how many you make! And the price for all of them... i'd assume a lil around $20-$30. I think it depends what kind of meat you buy!

[Lovetodream88]

Balnceit.com has some recipes and you put in your dogs weight and stuff and it tells you how much to feed.

[lisaly]

I home cook for Katie once each day. I use boneless chicken tenders, some rice, and various vegetables such as carrots and green beans. It is really fast and easy. It would be fine to make food and freeze it in portions, but I make enough to feed her twice daily. I supplement with BalanceIt.com. If you go to their recipe generator, you can see how much to feed Jackson.

https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/r...tor/index.php?

[107barney]

I cook ahead. I'm pretty lazy so I use canned sweet potatoes and canned carrots and canned chick peas. Right now, canned corn for teddy. I make chicken in the oven using bone-in pieces or I pressure cook. I don't use boneless meats generally because I use the bones for the stock and want the dogs to have the marrow. How much you can store of cook ahead is really dependent on the ingredients used. For me, it's easiest to cook things like chicken or beef in batches and dole out the portions right on the scale. After heating I add balanceit (or human supplements depending on the dog) and their omega3 capsules. You can also freeze a couple of weeks in advance. Hopefully LuvTaycieGirl will come by because she stores ahead. I think you'd really like the home cooking Brit.

[Rhetts_mama]

I don't home cook per se, but I do add boiled shredded chicken breast or ground turkey instead of canned foods to their kibble. It's easy enough to cook up a pound or two and then separate it in to snack size baggies for the fridge and throw a few in to the freezer for later use. A pound of chicken breast lasts about 3-4 days since it's just a topper and not the bulk of the meal.

[Ellie May]

- How often do you cook (like once a week, more/less?)

The guideline seems to be storing in the freezer for a couple weeks, but I did it for about a month at a time. Adding supplements after thawed and heated would probably be best.

- How do you store it (like daily meals, each day in it's own container, etc?)

I'd usually put three day portions in ziplock bags and freeze. When weighing ingredients I'd times everything by 3 so it cut down on time spent weighing this way.


- How do you know how much to feed? (with kibble, I know I do 1/4 cup 2x per day)

Use a recipe designed for his weight and feed to condition. Much more homecooked is required than kibble.

- Approx how much do you spend monthly?

Hmm. Hard to say. If we were buying cheap protein then maybe..$20?? But probably around $30.. She's a big eater.

- How often do you shop for food (do you just buy stuff when you go to the grocery store for your own food, etc?)

During regular grocery shopping..

- Besides purchasing a supplement like Balance It, what are you essentially buying... chicken, rice, etc?

A food scale, containers

[ladyjane]

I am a bit looney I suppose, but I cook each day. I much prefer that over having to spend a lot of time cooking more and dividing it up and freezing.

I cook for two at this time. Each one is on different foods. The one eats pasta, so I do cook about 3 days worth of pasta. The other eats sweet potatoes, so I cook them in the microwave each day. I also use them for treats...my pups love them.

They both eat fish so I cook that each evening. I then prepare it either at night and refrigerate it....or in the morning. It really does not take that long.

I also put the supplements in at each meal.

[Britster]

Thanks for the insight, guys! I think this is something I could see myself doing. Might be when I'm living on my own though. My family might think I've absolutely lost my mind if I start cooking for my dog. Considering I hardly cook for myself I would definitely cook in bulk though, I'm more of a 'reach in the fridge and grab' kind of person then cooking every day. haha!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am a bit looney I suppose, but I cook each day. I much prefer that over having to spend a lot of time cooking more and dividing it up and freezing.

I cook for two at this time. Each one is on different foods. The one eats pasta, so I do cook about 3 days worth of pasta. The other eats sweet potatoes, so I cook them in the microwave each day. I also use them for treats...my pups love them.

They both eat fish so I cook that each evening. I then prepare it either at night and refrigerate it....or in the morning. It really does not take that long.

I also put the supplements in at each meal.

Wow, pasta?! So cool... Jax would be in Heaven. He HATES potatoes of any sort though! lol.... won't touch sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, mashed, baked, potato chips, french fries. It's the funniest thing. He finds them utterly disgusting.

[gemy]

I cook up 2 weeks worth, but I do have a freezer and spent some time, buying great glass freezer containers. I only defrost the dogs daily meal each day, and I add my supplements to their daily meal after defrosted. I try not to nuke the food. When I had the two big dogs you are talking prox 4lbs of meat they eat day! That is a whole lot of cooking. I have a scale that I measure raw weight on ..not the cooked weight.

I shop every two weeks for the pups usually midweek when I go to my butcher I pre order their order of often chicken, organ meats and ground bone. I also get turkey necks for the big dog(s). I buy roughly 56 pounds of meat for an average price depending on organ meats I get and if I spring for lamb, or beef, about $3.00 per pound. Razzle eats less than 1/2 cup per day and it is a moot point and is covered with-in the above pricing. I shop at organic markets for the veges, and I vary them. Sweet pot, or rice, kale, carrots, celery root (that is lovely roasted), broccoli, spinach, etc.

Now with having a system 2 weeks worth is about 1/2 day of cooking, and packaging. Roughly again if I buy the raw at the pet store, it is prox 2x the price I would pay every two weeks for my home cooking.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

It is pretty dang easy. Taycie's is mega easy.

I boil her sweet potatoes and white potatoes on the stove.. Drain let them cool. Then weigh out her daily amount and freeze in quart size bags.

When it comes to feeding.. pull out the bag.. defrost, add her protein, it Taycie's case it is eggs, then portion out, measure out the Balance It then serve!

Best thing I ever did was home cook! Taycie has been on it for a year now! We love it. Far from hard. If you can read and make Ramen.. You can home cook

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Britster

Thanks for the insight, guys! I think this is something I could see myself doing. Might be when I'm living on my own though. My family might think I've absolutely lost my mind if I start cooking for my dog. Considering I hardly cook for myself I would definitely cook in bulk though, I'm more of a 'reach in the fridge and grab' kind of person then cooking every day. haha!

Oh, you get used to the judgment. lol
Honestly, Ellie did so, so well on it before becoming sensitive to everything. I loved it for her. I think you should try it.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

- How often do you cook (like once a week, more/less?)

I cook once every two weeks.


- How do you store it (like daily meals, each day in it's own container, etc?)

I use small freezer containers (I think ziplock??). I feed my girls twice a day and I put one meal in each container. I do freeze it and then heat it up when ready to use.


- How do you know how much to feed? (with kibble, I know I do 1/4 cup 2x per day)

I bought a recipe trout pet diets.com and Dr Remillard.


- Approx how much do you spend monthly?

About $20???

- How often do you shop for food (do you just buy stuff when you go to the grocery store for your own food, etc?)

I buy when I go to the store.


- Besides purchasing a supplement like Balance It, what are you essentially buying... chicken, rice, etc?


I use chicken, green beans, and sweet potatoes. I sometimes use butternut squash in place of sweet potatoes. I can't vary much because of Rosie's tummy issues.

I will tell you home cooking was the best thing for my Rosie. It's really not bad to do. Just guessing I probably spend 2 hours every two weeks on it. I use a crock pot to cook my sweet potatoes and I bake the chicken. Really easy!

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Thanks for the insight, guys! I think this is something I could see myself doing. Might be when I'm living on my own though. My family might think I've absolutely lost my mind if I start cooking for my dog. Considering I hardly cook for myself I would definitely cook in bulk though, I'm more of a 'reach in the fridge and grab' kind of person then cooking every day. haha!

I get made fun of all the time but I don't care. My son is 16 and his friends think I'm crazy!