Remy's Crunch N Munch

Dogs all love crunchy stuff especially puppies! So here is a recipe I made up that is a sure way to please every dog's crunchy desire, and fuel his body for energy!

1/2 Cup Almonds Raw Diced 3/4 Cup Carrots Raw Diced or Grated 1 Apple Raw diced (Red Delicious) 1/2 Cup Zucchini raw diced 2 Tbsp smooth natural unsalted peanut butter 2 Large Eggs Hard Boiled 1/2 Cup Plain Yogurt 400 grams of Poached Chicken 300 grams of beef liver You will want to poach the chicken and the liver first. I always slightly under cook all my meat so that I don't destroy any natural nutrients in the meat. Dogs can fully digest raw meat, but I like to slightly cook my dog's meat and serve them a warm meal that isn't nuked in the microwave. Then dice and combine in a bowl the almonds, carrots apples, zucchini eggs yogurt and peanut butter. Dice up finely both the chicken and liver, and add the juices from the meat. Mix all ingredients together and serve! I love adding almonds or walnuts to my salads to not only replace the crunch you get from croutons but for it's healthy benefits. I am also lactose intolerant so I drink Almond milk as an alternative. Almonds have so many health benefits they are a rich source of vitamin E, calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium. It also contains zinc, selenium, copper and niacin. Almonds contain the most nutrients in comparison to all other nuts.The health benefits of almonds include getting relief from constipation, respiratory disorders, cough, hearth disorders, anemia, impotency, and diabetes. It also helps in hair care, skin care (psoriasis), and dental care.

Almonds are good for the brain, they are a source of many nutrients which help in development of the brain. Almond induces high intellectual level and has been considered as an essential food item for growing children and dogs too! Almonds also regulates cholesterol, regular consumption of almonds helps to increase the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and reduce the level of low density lipoproteins (LDL), thereby effectively controlling cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol. Mono-saturated fat, protein and potassium contained in almonds are good for the heart. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and reduces the risk of heart diseases. The presence of magnesium in almonds helps to avoid heart attacks. Almonds help reduce C-reactive protein which causes artery-damaging inflammation. Almond is also a good source of folic acid. They therefore help to reduce the level of homocystein, which causes fatty plaque buildup in arteries. In previous blogs I talk about the importance of fish oils as they are great for your dog's skin and coats. The benefits of almond for skin care are well known, our older Shepherd often gets sore legs so we massage him with an almond oil which is great for his skin, and safe for him if he decides to lick it off. Potassium present in almond helps to regulates blood pressure. Almonds are very low in sodium which also helps in containing blood pressure. Almond improves the movement of food through the colon, thereby preventing colon cancer. Almonds also help in reducing the rise in sugar and insulin levels after meals. This offers protection from diabetes. The mono-saturated fat contained in almonds satisfies appetite and prevents over-eating. Studies have revealed that almond rich low calorie diet is good for obese people to assist in shedding their weight. Almonds are rich in fibre. Like most other fibre rich food, almonds also help in preventing constipation. The presence of manganese, copper and Riboflavin helps in energy production. Happy cooking!