My two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Louie, is an active and playful pup who thrives on homemade food. Among his rotating meals, this grain-free recipe featuring chicken and sardines has been especially beneficial. At first, I tried cooking 14-day batches every Sunday, but with Louie occasionally eating freeze-dried or air-dried kibble, the storage period felt too long. Now, I consistently make 7-day portions, adjusting based on his supplement intake.
1. Ingredients
Chicken Breast: 140g
Chicken Thigh with Skin: 105g
Sardines: 56g
Carrots: 35g
Broccoli: 70g
Red Bell Pepper: 14g
Parsnip: 280g
Asparagus: 14g
Okra: 14g
Shiitake Mushrooms: 35g
Egg Yolks: 70g
Quinoa: 70g
Sprouted Chia & Flaxseed Powder: 7g
Turmeric Powder: 1.4g
Supplements: Zinc 1.05 / Copper 1.05 / Iron 1.05 / Manganese 0.18 / Vitamin E 0.49 / Vitamin B12 0.07 / Vitamin D3 1.4 / Lecithin 10.5 / Seaweed Calcium 4.9 / PlaqueOff 3.5 / Fermented Mushroom Powder 1 / Broccoli Sprout Powder 0.5
Additional: Omega-3 (every other day), Antinol Rapid (daily)
Note: This recipe is formulated for a 3.28kg dog, with adjusted calories (168 kcal for 7 days) to help return to a target weight of 3.04kg.
2. Prepping & Cooking
I categorize vegetables by whether they should be boiled or steamed, and I rarely serve them raw. Parsnip and carrots are boiled; the rest are steamed—mushrooms added slightly later.
Chicken breast (skinless) and chicken thigh (with skin) are minced using a food processor. With the addition of quinoa, egg yolks, and water (enough to submerge ingredients), the mix is pressure-steamed for 15 minutes.
3. Mixing & Supplementing
Once vegetables are cooked and softened, they are mashed and mixed thoroughly. Then, I weigh and evenly distribute the powdered supplements and blend everything together.
4. Portioning & Storage
I divide the batch into 14 cubes (two meals per day for seven days). The yield fits perfectly into a 200ml container per day. I refrigerate or freeze depending on the usage window.
The meat and egg mixture is portioned separately, and the vegetable cube is defrosted and mixed with warm water before serving.
5. Louie's Taste Test
Since puppyhood, Louie has preferred moist meals over dry kibble. If his food isn't moist enough, he dips his muzzle in his water bowl and transfers water to the food. With this recipe, his digestion and stool quality have been consistently good.
Reflections
When Louie stares at me while I cook, it’s hard not to sneak him a taste. I recently learned he loves red bell peppers! Making food at home using human-grade ingredients not only assures quality but also gives me peace of mind.
At first, I was anxious about getting the nutrients right. It took me months to build confidence. But now that I rotate his meals and understand his nutritional needs better, it’s become a joyful part of our routine.
Moving forward, I’ll share recipes only—excluding cooking steps—to help you focus on building meal plans that work for your dog.
Let’s all help our dogs live healthier, longer lives—one homemade meal at a time.