Johnson: Share holiday fare with pets in moderation

Being steeped in tradition, perhaps the menu for Thursday is already planned and has been for decades or, for the adventurous, there may be some creative gourmet additions thrown in this year to change things up a little bit.

Though variations in the fare do take place, and the spreads range from fancy to simple, there are some core menu items that tend to set the theme of the day.

link Sharna Johnson

In search of ponies

Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie — all widely considered to be part of the traditional Thanksgiving menu.

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that is all about the food — the feasts that take place serving as symbols of gratitude and as an occasion to gather with friends and family.

Rather than focus on what is lacking or the trials and tribulations in our daily lives, Thanksgiving is all about taking a day off from life’s challenges and to give thanks for the things we do have.

It’s a little too abstract of a concept for the pets — who never really get hung up on the downside of life — but those scrumptious smells floating around the house mean they’re guaranteed to want in on the action.

In all the centuries people have gathered around tables for meals, animals have been there waiting for scraps to fall within reach and many a critter has survived, thrived in fact, on the leftovers of humans. So it’s easy to justify sharing some of Thursday’s feast with the pets. Besides, they are family too.

Then again, centuries ago, pets were not eating processed and refined foods in large quantities and following their human companions down the path to obesity at a rapid pace.

And just as us humans need to gorge in moderation over the holidays (if such a thing is possible), so do our pets.

Which means this year, those that want to include their critters in the giving of thanks might want to think about planning a second menu just for the pets.

If cooking a Thanksgiving feast for the furry family members is an intriguing idea, you will find you’re not alone, with celebrity cooks and pet folks joining in the movement to whip up delectable home-cooked meals for pets. As a result, there’s also no shortage of recipes and tips out there to help with ideas.

Roasted turkey and sweet potatoes, pumpkin smoothies, fruit and vegetable trays with peanut butter dip (pre-dipped for obvious reasons), ice cubes made of broth or water with tasty bits frozen inside, muffins, cakes, meatloaf, vegetable meat and rice medley, a hearty soufflé, fancy pasta and meatballs with cheese … catnip cookies can even make the menu if one is so inclined.

It’s not so much a matter of “people food” being a problem, because most any pet recipe one encounters is made of ingredients designed for human consumption — though admittedly frozen broth cubes and meatloaf cookies probably aren’t going to go over well with the guests.

What preparing pet-friendly fare does mean, however, is including them in the festivities while avoiding dangerous things like turkey bones and also limiting things such as fats, processed foods and sugars, all of which can leave the critters with upset stomachs and contribute to unhealthy weight gain.

If you’re feeling guilty about feasting without the pets, but aren’t interested in cooking for them, sharing small portions of de-boned meat, cooked vegetables and grains from the table are perfectly special treats that are sure to get tails wagging, and plenty of thankful affection from the four-legged family members.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

[email protected]