Cats and dog's diets have changed drastically since their domestication, as they have gone from hunting their own food to relying on their owners to feed them pre-packaged dried kibble. In the wake of the recent pet food recalls, many pet owners want to know how to feed their pets safe and nutritious food. How is a pet owner to know how to do this?

The first step is for a conscientious pet owner to research on how to pick out a commercial food. Many books, internet articles and dog food ratings can give us information about how to select a food with the right combination of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. But the best way to ensure that your pet gets a chemical-free and balanced diet is to prepare your own pet food.

A homemade dog food may be more involved and time-consuming than just buying a pre-packaged kibble. The health benefits, however, far outweigh the disadvantages. And a pet owner can save a lot of money on expensive kibbles. This is an example of a simple dog food recipe that can be made in any kitchen.

First, stir-fry one cup of ground beef in canola oil. Then, combine the cooked meat with two boiled eggs, and 1/2 cup each of cooked oatmeal, pureed green beans, pureed carrots (baby food in jars can be used), then add 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese and serve to your pampered pet at room temperature. For extra vitamins and minerals, a good pet supplement may be added to the mix.

Pets can be picky with new foods, so a gradual switch might be in order. Begin by mixing larger and larger portions of the new pet food with the old so that your pet has a chance to become used to it. Cooked bones can fragment and become lodged in a pet's throat and digestive tract and should be avoided in a dog food. So should ingredients like chocolate, nuts, garlic and onions and mushrooms.

More pet food recipes can be researched on the internet and pet nutrition books. Soon both you and your pet will become accustomed to eating healthy, balanced diets, and you will see improvements in his coat and temperament. Cooking for your pet may not be as easy as feeding commercial food, your pet will thank you for his healthy diet, cooked with love.