After reading many of the ingredients in Sanae's dog food recipes, I realized that I would have to stock my pantry with organic food, pure water and supplements that I don't ordinarily buy. However, I was pleased to read some of the recommended meals contained brown rice and oatmeal, since I stock these products on a regular basis. Since Kizzy is seven this year, he falls into the category of "senior," and I can steam or boil some of the vegetables to provide better digestion for his age. Many of the recipes include raw, finely cut veggies for meals and fruits for snacks or treats measured proportionately for puppies, adolescent, adult dog, but balanced veggies or boiled for senior dogs.
According to the author of Healthy Happy Pooch, Sanae recommends that eating a "nutritiously energetically balanced homemade diet" makes us healthy and happy. She suggests that this isn't just balanced nutrition, but is food that gives balanced energy physically, mentally and emotionally. Sanae has been feeding dogs for over 20 years within her family providing them nutritious Miso Soup with vegetables when dog food was not readily available for purchase. (This simple recipe is included in her book and quick and easy to prepare.)
Over the years, Sanae healed herself through nutritiously energetically balanced homemade food through a vegan diet with macrobiotic philosophy, and has applied this theory to nutrition for herself and husband and her family of six Golden Retrievers: Kula, Oro, Leo, Bubu, Lumi and Happy. After trying many different kinds of homemade dog food: raw, cooked, organic meat, organic eggs, grain or no grains, she says its strictly up to you as to what type of food you choose to feed your dogs. Her choice is vegan (but NOT processed vegan food with sugar).
Healthy Happy Pooch is a comprehensive informative instructional for those seeking the best way to keep their puppies, adults, seniors, and those dogs with specialty lifestyles, in the best possible healthy lifestyle. I am passionately trying to take the best care possible of my pet. There's much in this epistle that is new to me, but I am eager to learn everything I can and change my life -- and Kizzy's -- for the better.
In Healthy Happy Pooch Sanae speaks of the macrobiotic diet that has always seemed mysterious and confusing to me. She also includes many foods that I have never eaten or prepared, as well as supplements and essences that the average person does not keep on hand regularly. However, you do get a financial break if you follow Sanae's formulas for transitioning to homemade cleaning products for self and pet. You can also save money if you make your own doggie toys because so many of the commercially sold toys are badly made or toxic. The author suggests that you find an holistic veterinarian to ascertain the proper amounts of supplements for the prepared dog food meals. The book covers how to best communicate with your dog physically, mentally and emotionally. She gives instructions on healing through touch, massage and visualization, and how to give your pup rest and sleep after playful work and play.
Sanae Suzuki shares her experience, skill and knowledge to bring health, love and peace into your everyday life for you and your wonderful companion(s). Healthy Happy Pooch: Wisdom and Homemade Recipes to Give Your Dog a Healthy, Happy Life not only walks you through nutritious recipes for meals and drinks, but positive attitude for play and rest. She suggests ways to brush and bathe your pet, and through research I have even seen her taking recreation with her doggies in the lake and doing yoga! She has a great support group and spends much of her time socializing at her chef husband's vegan restaurant in Venice, CA, (the Seed Kitchen) with friends and doggie companions. She provides a plant chart on physical responses to various garden plants, vines and trees and she expands on the benefits of massage therapy/acupuncture, and also touches on first aid and pet care for injuries. She shares a little of her life with her pets and tenderly relates the special care for "seniors" and the tender time of their passing. Her book has a forward by Neal D. Barnard, MD, and Sally Lane, DVM and Armaiti May DVM have also endorsed her new book with Animal Nutritionist Susan Lauten, PhD.
Since Chapters Two, Three and Four center on transitioning your dog to a vegan, plant-based diet and eliminating additives and impure ingredients that are toxic, I thought it would be a good idea to try some of the recipes and critique them for taste, preparation and acceptance by Kizzy. Since a dehydrator is required to prepare most treats and snacks and not everyone has one, I concentrated on three of Sanae's recipes for doggie meals. I have chosen a Miso Soup recipe for enzymes and minerals, a vegetable stew recipe, and a sweet potato treat to begin my new-found health journey.
An Asian market should provide most of the ingredients for the new diet. First, the Miso Soup was prepared and I was unsure if Kizzy would like this, so I decided to feed him beans along with it. When I filled Kizzy's bowl with the soup, he became very anxious to eat. To my surprise, he quickly gobbled down the soup and veggies (carrots and broccoli) I had added.
Second, I prepared a Creamy Vegetable Stew which I knew Kizzy would enjoy since he does like veggies. He delighted in his stew just as much, and while watching television, I prepared us a snack of Sweet Potato Chips (page 101) which we both enjoyed as we watched television last night. So, I think with just these few recipes, this taste journey will be successful and I can't wait to see an improvement in Kizzy's health. As for my human taste, I surprisingly enjoyed the Miso Soup and the other two recipes were delightful. I thank you, Sanae, for sharing this book with the world, and I feel in my heart that this is a divine path to a long life together for me and my confidant, Kizzy.
Suzuki's Healthy Happy Pooch: Wisdom and Homemade Recipes to Give Your Dog a Healthy, Happy Life is third in her cookbook publications. Others include Love, Eric and Sanae - Seasonal Vegan Macrobiotic Cuisine and Love, Sanae - My Healing Journey with over 120 recipes. Suzuki's experience is extensive and this book is an open door into a positive lifestyle for man and his pet companion to share an enriched and healthy life together. I thoroughly enjoyed reading, learning and utilizing her wealth of knowledge. This will be a blessing in caring for family pets or those rescues as they transition to a new environment. Check out the links below to get your own copy of Healthy Happy Pooch and Sanae's other books for yourself. She seems quite open to consultation and contact, even providing her email in the book. I definitely look forward to incorporating more of her suggestions and recipes into my lifestyle.
