Cooking with Karina: Bone Appetit!

Coco Arnold loves homemade, healthy treats. 

Karina Arnold is a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma who’s passionate about healthy cooking. She provides creative, healthy recipes and tips on clean eating.

“Richard, have you been feeding Coco again? She gained a pound!” My exasperated mom always tells my father not to share food with our dog. Coco, my family’s 7-pound maltipoo, and my dad often sit on the couch, watch TV and split a bag of chips together. He claims it’s impossible to deny a fluff ball with large brown eyes.

Bagged dog treats don’t meet Coco’s pretentious taste buds. Just like many pre-packaged human food products, many manufactured dog treats contain artificial preservatives and dyes. According to Dogs Naturally magazine, dogs and humans share 75 percent similar genetic makeup, thus, our recommended diets are very similar. Cutting down on processed foods; balancing carbohydrates, fats and protein intake; consuming daily vitamins and minerals is essential for humans and dogs alike.

These Nutbutter Oat Cookies can be enjoyed by humans and their furry friends. (Photo: Karina Arnold) 

If you deny those saucer-shaped puppy eyes while sitting at the dinner table, you might be soulless. Next time you are feeding your dog dinner scraps, look at this list of human foods dogs can and cannot eat. Using this list, you can make delicious dog food treats you and your furry friend can enjoy.

Treat your furry friend and yourself to these Nutbutter Oat Cookies, which received Coco’s approval.

Karina Arnold whipped up these Green Bean Crunchies as a healthy treat for her dog Coco (pictured). This snack can be enjoyed by humans and pups alike. (Photo: Dillon Higgins) 

According to my dad and Coco, these Green Bean Crunchies are a perfect snack to split with your dog next time you’re watching a Texans game. Taste tested by myself and my dog, these treats were delicious, healthy options to snack on.

Redefine your definition of “dog food” to nutritional food. Like humans, dogs need wholesome, clean foods for optimal nutrition. Feeding your dog right improves their breath and skin, and increases life expectancy. Keep your furry best friend happy and healthy with good food. Do you have any favorite dog treats you and your dog enjoy? Comment below!

Be sure to check out our Neighborhood Tails section to see cute pups in your area! Want your furry friend to appear in The Buzz? Just submit 150 words from your pet’s perspective, plus a high-resolution photo of your pet, here.