A lesser-known healthy treat for dogs is kale chips! Kale is a “super food” and it's good for dogs as well as people. You can read more about it and other super foods for dogs/humans here, but basically it's a “proven cancer-risk cutter,” with minimal calories. (Note that the link says not to feed kale to animals with certain types of bladder stones or kidney disease!)
Personally, I was not a huge fan of kale - but once we started making kale chips, I realized it can be pretty tasty. And my dog, Rita, agrees. Plus they are easy to make!
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (some recipes recommend cooking them slower at a lower temperature, but I like them done quickly so we can eat them sooner! You can experiment a little to see what works best for you.)
- While the oven heats up, wash and dry the kale, and then tear the leaves into bite size pieces (tearing them off the thick stem). I throw away the stems - but I'm sure someone out there has come up with a use for them, if you are interested, it may be worth looking into. Try to make the pieces consistent in size so they cook evenly.
- Sprinkle the torn bits with a tablespoon or two of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) - no need to measure it exactly. EVOO is good for your pups - you can read more about that here. Then sprinkle in a little sea salt. Mix it all together with your hands. (I rub the excess EVOO into my hands. Instant moisturizer plus a little salt scrub exfoliation!)
- Bake for 6 - 7 min. Definitely check after 6 min, because you don't want it to burn. (I have been told that burnt kale chips smell very bad.) It usually takes 6 1/2 min in my oven. (As I mentioned earlier, you can also try 350 degrees for 10-15 min.)
- Enjoy with your pup!
Rita LOVES them. (Okay, yes, she also has a taste for dead gophers, but don't let that sway your opinion before you try them!) I hope your pup loves them too.
About the Author: Jackie Bouchard writes what she calls “Fido-friendly fiction,” heart-warming and humorous stories about women and the dogs they love. Jackie loves: dogs, books (both reading and writing them), movies, margaritas, chocolate, and her hubby. She dislikes: writing short blurbs about her life in third person. This article was first posted on April 5, 2013 on Pooch Smooches.
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