There are many types of human foods that pets could eat. Some of the healthier options are the following:

1. Lean meat. Commercial pet foods often contain meat products so that pets could get their needed dose of protein. Some of these can come from low quality meat that humans would not normally serve on their dinner tables such as chicken feet and gut. The meats that you eat may be healthier for pets provided that these are lean. Take out the bones from chicken and turkey though since these may hurt your pet’s digestive system.
2. Mashed potatoes. This all-time favorite food for the holidays is great to share with your pets. However, just to be on the safer side, take out the other stuff that usually comes along with it. Onions, gravy, butter, sour cream, and onions are not considered safe for pet consumption.
3. Rice or pasta. The good thing about giving pet dogs carbohydrates is that these provides them with the extra energy they need especially for the more athletic breeds. Feeding rice or pasta is safe just as long as you cut down on acidic sauces.
4. Green vegetables. If you have difficulty feeding your kids with green leafy vegetables, don’t let these go to waste. Your pet cat or dog could highly benefit from their high nutritional content. These too are considered great sources of fiber and are easily digestible for pets. Lettuce, spinach or kale will make your pets healthy.
5. Squash. Eye health is very important for pets. You can’t have them take a refraction test and get a pair of eyeglasses or contacts. Vitamin A from natural food sources are considered healthier than those that come from synthetic sources? Why? Synthetic vitamin A comes with the risk of toxicity. One of the best sources of vitamin A is squash. Pets easily warm up to this food since it tastes sweet. Additional benefits include added vitamin C source and it’s great for constipation too.
6. Apples. If you love eating apples, then save the scraps for your pet. Just like squash, apples contain vitamins A and C. Just make sure that you take out the pits. Apple seeds contain cyanide, considered toxic for pets. A few seeds swallowed by your pet may not have significant effects but take all of them out anyway for their safety.
7. Beets. Aside from your greens, pets could also benefit from red vegetables such as beets. This can be served cooked or raw. For pets, beets have vitamins and minerals that could help them have a liver cleanse. You may need to watch them while they eat this though or else, some of the red stains could end up in fabric covered furniture.
8. Oats. If you had it for breakfast and you can’t eat them all, your old pet suffering from bowel issues may benefit from eating oats. Oats are high in fiber, something that can help your pet have regular bowel movements. You can also feed oatmeal cookies as long as these are not loaded with salt and sugar.
9. Plain yogurt. For an added tummy protection, you can let your pets eat some yogurt. Along with probiotics, yogurt contains calcium and protein for better muscle and bone health. Consider getting fat-free yogurts if you want to give these to your pets too.
10. Eggs. Recent studies show that eggs help improve cholesterol levels by encouraging the production of the good kinds while lessening the bad ones. It’s now considered a superfood because of its abundance of nutrients that include B vitamins, vitamin A and Selenium to name a few. Most of the nutrients are found on its yolk, so share the yellow part with your pet too.

Yes, not all human foods are considered great for domestic animal consumption. There are certain foods that are better thrown in the trash can than served on your pet’s bowl. Depending on your pet’s type and breed, some of the foods considered bad for pets are:

1. Alcohol.
2. Coffee.
3. Milk.
4. Gum.
5. Raisins.
6. Macadamia nuts.
7. Onions.
8. Fat.
9. Cooked bones.
10. Chocolates.

The key to feeding leftover foods for pets is choosing the right kinds and serving these in ideal proportions. Anything in excess, even for highly healthy foods, is considered risky both for pets and humans. With this said, remember that pets need healthy options and are not substitutes for trash bins.