Problem: Article: Getting the recipe wrong, or having a recipe that is lacking in essential nutrients, could cause severe health problems in your cat. Just as in other animals, including humans, the key is a healthy balance. Even essential nutrients can negatively affect your cat's health if you give them too much. Because the balance of nutrients is so important, you should get input about your recipe from your veterinarian or an expert on cat health, even if the recipe was formulated by someone else. Once you've got the basics of feline dietary needs, you're ready to start cooking for your cats. Note that the following ideas are suggested recipes for occasional variety and do not represent a diet plan. If you wish to cook or make homemade cat food as a permanent dietary change for your cat, it's important to do your research to create a balanced diet that meets all of your cat's needs, and to get your vet's stamp of approval. Your cat may not like homemade food but it will let you know soon enough! If you have any concerns, talk to your vet about the appropriateness of cooking food for your cat, especially if your cat is growing, pregnant, unwell, or has medical conditions. For instance, purchase free-range, antibiotic and hormone-free whole chicken thighs from a reputable source. You can also use chicken livers, turkey, and egg yolks, among other options. Make sure you fully cook the meat to destroy any bacteria. Then remove some of the meat from the bone and cut into chunks of around 1/2 inch (12.7mm) using sharp kitchen scissors or a knife. Place meaty bones into a meat grinder with a grinding plate of .15 inch (4mm) holes. Run 4 oz of chicken livers per 3 pounds (1.3kg) of raw chicken meat through the grinder. Run 2 cooked eggs per every 3 pounds (1.3kg) of raw chicken meat through the grinder. Mix everything together in a bowl and refrigerate. If you don't own a grinder, you can use a food processor instead. It will not be as efficient or as easy to clean but it will cut the protein into small, digestible pieces. In a separate bowl, for every 3 pounds (1.3kg) of meat, pour in 1 cup water, 400 IU (268 mg) vitamin E, 50 mg vitamin B-complex, 2,000 mg taurine, 2000 mg wild salmon oil, and 3/4 tsp light salt (with iodine). Mix all ingredients together. Pour the supplement mix into the ground meat and mix well. These ingredients should not form the majority of your cat's meals, in fact they shouldn't be a part of every meal, they can add key nourishment for your cat. Mix a little steamed rice with some chopped salmon and a little bit of water. The consistency will be soup-like; simply pour into your cat's bowl. Cut vegetables into small pieces and add to the meal (the type of vegetables are up to you). Add oats to your cat's food. Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Follow the directions on the package of oats for water to oats ratio. Add the oats and cover. Then turn off the heat, letting oats cook for 10 minutes until soft. Some other suggestions include: An oat based raw cat food meal, tuna cat treats, and holistic cat food recipes for whole health. The average cat eats about 4 - 6 ounces a day. Keep your cat's meals in the freezer until the night before you plan on feeding it to them and at which point you should move it into the fridge. This will give the food enough time to defrost.
Summary: Remember that you need to get, or create, a recipe that gives your cat well-balanced nutrition. Formulate or find a recipe and start cooking. Begin with protein. Grind the animal protein to make it easier to eat. Mix additional ingredients. Consider a variety of other foods that can give your cat important nutrients. Make meal sized portions and freeze.

Problem: Article: A emotional eating food journal is a great tool to help you become aware of and manage your emotional eating. You can use it to see where or when you eat and what types of foods seem to be craving or comfort foods. Write down what you eat, when, and how much. Also take note of any emotions you may be feeling when you eat. This may help you gain insight into what emotions trigger you to eat certain foods. Purchase a journal or download a journaling app on your smartphone. Track as many days as you can both weekday and weekend days. Many people eat differently on the weekends so including both weekend and weekdays is important. These health professionals can help you manage emotional eating. If you're having difficulty managing your eating or it's taking a toll on your health, plan to meet with both a registered dietitian and behavior therapist. A registered dietitian is a nutrition expert that can help you understand emotional eating, talk to you about true physical hunger and provide you with alternative food choices. They can even help you create a meal plan. A behavior therapist will help you understand why you emotionally eat and give you ideas for changing your reaction or behavior to certain emotional triggers. No matter what health goal you have, having a support group in place is key for long-term success. This is especially true for emotional eating. Having a support group when you're feeling low or stressed can help you feel more relieved without the use of food. Whether it's your spouse, family, friends or co-workers, a support group are your cheerleaders that will motivate and encourage through your progress. Also try finding an online support group or a local group to meet up with. Email new friends that share your long-term goals.
Summary:
Journal. See a registered dietitian or therapist. Find a support group.