Creating healthy and balanced meals for your dog may seem daunting. We have created this guide to assist you with meal planning for all diet types.  

You want to provide a variety of protein sources for your dog, up to nine different types of protein per month. 

Variety is essential for ensuring your dog gets enough vitamins and minerals while minimizing the development of food sensitivities that lead to inflammation and skin conditions. This applies to every diet below.

Before you begin shopping, you can use our FeedReal Calculator  to get your shopping list. If you're signed up for our DIY Workshop , make sure to select a seven (7) day shopping list.

Here's a guide to help you while you're shopping:

Any mammal, non-reptilian, preferably a ruminant animal

Kidney, Spleen, Pancreas, Brain, Testicles, Ovaries/Thymus

Below, sample recipes are based on a 50-pound, somewhat active adult dog. If your dog is heavier or lighter than 50 lbs, you can use our calculator to determine the percentages and amounts necessary to create your raw bowl. 

Your 50-pound, somewhat active adult dog should eat approximately 1.25 lbs (20.00 oz) daily. Your bowl should look like this: feeding the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™ at 12% bone content and using 60% raw meaty bone cuts.

Your 50.00 lbs, somewhat active adult dog should eat approximately 1.25 lbs (20.00 oz) daily. Here's what your bowl should look like: feeding the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) at 12% bone content and using 60% raw meaty bone cuts.

Creating fresh, healthy meals for your dog may seem overwhelming at first, especially with the abundance of conflicting advice available. But once you understand the basics of what dogs need, it becomes simple, approachable, and even fun. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to create well-balanced meals for your pup, focusing on practical tips and easy ingredient variety to help them thrive for the long haul.

One of the most important things to know is that dogs do best when they eat a variety of different foods. They are flexible eaters by nature, which means they can thrive on a fresh, balanced diet that is mainly built around animal proteins. Rotating meats like beef, turkey, duck, venison, lamb, fish, organ meats, and eggs keeps meals exciting and provides your dog with a broader range of essential nutrients. Every type of protein offers a different “package” of amino acids and minerals, so switching things up is key.

But variety doesn’t stop with proteins! Fresh fruits and vegetables also bring a ton of benefits to your dog’s bowl. They’re packed with fiber, antioxidants, and natural compounds that support your dog’s immune system, gut health, and overall energy. Adding different colors and textures of vegetables and fruits can give your dog a rainbow of nutrients, and it also helps support their natural detoxification processes.

Another piece you can’t skip is calcium. Dogs need the right balance of calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and joints. The best way to ensure they get enough calcium is by including raw, meaty bones, such as chicken necks or lamb ribs. Without enough calcium, home-cooked meals can easily become unbalanced, especially if they’re mostly meat.

Healthy fats are another major player. They provide your dog with a powerful energy source and help them absorb essential vitamins and nutrients. Including fat from grass-fed meats and small oily fish helps your dog maintain a healthy skin and coat, strong joints, and a sharp mind. Additionally, balancing fats properly can help reduce inflammation throughout the body.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through sample meal ideas that make fresh feeding manageable, practical, and stress-free, designed to help you nourish your dog naturally and confidently over time.

A ratio diet is a method of feeding dogs fresh food by using general proportions of different ingredients, such as meat, bones, and organs, rather than worrying about measuring every single nutrient. The idea is to mimic what a dog would naturally eat in the wild, with balance happening over time through variety, not necessarily in every single meal. This approach makes feeding fresh foods much more practical and flexible, especially when ingredients change seasonally or are harder to find. When done thoughtfully, a ratio diet can help support a dog's long-term health, energy, and overall vitality.

There are several types of ratio diets, including the Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet, the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet, and the Real Ancestral 6X Diet. PMR adheres to animal parts, such as meat, bones, and organs, without including any fruits or vegetables. BARF includes small amounts of fruits, vegetables, and sometimes supplements for added fiber and antioxidants. The Real Ancestral Diet builds on these ideas by incorporating seafood for omega-3s and vitamin D, and utilizing fur as a natural fiber source. All of these approaches are flexible and can be adjusted based on what is available and what is best for each dog. The important thing is to focus on real, whole foods and variety, rather than perfection in every meal.

Shopping Guide for Meats and Raw Meaty Bones

Sourcing high-quality meats, organs, and bones is one of the most critical steps in preparing healthy homemade meals for your dog. Animals that are pasture-raised, grass-fed, or wild-sourced tend to have cleaner, more nutrient-dense meat, with higher levels of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals compared to conventionally raised animals. Choosing better-quality ingredients also reduces the risk of exposing your dog to harmful substances, such as antibiotics, hormones, or chemical residues. By prioritizing ethically and naturally raised animal products, you’re not just feeding your dog—you’re giving them the foundation for stronger immunity, healthier skin and coat, better digestion, and a longer, happier life.

Raw meaty bones do more than add crunch to your dog’s meals. They’re an excellent natural source of calcium and phosphorus, critical for building and maintaining strong bones. Additionally, chewing on bones helps clean your dog’s teeth naturally, removing plaque and maintaining their oral health without the need for extra dental treatments.

Beyond nutrition, raw bones are fantastic for mental stimulation. Gnawing on a bone taps into your dog’s natural instincts, calms them, and gives them an excellent outlet for energy, especially helpful for high-energy dogs or working breeds.

Here are some popular edible bones you can add to your dog’s diet:

*Raw chicken and duck feet are commonly recommended as a source of collagen and chondroitin, thanks to their ligaments and connective tissue. However, their bone density is lower compared to other raw meaty bones. Because poultry feet contain only 54% of the calcium found in other bones, such as necks, wings, and backs, and have minimal muscle meat, they should never be the sole source of calcium for puppies. They should only be used occasionally as the raw meaty bone component.

**Pork trotters (feet) can serve as an alternative to raw meaty bones, especially for large breeds, due to their size. However, they are high in fat, making them unsuitable for dogs with fat sensitivities or those prone to pancreatitis.

Muscle meat should make up the most significant part of your dog’s meal. It’s packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals that help keep their muscles strong, support a healthy immune system, and provide everyday energy.

For the best quality, look for meat from pasture-raised animals. It's not only cleaner (hormone- and antibiotic-free) but also richer in beneficial fats and nutrients, such as omega-3s and vitamin E. Additionally, by choosing pasture-raised, you support farming practices that are more environmentally friendly and beneficial to animal welfare.

* Organs like heart and green tripe are especially rich and should be used as part of the mix, but not too much—about 15-20% of your meat portion.

Liver and other organs, such as kidney, spleen, and pancreas, are essential for a balanced meal. They’re like nature’s multivitamins, packed with nutrients you can’t easily get from muscle meat alone.

Liver, in particular, is a superstar—it’s full of vitamin A, iron, copper, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Just remember, a little goes a long way. Too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity, so aim for about 5% of the total diet for adults and around 7% for growing puppies.

Other secreting organs to mix in include:

Mixing different organs ensures your dog receives a comprehensive range of essential nutrients for robust immune function, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being.

Seafood adds an extra boost of nutrients that land animals can’t match. Fatty fish like sardines, mackerel, and salmon are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep your dog’s skin soft, their coat shiny, and their joints healthy. They also support heart health and brain function.

Fish are also a good source of iodine, selenium, zinc, and vitamin D. Small fish, such as sardines, are exceptionally safe because they have lower mercury levels compared to larger fish.

* Always cook shellfish by steaming or boiling to kill potential parasites.

In the wild, dogs naturally got fiber from eating the fur, feathers, and rough parts of their prey. Fur works as an excellent natural fiber, helping to keep digestion moving smoothly, forming healthy stools, and maintaining gut health.

If you’re not comfortable feeding fur, you can also use low-sugar veggies like spinach, cucumbers, and broccoli sprouts, or add things like psyllium husk or mushrooms for extra fiber.

Use sparingly due to higher <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/starch">starch</a>:

Below, sample recipes are based on a 50-pound, somewhat active adult dog. If your dog weighs more or less than 50 pounds, you can use our calculator to determine the percentages and amounts necessary to create your raw bowl.&nbsp;

Your 50-pound, somewhat active adult dog should eat approximately 1.25 lbs (20.00 oz) daily. Your bowl should resemble this: serving the Real Ancestral 6X Diet™ at 12% bone content and utilizing 60% raw, meaty bone cuts.

Your 50.00-pound, somewhat active adult dog should eat approximately 1.25 pounds (20.00 oz) daily. Here's what your bowl should look like: feeding the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) at 12% bone content and using 60% raw meaty bone cuts.

Do any of these ratio diets look familiar? 80/10/10 is PMR aka Franken Prey and 70/10/10/10 is BARF! As you may have noticed, many of the <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/raw-feeding">raw feeding</a> models are quite similar and overlap in components. 

The Frankenprey approach enables us to incorporate various proteins into the nutritional components.

Your 50.00-pound, somewhat active adult dog should eat approximately 1.25 pounds (20.00 oz) daily. The true prey model diet, based on whole prey, involves feeding on just one protein, which can often be inconvenient or inaccessible for many. Your bowl should resemble this: feeding the PMR (Prey Model Raw) at 12% bone content and using 40% raw, meaty bone cuts.

Feeding your dog fresh, homemade meals is one of the most loving things you can do for them. It's not about being perfect with every bowl—it's about creating balance over time with a mix of healthy ingredients. With a bit of planning and variety, you can provide your dog with everything they need to live a healthier, happier life. Plus, you'll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what's in your dog's food—and the joy of seeing them thrive.

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 5 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/transitioning-your-dog-to-raw">Transitioning to a Raw Diet</a> 

Unit 4 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/making-your-dogs-bowl-without-a-calculator">Formulation Math for a Balanced Raw Diet</a> 

Unit 3 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/can-puppies-eat-raw">Raw Feeding for Puppies</a> 

Unit 3 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/your-senior-dogs-raw-diet">Raw Feeding Senior Dogs</a> 

Unit 3 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/raw-feeding-your-adult-dog">Raw Feeding Adults</a> 

Unit 3 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/your-pregnant-or-lactating-dogs-raw-bowl">Raw Feeding Pregnant or Lactating Dogs</a> 

Shopping Guide: Ancestral, BARF & PMR Recipes

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