What My Dogs Taught Me About Nutrition
When food quality improves, health follows
By
January 20, 2026
We’ve been taught to believe that health and weight are simple math: calories in, calories out. You know, the whole "eat less, move more" theory. It’s not “bad advice” per se, but if calories were all that mattered, then all calories would behave the same in the body. They don’t.
I didn’t set out to test the idea that not all foods/calories are created equal, but it was proven by an unlikely source - my dogs.
Those who know me (or follow me on Instagram) can see I’m a crazy dog lady. For years, I fed my dogs what most people would consider “good” food. The bags and cans said all the right things: gluten-free, organic, premium ingredients, real meat, inspired by nature. I measured portions carefully. The calories were controlled for my two French Bulldogs, Ellen and Neenoo.
A few months ago, in a quest to give my fur babies the best, I decided to start feeding them a raw food blend that consists of beef, vegetables, berries, fish oil and vitamins. I didn’t feed them a different amount; I only improved the quality of their food.
The results have been undeniable. Neenoo, who sees a veterinary dermatologist, no longer needs allergy medication. Ellen, who is a Rubenesque gal, lost three pounds and is at a perfect weight. At her check-up a few weeks ago, Ellen's vet was happy to report that she moved from slightly overweight to ideal. She even runs around the dog park longer than she used to.
This experience proved that calorie counts don’t tell the full story. Processed foods—whether for humans or pets—can disrupt digestion, trigger inflammation, and interfere with how the body regulates weight and immune responses.
Calories measure energy. They do not measure nutrient density, bioavailability, inflammatory load, or hormonal signaling.
Maybe the problem isn’t just that we’re eating too much. Maybe it’s that we’re eating foods that don’t nourish us.
Neenoo and Ellen have proven that, when food quality improves, health follows—without force, without obsession, and without counting every calorie.
