In this episode, I sit down with Jan Allegretti, a pioneer in holistic animal health and the author of The Fresh and Flexible Meal Plan—a book that’s rewriting the rules on pet nutrition.

Jan’s approach is refreshingly simple: stop overcomplicating feeding and start applying the same common-sense principles you use for your own meals—fresh, whole foods, variety, and yes, sharing what you eat with your pets.

We’re diving into why variety is the real insurance policy for nutrition and why it beats a single “complete and balanced” recipe on repeat, as well as how feeding fresh can help transform chronic health issues. 

If you’ve ever looked at a bag of kibble and thought, “There’s got to be a better way,” this episode is for you 💖

KEY INSIGHTS:

✨ Why variety—not a single perfect recipe—is the real foundation of balanced nutrition.

✨ How sharing your meals (just making extra of what you already cook) can make fresh feeding simple, affordable, and sustainable.

✨ Why highly processed foods may be contributing to many chronic issues like itchy skin, allergies, and infections.

✨ The 30–60–10 guideline Jan uses to help pet parents get started with confidence: 30–60% protein, 30–60% carbohydrates, and 10–30% fruits and vegetables.

✨ Jan’s special way of transitioning pets to a fresh food diet that reduces tummy upsets. 

✨ How cooking for your pets often inspires you to eat healthier too (because they make us better humans 💛).

✨ Why convenience and marketing—not science—shaped the commercial pet food industry, and how to reclaim your common sense.

✨ How fresh food feeding can help prevent disease, lower vet bills, and support long-term vitality.

✨ The simple “nutrition boosters” Jan recommends adding like spirulina, nutritional yeast, cooked mushrooms, and fermented foods.

✨ Why this isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress, intuition, and trusting that good food is good food, for you and your pets.

RESOURCES 

Grab Jan Allegretti’s books 👇

The Fresh and Flexible Meal Plan

The Complete Holistic Dog Book

Blogs by Jan Allegretti 👇

Simple Strategies for Really Good Food

Healthy and Fresh for Dogs and Cats: What your animal family really wants for dinner

How to Feed Dogs – Simplified

Holiday Home Cooking for Everyone in the Family

Human foods your dog should avoid👇

Onions, grapes/raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts, xylitol, chicken bones, corn cobs (the corn cut off is fine), alcohol, caffeine, processed sugar (a bit of honey is okay) 

This list is for informational purposes only, it does not constitute veterinary recommendations. For all pets, we recommend that they work with their veterinarians closely to develop a diet plan.

FOLLOW:

Jan Allegretti: https://janallegretti.com/

Jan Allegretti on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jan.allegretti/

Integrative Pet Wellness Center: https://integrativepet.com

Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram :  @integrativepet

Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet 

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