APOP Low-Calorie Dog Treats & Meals

Healthy, low-calorie treats you can make at home.These recipes are intended as occasional snacks and should make up no more than about 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes or introducing new foods, especially if your pet has health conditions. Certain ingredients—such as kale, spinach, and broccoli—may not be suitable for dogs with kidney disease or specific types of bladder stones.

Note: These recipes are formulated for dogs.

Healthy, Low-Calorie Options for Dogs

Food	Approx. Calories
Baby carrots	2–3 per carrot
Stringless sugar snap peas	~2 per pea
Cucumber	~1 per ¼″ slice
Apple	~16 per 1/8 of a large apple
Asparagus	3–5 per spear
Celery	~6 per 7–8″ stalk
Broccoli	5–6 per floret
Banana	7–9 per ½″ slice
Blueberries	~31 per ½ cup
Strawberries	~23 per ½ cup (whole)
Watermelon	~23 per ½ cup (diced)
Pumpkin (unsalted canned)	~21 per ½ cup
Sweet potato (cooked, no skin)	~58 per ½ medium
Plain nonfat yogurt	~64 per ½ cup

Source: Chow Hounds.

These recipes are designed as occasional treats and are not complete and balanced meals. “Complete and balanced” means a food provides all essential nutrients in the proper proportions to meet your dog’s daily nutritional needs, as defined by organizations such as AAFCO or FEDIAF. Always consult your veterinarian before making major diet changes or introducing new treats, especially if your dog has health conditions, allergies, or special dietary requirements.

Special Meals

Oh-Mega Salmon

Makes ~6 cups

~237 kcal per cup

View ingredients & steps

Ingredients

Salmon, cooked (14½-oz can or ~3½ cups)
1 cup kale, chopped
½ cup green beans, chopped
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 Tbsp kelp powder

Steps

Pulse kale and green beans until minced.
Combine veggies, salmon, quinoa, and kelp. Mix well and portion.

Per cup: ~237 kcal • Protein ~29 g • Fat ~9.1 g • Carbs ~9.8 g • Fiber ~1.2 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Turkey Pot Paws

Makes ~6½ cups

~164 kcal per cup

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Ingredients

3½ cups cooked turkey (white meat), chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped (raw)
½ cup apples, chopped
1½ cups cooked millet
1 Tbsp kelp powder

Steps

Roast turkey (350°F, ~20 min/lb). Chop.
Pulse broccoli and apples to mince.
Combine with millet and kelp. Portion.

Per cup: ~163.5 kcal • Protein ~24.5 g • Fat ~1.4 g • Carbs ~11.8 g • Fiber ~1.1 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Protein Egg Bites

Makes ~5½ cups

~160 kcal per cup

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Ingredients

½ cup celery, chopped
½ cup carrots, chopped
½ cup spinach, chopped
~5 boiled eggs, chopped (~2 cups)
2 cups 2% cottage cheese
1 Tbsp kelp powder
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Steps

Pulse veggies to mince.
Mix with eggs, cottage cheese, kelp, and nutritional yeast. Portion.

Per cup: ~160 kcal • Protein ~19.2 g • Fat ~13.2 g • Carbs ~5.5 g • Fiber ~1.3 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Chicken and Rice with Sweet Potato

Makes ~5 cups

~176 kcal per cup

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Ingredients

2½ cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
1 cup sweet potato, cooked
½ cup cooked brown rice
½ cup spinach, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped
1 Tbsp kelp powder

Steps

Sauté chicken and chop.
Microwave sweet potato (pierced, damp towel) 10–12 min; peel and mash.
Pulse spinach and celery; combine all with rice and kelp. Portion.

Per cup: ~176 kcal • Protein ~23 g • Fat ~2.8 g • Carbs ~13.3 g • Fiber ~1.9 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Soy Good Veggie Bowl

Makes ~6 cups

~232 kcal per cup

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Ingredients

3½ cups tofu (~28 oz), crumbled
½ cup cooked quinoa
½ cup zucchini, chopped
½ cup kale, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 Tbsp kelp powder
¼ cup nutritional yeast

Steps

Warm tofu with nutritional yeast 5 min on low.
Pulse zucchini, kale, carrots; combine with quinoa and kelp. Portion.

Per cup: ~231.6 kcal • Protein ~23.5 g • Fat ~12 g • Carbs ~13.5 g • Fiber ~4.9 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Sea Snack

Makes ~3 cups

~187 kcal per cup

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Ingredients

2 cans sardines (3.75 oz each, in water)
½ cup celery, chopped
½ carrot, chopped
½ cup blueberries
½ cup low-fat (2%) cottage cheese
2 Tbsp parsley

Steps

Pulse celery and carrot to mince.
Combine with sardines, blueberries, cottage cheese, parsley. Portion.

Per cup: ~187 kcal • Protein ~18 g • Fat ~7.5 g • Carbs ~11 g • Fiber ~2 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Edamame & Veggie Bowl

Makes ~5½ cups

~201 kcal per cup

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Ingredients

3½ cups edamame, cooked and shelled
½ cup cooked quinoa
½ cup broccoli, chopped
½ cup kale, chopped
½ carrot, chopped
1 Tbsp kelp powder
¼ cup nutritional yeast

Steps

Boil edamame 3–4 min; drain.
Pulse veggies; combine with edamame, quinoa, kelp, nutritional yeast. Portion.

Per cup: ~201 kcal • Protein ~17 g • Fat ~12 g • Carbs ~20.3 g • Fiber ~6.6 g

Source: Chow Hounds.

Low-Calorie Treats

Sweet Potato Cookies

Makes ~48 (1-tsp scoops)

~14–15 kcal per cookie

View ingredients & steps

Ingredients

1 large cooked sweet potato
1 banana
½ Tbsp vegetable oil
½ cup quinoa flour

Steps

Preheat 350°F; mash sweet potato and banana.
Stir in oil, then flour; portion 1-tsp mounds and flatten.
Bake ~30 min; cool.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Quiche Bites

Makes 16

~11 kcal per bite

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Ingredients

½ cup minced vegetables (celery, carrots, zucchini, spinach)
2 medium eggs
Pinch of kelp

Steps

Preheat 350°F; grease mini-muffin pan.
Whisk eggs; fold in veggies and kelp.
Fill cups; bake 10–12 min.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Salmon Roll-Overs

Makes 18

~23 kcal per treat

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Ingredients

1 can salmon (7 oz)
⅓ cup oat flour
1 Tbsp minced parsley

Steps

Preheat 350°F; spray baking sheet.
Mix all ingredients.
Roll 1-inch balls; bake 12–15 min.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Yogurt Pops

Makes 15

~15 kcal per pop

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Ingredients

1 small ripe banana
1 cup plain, non-fat yogurt

Steps

Blend banana with yogurt.
Freeze in ice-cube tray; serve one at a time.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Turkey Meatballs

Makes 30

~17 kcal per meatball

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Ingredients

6 oz lean ground turkey
½ cup chopped carrots
½ cup ground quinoa or oatmeal
Pinch of kelp

Steps

Preheat 400°F.
Blend turkey and carrots; mix in grains and kelp.
Roll 1-inch balls; bake 15 min.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Earth Biscuits

Makes ~72 small cookies

~11 kcal per cookie

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Ingredients

2 cups garbanzo bean flour
1½ tsp baking powder
½ cup carrot, chopped
¼ cup thawed frozen peas
½ cup packed spinach
2 Tbsp tomato paste
½ tsp turmeric
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
⅛ to ¼ cup water

Steps

Preheat 350°F. Purée carrots, peas, spinach, tomato paste, water.
Pulse in flour, baking powder, herbs, spices.
Spread in 8×10″ pan, score into squares; bake ~30 min; cool.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Blueberry Mutt-ins

Makes ~36 mini muffins

~20 kcal per muffin

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Ingredients

½ cup quinoa flour
½ cup oat flour
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp baking soda
¾ cup blueberries
1 cup applesauce
1 egg
¼ cup water

Steps

Preheat 350°F; mix dry ingredients.
Whisk egg, applesauce, water; fold into dry; fold in blueberries.
Fill mini muffin pan ½ full; bake 10–15 min.

Source: Chow Hounds.

Zucchini Tarts

Makes 24 tarts

~17 kcal per tart

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Ingredients

¼ cup coconut flour
¼ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
¼ cup applesauce
1½ cups grated zucchini

Steps

Preheat 350°F; mix dry ingredients.
Stir in eggs, applesauce, zucchini.
Grease mini-muffin pan; dust with coconut flour; fill and bake 16–18 min; cool.

Source: Chow Hounds.

So-Good Smoothie Treats (3 flavors)

Makes 8 small cups per flavor

~11–13 kcal per mini smoothie

View ingredients & steps

Blueberry (~13 kcal)

½ cup blueberries
½ cup plain non-fat yogurt

Blend until smooth; pour into 8 small cups; freeze if desired.

Strawberry (~11 kcal)

½ cup strawberries
½ cup plain non-fat yogurt

Blend and portion into 8 cups.

Pumpkin (~13 kcal)

½ cup canned pumpkin
½ cup plain non-fat yogurt

Blend and portion into 8 cups.

Source: Chow Hounds.

All recipes and nutrition figures adapted from Chow Hounds by Dr. Ernie Ward.