Making Meal Moments With Your Furbabies + #NutrishForCats #Sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Nutrish for Cats. I received a sample of #NutrishForCats to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Momma Told Me: Feed to fuel, not to feel

I do not have human kids yet, but I am not without children. It is no secret that my love for my pets goes beyond household companion- we share a bond that transcends words to a complex communication of nuzzles and nudges. Truffles, the cat, is our 'oldest,' child but easily the most babied. Even at 5 years she still has the wonderment of a kitten, and the magical disposition of being a runt gives her a miniature cat appeal every guest can't help but fall in love with themselves. And every morning I awake to a nose on my face, a swat at my feel, or a tail in my mouth. If I sleep in especially late (past breakfast) I know I will owe some one-on-one time with the dangly things and noisemakers Truffles so loves to play with.

The unfortunate reality, for most pet parents, is that the lives of felines an canines do not match the expectancy of ourselves, as humans. Because of this regular veterinarian checkups, an active lifestyle, and healthy diet are key to enjoying every single purr and woof our furry friends have to offer. My discretion over what went in Truffles mouth did not stop after the midnight bottle feedings of her kitten-hood. We live in a small condo, and she is an indoor cat, so there are constantly lifestyle challenges for us to work around.

Indoor cats, especially, can be prone to weight issues and joint problems due to poor diet and lack of appetite. Pet parents often assume that a cat's lazy nature is due to aging; when in fact it is most often in part due to a nutrient lacking diet and lack of engagement. Cats by nature, will be more active at night, so try to take advantage of special bonding and play times just before you go to bed, or right after you wake, when cats will be most active. Focusing on feeding your cat a meal that is high in protein (it should be the number 1 ingredient, in fact,) and offers essential amino acids and vitamins like Taurine and Vitamin B. Not only will a nutrient rich cat food help aid digestion for more productive metabolism, but it can improve vision and hart health over the life of your pet.

There are a lot of pet food brands on the market, and most veterinarians will often have a pricey in house brand they are contracted to plug (Blue Diamond pays vets and breeders alike to promote their brands.) If you are going to choose a pet food based on the suggestion of a professional, consider asking if they have any affiliation first, then read some labels of your own. Finding a food that supports your cat's health is important, but you also want a food they will love to eat. That's why Rachael Ray has rolled her 'simple recipes' concept into 6 wholesome varieties of #NutrishForCats dry and wet food.

The Nutrish range of premium cat food aims to remove preservatives and fillers from everyday meals, replacing them with real chicken and salmon as the primary ingredient. There are a lot of things in commercials and pamphlets about this food, but I have my own favorite details. First and foremost, the flavorful recipes, like Real Salmon and Brown Rice or Ocean Fish and Chicken Catch-iatore, are inspired by simply good, real, human meals. I can look at the ingredients (beet pulp, brown rice, yeast) and make an inspired meal of my own that would be equally healthy for me to eat. In fact, I did! Scroll to the bottom of the post to see my Rachael Ray inspired Smoky Maple-Glazed Salmon.

The Nutrish for cats range of dry foods offer extremely easy to chew and eat small kernels that allow Truffles to better digest her food, and (yes) feel like she is eating more. I can even put half a serving with some brown rice and (unseasoned) salmon for a special meal we can enjoy together. She may not know what is in the food she's eating, but she knows her Momma is the bringer of delicious, and we craft countless memories and moments from that. I simply enjoy knowing I am doing my best to keep her adorable face in my bed for as many mornings as I can.

Try out the Rachael Ray #NutrishForCats range today with exclusive money saving coupons!

What Daughter Says: Feel and Fuel at the same time with smart meal decisions for you and your cat.

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Rachael Ray's Smoky Maple-Glazed Salmon

**Click here to be taken to a printable page for this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown or white rice
• 1 bundle watercress or upland cress (2 cups), stemmed and coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
• 4 medium to large carrots or multi-colored farmer's market carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon all-natural liquid smoke
• 1/2 cup dark amber maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 4 salmon fillets, skin removed (8 ounces each)
• 2 teaspoons Old Bay seafood seasoning
• 2 cups frozen sweet peas
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup chives, chopped

Directions:

1.) Prepare the brown or white rice, according to the package directions. When the rice is done, fluff with a fork and combine with the watercress leaves.

2.) When the rice has been cooking for 5 minutes, pre-heat the broiler and heat a skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon EVOO, a turn of the pan. Add the carrots to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Sauté to tender-crisp, 6-7 minutes.

3.) Meanwhile, in a small pot, bring the liquid smoke, maple syrup and vinegar to a boil and reduce over high heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

4.) Season the salmon with salt, pepper and Old Bay seafood seasoning. Heat the remaining tablespoon EVOO, a turn of the pan, in a large, ovensafe, nonstick skillet and cook the salmon top-side down, 3-4 minutes. Flip and pour the maple syrup glaze over the top of the fish and place under the broiler for 3 minutes to caramelize the glaze.

5.) Add the peas to the carrots and heat through while the fish is under the broiler. Add the butter and chives to the veggies. When the butter has melted, turn off the heat.
Serve the salmon with the peas and carrots and rice with watercress alongside.