Doggone Healthy Choices with Pam and Freedom

Welcome to Doggone Healthy Choices Doggone Healthy Choices Logo A healthier, happier life with your dog can begin with something small: a walk around the block, a new game, a quiet moment together, or the decision to try again tomorrow. I’m Pam, and my dog Freedom is usually right beside me. Together, we’re exploring what it means to care for our health while making the most of the time we share with our dogs—one foot, one paw at a time. Freedom and I stop to say Hello Some days that looks...

Using the Glycemic Index to Fuel Runs and Support a Healthy Weight Doggone Healthy Choices Friday, October 2, 2026 We want enough energy to enjoy our walks and runs, meals that satisfy us, and a healthy weight that helps us keep moving. And of course, we want our dogs beside us for as many happy miles as possible. The glycemic index, or GI, can help us understand the carbohydrates on our plates. For our dogs, the useful lesson is to consider the whole diet, portions, and individual needs. We...

Getting Smart About Sugar—For You and Your Dog An apple in one hand. Candy in the other. Both taste sweet, but what comes along with that sweetness? That’s what I want to look at today. We’ve talked about carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, and grains. Now let’s talk about sugar—and a few small choices we can make for ourselves and our dogs. Apple or Swedish Fish.....Healthy Choice made! You don’t have to give up fruit I’m not going to tell you to stop eating apples or bananas because they...

Grains for You and Your Dog: Can They Help You Lose Weight and Run Better? The Happy and Healthy Six-Legged Times Wednesday, September 30 Pam and Freedom Grains have taken a beating in the carb conversation. If you’re trying to lose weight or train for a race, you may have heard that you should give them up altogether. But a bowl of oats, a slice of whole-wheat bread, and a doughnut DO NOT bring the same things to the table. And then there’s the other question in a house like mine: What about...

Fruits and Veggies for Weight Loss: Fuel Your Day and Share Safely With Your Dog How produce can help you build satisfying meals, fuel a walk or run, and offer your dog a safe little taste. Hi Reader, Yesterday we talked about carbohydrates and why they deserve a place in our bowls. Today, let’s head to the produce aisle. check out yesterday's post here.... Carbohydrates Fruits and vegetables can help with weight loss because their water and fiber add volume to meals. They can help you feel...

Carbs for Dogs and Humans: Good Fuel or Food to Fear? What to put in your bowl, what belongs in your dog’s, and why the answer changes with activity. Hi friend, One day carbs are fuel. The next day, someone tells us to cut them out. Then we head out for a walk or run with our dogs and wonder: Do they need carbs, too? Here’s the answer I keep coming back to: the food, the portion, and the individual matter more than a “good carb” or “bad carb” label. And while we share the trail with our dogs,...

The Happy & Healthy Six-Legged Times Sunday Edition: One Foot, One Paw, One Healthy Day at a Time From Doggone Healthy Choices with Pam and Freedom The Sunday Funnies: The Smoothie Supervisor Your Sunday Funny at Doggone Healthy Choices- ENJOY! Free takes her kitchen supervision seriously. I make my green smoothie, she enjoys a little dog-friendly smoothie treat of her own, and somehow, she’s the one who gets credit for breakfast. Then we grab the leash and head outside together. A new series...

One Foot, One Paw, One Storm at a Time Getting your dog ready for a nor’easter or any stormy day When a storm is on the way, I think about the usual things: the weather forecast, the yard, and whether the power might go out. But I’m also thinking about Freedom (my dog). Where will she feel comfortable? What will we need close at hand? And how can we keep our routine calm when the weather outside is anything but? Cuddle Buddies are great during any storms A little preparation can make a storm...

Hi,Reader! I’m Pam, and this is Freedom. We’re glad you’re here. Pamela and Freedom stopping to say Hello! Doggone Healthy Choices grew from a simple belief: life can be healthier and happier when we move through it alongside our dogs—one foot, one paw at a time. Doggone Healthy Choices Logo Maybe you and your dog love a long walk. Maybe you’re learning a new cue together, trying a gentle stretch, or just figuring out how to make room for a little more joy in an ordinary day. Wherever you’re...

More Than a Song: Harry Chapin’s Legacy Is Still Feeding Long Island “CATS IN THE CRADLE IN THE SILLY SPOON LITTLE BY BLUE WHEN THE MEN IN THE MOON WHEN YOU COMING HOME DAD I DON'T KNOW WHEN…”- Harry Chapin One man’s music became a mission — and 46 years later, that mission is still helping our Long Island neighbors, veterans, families and even their pets. There are some songs that you hear. And then there are songs that stay with you. Harry Chapin’s Cat’s in the Cradle is one of those songs....