Instant Pot Turkey & Berry Fat‑Burner: Portion Once, Freeze, and Watch Your Dog’s Waistline Shrink

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I’m always looking for new recipes for my two chihuahua mixes, Ella and Moose, that will help them live as long and healthy as possible. Recently, I started following Dr. Brooke Goldner’s Goodbye Lupus protocol for myself. It’s a plant‑based, anti‑inflammatory approach built around flooding the body with nutrients. At the same time, I’ve been reading her husband Thomas Tadlock’s book, Miracle Metabolism, which focuses on maximizing fat loss and fitness through calorie‑controlled, nutrient‑dense eating.

That combination got me thinking: could I take the principles of these approaches and adapt them for my dogs? Obviously, dogs aren’t primates — they can’t eat the same amount of greens that humans can — but I wondered if there was a way to use the same logic (maximum nutrition, anti‑inflammatory foods, calorie control) to create a dog‑friendly recipe.

This article shares the recipe I came up with. It’s designed to help with weight loss and overall health for dogs, while still respecting their unique nutritional needs.

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⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This recipe is inspired by Dr. Goldner’s Goodbye Lupus and Thomas Tadlock’s Miracle Metabolism. It is not created, tested, or endorsed by them.

It is also not veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before making major changes to your dog’s diet. The science behind these protocols is strongest for humans; for dogs, this is an experimental adaptation.

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Why Focus on Weight Loss for Dogs?

Canine obesity is one of the most overlooked health crises in pets today. Studies estimate that over half of all dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and many owners don’t even realize it. A little extra fluff might look cute, but those extra pounds are doing silent damage inside your dog’s body.

Here’s what excess weight does to dogs:

• Shortens lifespan: Research shows overweight dogs live up to 2.5 years less than their lean counterparts.
• Worsens arthritis and joint pain: Extra pounds put unnecessary strain on hips, knees, and spine, making it harder for dogs to walk, run, or even get up from their bed.
• Increases disease risk: Obesity is linked to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and even certain cancers.
• Reduces quality of life: Overweight dogs tire quickly, struggle with mobility, and often miss out on playtime and walks.

Helping your dog slim down isn’t about vanity — it’s about giving them more years of energy, mobility, and joy. If there’s one health change that can make the biggest difference for your pup, it’s weight management.

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How This Recipe Works (Inspired by Goldner + Tadlock)

When I started following Dr. Brooke Goldner’s Goodbye Lupus protocol for myself, I was struck by how powerful nutrient flooding can be. Her approach focuses on piling in antioxidants, omega‑3s, and hydration to calm inflammation and allow the body to heal. Reading Thomas Tadlock’s Miracle Metabolism alongside it, I saw how the same principles could be used for fat loss: eat high‑volume, nutrient‑dense foods that leave you satisfied while cutting calories.

Here’s how I adapted those ideas for dogs:

Goodbye Lupus Inspiration

• Nutrient flooding: Blended spinach, kale, zucchini, blueberries, and carrots deliver antioxidants and phytonutrients in a form dogs can absorb.
• Anti‑inflammatory focus: Whole sardines supply omega‑3 fatty acids that fight inflammation at the cellular level.
• Hydration built in: By blending veggies with water, every meal doubles as a hydration boost.

Miracle Metabolism Inspiration

• Calorie‑controlled, high‑volume eating: Just like Tadlock’s human clients, dogs get to eat plenty of food while still reducing calories.
• Fat loss without muscle loss: Lean protein (turkey or fish) keeps muscles strong while the body sheds fat.
• Satisfaction without overeating: The fiber and water content helps dogs feel full between meals.

Dog‑Specific Tweaks

• Direct omega‑3s from sardines: Unlike humans, dogs can’t efficiently convert plant omega‑3s (like flax) into the active forms EPA and DHA. Sardines provide them ready‑made.
• Blended veggies for digestibility: Dogs can’t break down cellulose well, so blending veggies makes the nutrients bioavailable.
• Balanced calcium with eggshell powder: Meat alone is too high in phosphorus. Adding ground eggshell powder restores the calcium‑phosphorus balance for strong bones and teeth.

The result? A recipe that helps dogs feel full, nourished, and satisfied while naturally reducing calories and inflammation. It’s a practical way to promote weight loss, longevity, and vitality — all from real, whole foods.

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🐾 Instant Pot Goodbye Autoimmune–Inspired Dog Food Recipe

Base Recipe: 10‑lb Dog (2‑Week Batch = 28 meals)

Protein Base (Instant Pot):

• 1.75 lbs ground turkey or white fish fillets

Omega‑3 Whole Food:

• 7 small canned sardines in water (≈7 oz / 200 g)

Blended Greens, Veggies & Calcium (blend raw with ~2 cups water):

• 3.5 cups spinach
• 1.75 cups kale (stems removed)
• 1.75 cups zucchini
• 1.75 cups blueberries
• 2 medium carrots (lightly steamed before blending)
• 3.5 tsp ground eggshell powder (≈7,000 mg calcium)

Optional Carbohydrate:

• ¾ cup pumpkin puree or ¾ cup cooked quinoa

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Preparation

Cook protein in Instant Pot

• Add 1.5 cups water + turkey (or fish).
• Pressure cook 7 minutes (turkey) or 3 minutes (fish), natural release.
• Drain excess liquid if needed.

Blend greens, fruit & calcium

• In a high‑speed blender, combine spinach, kale, zucchini, blueberries, carrots, and eggshell powder with ~2 cups water.
• Blend until smooth.

Mix everything

• In a large bowl, combine cooked protein, blended greens/calcium mix, sardines (mashed), and pumpkin/quinoa if using.
• Stir until fully mixed.

Portion & Freeze

• Divide into 28 equal portions (each = 1 meal for a 10‑lb dog).
• Freeze portions in freezer‑safe containers or silicone molds.

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Feeding & Storage

• Each 10‑lb dog: 2 meals/day → 2 portions/day.
• Batch (28 portions): Lasts 14 days for one 10‑lb dog.
• Fridge: Up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Up to 2 months.

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Alternate Ingredient Lists by Dog Size (2‑Week Batch Each)

5‑lb Dog (14 meals)

• 0.9 lbs ground turkey/fish
• 3–4 sardines
• 1.75 cups spinach
• 0.9 cups kale
• 0.9 cups zucchini
• 0.9 cups blueberries
• 1 carrot
• 1.75 tsp eggshell powder
• ⅓ cup pumpkin or quinoa

20‑lb Dog (56 meals)

• 3.5 lbs ground turkey/fish
• 14 sardines
• 7 cups spinach
• 3.5 cups kale
• 3.5 cups zucchini
• 3.5 cups blueberries
• 3–4 carrots
• 7 tsp eggshell powder
• 1.5 cups pumpkin or quinoa

40‑lb Dog (112 meals)

• 7 lbs ground turkey/fish
• 28 sardines
• 14 cups spinach
• 7 cups kale
• 7 cups zucchini
• 7 cups blueberries
• 6–7 carrots
• 14 tsp eggshell powder
• 3 cups pumpkin or quinoa

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Final Thoughts

I’m following the Goodbye Lupus protocol myself, and reading Miracle Metabolism made me realize how much overlap there is between healing, fat loss, and longevity. That curiosity sent me down a rabbit hole: how could I adapt those ideas for Ella and Moose?

This recipe is the result. It’s not proven science for dogs, but it’s a thoughtful way to combine weight loss, maximum nutrition, and anti‑inflammatory foods into a homemade diet.

If your pup needs to slim down or you just want to feed them better, give this recipe a try — and always check with your vet to make sure it’s right for your dog.