Five Questions with Pet Food Author, The Honest Kitchen Founder Lucy Postins

Lucy Postins is an outspoken pioneer in the pet food industry, having created The Honest Kitchen — the world’s first FDA-verified, human-grade pet food — in her San Diego kitchen in 2002.

Passionate about nutrition and holistic health, Postins is considered an expert in her field. She participates in public speaking engagements, radio and television interviews, and occasionally holds educational seminars for pet owners. Pet Age recently asked Postins for her views on a variety of subjects.

What were your plans for the future when you received your bachelor’s degree in Equine & Business Studies?  

I wasn’t entirely sure what the future had in store when I received my degree! I absolutely loved my time at agricultural college and knew I wanted to work with animals in some capacity. As a child, I’d become really fixated on the idea of running my own horse boarding facility but that never got beyond the fantasy stage.

I was very fortunate that my degree was considered sufficiently specialized, enabling me to qualify for a visa for employment with Solid Gold Health Products (which made both equine and pet nutritional products) right out of school, an opportunity that I’m incredibly grateful for. I began there in the customer service department and worked my way up through marketing and product development. All of that led me to starting The Honest Kitchen right from my own kitchen, back in 2002. 

Do you believe that human grade should be the standard for all dog and cat food? 

I do believe that fundamentally, the basic standard of feed grade is lacking, and that human grade food should replace that standard. Feed grade contains at least one ingredient that is not considered safe for human consumption. That said, it’s not just about actual ingredients, but the safety standards, quality control measures and over-arching integrity of human food that really sets it apart from Feed and makes for an inherently safer and more trustworthy finished product.  

There are also several benefits of human grade, including higher-quality protein, easier digestion, and increased nutrients. Pets can survive on feed grade products, but with human grade pet food like The Honest Kitchen, they often start to truly thrive. 

Are there any underappreciated ingredients that are important to a pet’s diet? 

I think sometimes, produce is under-appreciated. Rightly, animal-based ingredients like meats and eggs should always be the primary source of protein in a pet’s food, but if vegetables and fruits and lacking, it generally means that a larger number of the nutrients needed to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles will need to come from the vitamin-mineral premix. To me, the most valuable source of these nutrients should be real, colorful whole foods. 

What inspired you to write “Made Out of Love,” a book on home pet food recipes? 

I’ve always thought that it’s common sense that companion animals’ diets should follow many of the same principles as those of humans. Meaning, some variety throughout the week, lots of real whole foods, and nourishment from an array of different ingredients.  

Writing the books “Made Out of Love” and more recently, “Dog Obsessed,” allowed me to shine a light on the ways that food can truly nourish a pet’s body and soul, and to celebrate the bond that we share with our animal companions. I absolutely love sharing food with my dogs, creating special meals and baking for them. I know from the many emails and social media posts we see from Honest Kitchen fans, that many other people feel the same way! Our dehydrated foods in particular work fabulously as the foundation for homemade meals and treats, making it incredibly easy to mix up anything from a nutritious breakfast bowl to an elaborate birthday cake for your pup! 

How would you describe having rescue donkeys? 

We really love our four rescue donkeys! Our first rescue, Daisy, came to our ranch about six years ago from a kill pen in Texas and is the gentlest soul and a wonderful influence on our horses. Last year, I bought her a new blanket which sadly didn’t fit – I jokingly said to my boyfriend that instead of returning it, it might be better to rescue a new donkey that was the right size for it! This led to us rescuing not one but two more donkeys, also from the Texas kill pen. One of them turned out to be pregnant so now we have four.

Donkeys are not quite the same as horses. They are very stoic and independent thinkers, so they tend to avoid situations that make them uncomfortable. With rescue donkeys in particular, it can take a lot of time to build their trust and help them overcome past fears from mistreatment. They teach you to be very patient and self-aware. Once you gain their trust, they are lovely companions to people and other animals! Our surprise baby donkey, George Heyduke, is a real character and is always making us laugh. We plan to train him to pack equipment up to our camp once he’s grown up!