French toast – very romantic! Traditionally, this delicious dish is created with sliced bread that has been dipped in egg and milk and pan-fried. Usually, something sweet and/or cinnamon is added on top. And voilà! You have a simple and quick breakfast to enjoy. Can dogs, however, eat French toast? Is it truly French, too? Let’s investigate.
Nutrition of French Toast
First things come first. No, it’s unlikely that French toast is French. In the first century A.D., the Romans wrote the first description of it. Since then, it appears to have gained popularity throughout Europe.
Although it’s typically served as a dessert, french toast can also be made savory by removing the sugar, vanilla, and sweet toppings. For a totally different breakfast, try topping the French toast with a piece of tomato or some avocado.
Depending on the components used, French toast can have a wide range of nutritional values. Add extra calories if you pan-fry the bread in butter. Increase the number of calories if you use whole milk.
We found a recipe that calls for whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread, eggs, and fat-free milk. Since raisins are poisonous to dogs, you wouldn’t use this type of bread if you planned to share a bite with your pets, but it can be challenging to locate French toast recipes with nutritional information. Vegetable oil is used to fry the French toast.
One slice of toast made from this recipe contains 172 calories, 10 grams of protein, 21 grams of carbs, and 7 grams of fat. It contains 124 milligrams of cholesterol and 1 gram of saturated fat. In addition, it contains 253 mg of sodium and 3 grams of fiber.
By adding one more egg to your French toast, you can raise its protein content. Make sure the toast is thoroughly dipped in the egg solution.
You may make French toast with a variety of bread types. Since whole grain breads retain more fiber than breads prepared with more refined wheat, they are typically seen as healthier options.
If cooked in vegetable oil, French toast made from a slice of whole grain bread doesn’t have a particularly high calorie or fat content. It’s a wonderful source of protein as well because of the eggs. However, your French toast may become less healthful if you use a lot of syrup, butter, sugar, jam, or other toppings.
If the bread is properly prepared and free of harmful elements like garlic or raisins, most dogs can generally enjoy a small slice of it sometimes without suffering any severe consequences. However, what about toast? If your dog has a sweet craving, you should be careful about what you feed them because many desserts, toppings, and snacks are hazardous to dogs.
When it comes to French toast, some recipes can include components that are toxic or detrimental to dogs, while others might be okay to serve in tiny portions on special occasions without any of the typical toppings. Dogs allergic to wheat or other grains used to make bread, eggs, or dairy products shouldn’t be given bread or toast. Toast does have certain drawbacks, but there is zero health advantage for your dog.
Your dog won’t benefit from eating too much French toast as a healthy snack because of its high calorie, fat, and carbohydrate content, which can lead to weight gain. If you do decide to serve your dog French toast, make sure it’s homemade and made with just safe ingredients. Some French toast recipes call for additional components that aren’t good for dogs.
Is French toast a Good Food to Feed Your Dog?
Well, in actuality, sure. As long as it’s “plain,” you can give your dog a tiny piece of French toast. Unless your dog has specific dietary allergies, most dogs should be able to eat toast that has been dipped in egg and milk, cooked, and without any toppings.
A dog who is intolerant to lactose could be an exception. Given that French toast is dipped in milk, a dog with severe lactose intolerance may experience digestive issues. Although it would generally take a particularly sensitive dog to react, it is possible. Then you may leave out the milk. Simply cook the bread after dipping it in egg for your dog.
A dog with an egg allergy can be another exception. Egg allergies do exist in certain dogs. French toast is probably off limits for these pets. Without the egg, fried milk toast is probably not very appetizing.
Any dog food that has nutmeg added to it should not be given. A common spice to add to egg dishes, such French toast, is nutmeg. Dogs are poisoned by nutmeg, even though people find it delicious. For dogs, it may even be lethal.
Give your dog no French toast with raisins on it. Both grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs.
Of course, you should avoid giving your dog French toast that is heavily sweetened with syrup, chocolate, jams or jellies, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. All of these components may be dangerous for your dog.
It’s okay to sprinkle your dog’s French toast with a little cinnamon. Dogs can also safely consume vanilla. Although butter will add calories, it won’t hurt your dog. You can always top your dog’s French toast with a small amount of yogurt. Yogurt is a favorite food of most dogs and tastes great over French toast. If you need to limit your dog’s calorie intake, go for low-fat yogurt.
Can Dogs have French Toast?
You can add some fruit or berries to your dog’s ordinary French toast if he has a taste for them. French toast with blueberries as a topping works well for dogs.
While some sources suggest that dogs haven’t evolved to digest carbohydrates, it is actually true that over the last 10,000–15,000 years of coexisting with humans, dogs have evolved to digest carbohydrates. While wolves lack the same digestive enzymes that dogs have, dogs are perfectly capable of digesting many starches. Despite this, the carbohydrates in bread do not justify depriving your dog of bread—or French toast, for that matter—but you should be aware of the facts.
Dogs can also consume meals that contain grains like wheat. Today’s dog cookies are primarily prepared with wheat flour. For the majority of dogs, gluten is not a major concern either—that is, unless your dog’s veterinarian has identified an allergy or digestive problem.
Although it may not be the best treat for your dog, French toast is generally safe, especially if there are no extra toppings.
How Much French Toast Is Safe For Your Dog To Eat?
It’s recommended to offer your dog very little basic French toast, even though most dogs should be able to consume it without any problems. One slice of French toast (approximately 172 calories) would be sufficient for a large dog. A half of a slice would be sufficient for a small to medium-sized dog.
How Often Is It OK to Feed French Toast to Your Dog?
A slice of French toast may be high in calories due to the bread, egg, and milk as well as the frying process. Once or twice a week, you might give your dog a little piece of French toast without too much harm to his regular diet. He may start gaining weight if he consumes it more frequently.
Summary
There’s really no reason not to cook your dog a slice of French toast if you’re doing it for yourself. Just remember to keep it simple. As long as the French toast is just dipped in egg and milk and has no other toppings, the majority of dogs can comfortably consume a slice. Try making your dog’s French toast with whole grain bread if you want to give him something even healthier. Just make sure he doesn’t overindulge in French toast or do it too frequently. It can have a lot of calories even when it is simple.