Can foods be substituted?
Although variation is an appealing concept, it must be carefully done. Seemingly simple substitutions can throw a diet off balance and potentially create deficiencies or excesses. For example, using ground beef instead of turkey breast would drastically change the protein and fat content of a recipe. Even changes that seem more subtle can be problematic. For example, using a pork chop instead of pork loin can drastically increase the fat content of a recipe while decreasing the protein content. Therefore, a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist should be contacted about changes in a recipe or additional recipes should be requested at the start if a variety of different recipes is desired.
