The Siberian Secrets of Eternal Youth: Nutrition
Sitting pretty at a restaurant in Miami.
I found my familiar, a pure-bred Siberian Husky, so she doesn’t have an age.
When I look at her, I don’t think in terms of falling sand or hourglass figures.
She is measured in glances that speak like poetry, in morning light that turns her fur into an oil painting, and in the way she curls up beside me as I write.
There’s a kind of curiosity that follows her — how she glows, why she listens, how her youth lingers like morning dew. I don’t see it as a mystery, but as a spiritual practice.
What sustains my familiar is simple: food that honors her wildness, movement that unbinds her free spirit, and love that surrounds her like air.
This is the first part of what I’ve come to call The Siberian Secrets of Eternal Youth — lessons I’ve gathered while walking beside an ageless soul.
Although my familiar is a canine, the principles I follow can be adapted for witchy familiars across the entire animal kingdom.
Peas, blueberries, and chicken meatballs for siesta snack time.
Built for long journeys across the snow, Siberian Huskies are masters at regulating their energy and calories. They don’t need large meals to thrive, but they do need the right ones.
So I keep to one golden rule:
If she couldn’t realistically hunt it down in the wild, it doesn’t make sense to feed it as a staple.
This principle extends beyond dogs — it’s a reflection of how all animals, in their wild state, live in harmony with what the world provides. Every bite is chosen not by taste alone, but by instinct and necessity, shaping strength, vitality, and nourishment.
As my familiar, Nadiya reminds me that care is an act of listening — to her body, to her mind, and to the subtle currents of knowing that flow between us. She carries the ancestral knowledge of her species within her, showing me that true care isn’t just about feeding a body — it’s about honoring the intelligence of her species, the rhythm of her instincts, and the wild wisdom that still pulses quietly within her.
Cooked chicken and raw low sodium turkey bacon.
Protein for Puppies
I rotate Nadiya’s protein sources, keeping them realistic to what a Siberian Husky could catch in nature if an apocalypse ever erased humans from the earth. This approach honors her ancestry while keeping her meals balanced and interesting. Because Siberian Huskies tend to have sensitive stomachs, I base her diet mostly on chicken, adding variety whenever I can. New meats are introduced slowly and carefully — either alongside her regular chicken at mealtime or occasionally on their own as a special snack — so her digestion stays calm while still benefiting from different proteins. At minimum, she receives a new variety of protein at least once a month.
Raw low sodium turkey bacon, eggs, and carrots.
Staple Protein
Chicken, Eggs
Specialty Protein
Domestic Birds: Turkey, Duck
Fish: Trout, Bass, Cod, Perch, Sardines
Rabbit
Beaver
Her fish are always small and wild, the kind she might stumble upon in rivers, streams, or near the coast if she were roaming freely. There are many options, such as Flounder or Mackerel. It is best to look for low sodium and high omega-3.
Occasional Protein
Pig: Pork, Ham
Cervid: Deer, Elk, Moose, Antelope
Deep Sea Fish: Albacore Tuna,
Seldom Protein
Cow: Beef
Sea Predators: Shark, Dolphin, Squid, Octopus
Cows are simply too large for a Siberian Husky to bring down — even in a pack. The same logic applies to deep sea predators. She would likely never be in an environment to come across them.
While a taste-tester here or there won’t do much harm, eating things such as beef often doesn’t make sense for her system or align with her natural evolution. By respecting the scale of what she could realistically hunt, I avoid proteins that are more likely to upset her health over time. I extend this same wisdom when selecting her dog treats.
Chicken, eggs, cheese, mushrooms and raw carrots.
These words are shared in the same spirit I care for Nadiya: with devotion, not distractions (like advertisements). If you’d like to support us, even a few cents goes a long way.
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Raw chicken, green beans, carrots, cauliflower and cucumbers.
Sides for Sidekicks
The bowl of my familiar isn’t just protein — it’s brightened with a colorful mix of fresh vegetables, fruits, and nutrient-rich extras that round out her human-grade pet diet. Including a variety of items keeps her sensitive stomach resilient. By gently exposing her to so many different sides, I also keep her digestion primed for life’s curveballs — from a road trip with limited food options to the instincts she’d need if she ever got lost in the wild.
I make sure to keep her sides plain and pure, never seasoned, salted, or spiced, so her meals still stay gentle on her sensitive stomach. When shopping, I always reach for “no salt added” or “low sodium” options and avoid anything that’s been pre-flavored. These simple guidelines transform everyday foods into safe, nourishing additions that make her diet both familiar and deeply supportive of her health over time.
Raw chicken, carrots, broccoli and tomatoes with cooked sweet potato.
Staple Sides
Veggies: Peas, Green Beans, Broccoli, Carrots
Eggs: Cooked, Raw, Shells
Occasional Sides
Fruits: Apples, Peaches, Nectarines
Veggies: Cauliflower, Mushroom (Cooked)
Gourds: Pumpkin, Zucchini, Cucumber
Potatoes: White, Russet, Red, Sweet
Dairy: Cheese, Milk
Melons: Watermelon, Cantaloupe
Berries: Strawberry, Blueberry, Banana, Kiwi
Nightshades: Tomato, Eggplant, Bell Pepper
Leafy Greens: Bok Choi, Spinach
Ethnic: Napa Cabbage, Chayote, Daikon
Starch: Rice, Bread
Cooked eggs and mushrooms with raw carrots and watermelon.
All of the sides listed above are foods that Nadiya has actually enjoyed and eaten, though some are best offered in moderation, so be sure to do your own research before introducing anything new to your own familiar.
Nadiya has a surprising fondness for napa cabbage, which she eats with delight, while mushrooms are only on the menu when cooked. This preference reflects her natural instincts: many wild mushrooms can be poisonous, so she instinctively avoids raw varieties. Every choice in her bowl supports her health, longevity, and well-being, honoring both her evolved sense of what is safe to eat and the principles of mindful, nutrient-rich canine nutrition.
Raw chicken and carrots with cooked scraps of chicken, broccoli and rice.
Rules for Stools
By tuning in to Nadiya’s rhythms and observing how each meal moves through her body, I can sense the subtle signals her system gives. A touch of cheese helps firm things when needed, while gentle fruits and vegetables — pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, or bananas — keep things flowing smoothly when softness is needed. These small, deliberate choices honor her ancestral instincts, her Siberian Husky heritage, and the intelligence she carries as my familiar.
Every adjustment is a quiet act of listening, a way to support her vitality, balance her digestion, and nurture the energy that radiates from her every day. Even the tiniest tweaks ripple out, sustaining her health, her longevity, and the magic bond we share.
Second Star to the Right and Straight on Till Morning
Neverland Food
Salt (in large quantities)
Spice
Chocolate (and everything nice)
Onion (and most allium vegetables)
Avocado
Spicy Pepper (and most spicy foods)
Neverland is a gentle word for the place of no return. These are the foods your dog should avoid.
A Familiar Farewell
This series will expand into movement and care, because feeding a familiar is only the first layer of their vitality. What lands in their bowl is more than sustenance — it shapes their presence, sharpens their instincts, and stirs the subtle magic they carry into every space.
By beginning here — with real, human-grade foods, balanced in variety, and chosen with attention to their ancestral instincts — you will be able to see how thoughtful nutrition can shape the energy, presence, and well-being of your witchy familiars.
The bond you form through these acts of tending is neither simple nor ordinary, it is protective, vibrant, and woven with living magic.
FAQ
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Yes, Nadiya generally eats better than I do unless I get treated to a restaurant.
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Yes, I believe that this diet generally makes traveling with Nadiya easier as she can adapt to what a location has to offer her and I don’t have to worry about lugging around heavy dog food that is highly processed.
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Yes, I believe a human-grade diet nurtures Nadiya into being a better listener. Even during the hot season when she isn’t able to get as much exercise, she will still listen to gentle commands such as “calm down.” Nadiya never tries to escape, never eats garbage or other household items, and never runs away — even during our off-leash adventures.
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Not anymore. When Nadiya was young, we did not yet have enough money for dog bowls! Now she has a nice set of bowls and an elevated feeder to nurture her neck.
These words are shared in the same spirit I care for Nadiya: with devotion instead of advertisements. If you’d like to support us, even a few cents goes a long way!
