Pet food: Fido and Fluffy can eat healthfully, too. You'll just need to read the fine print carefully.(natural pet foods)

Feeding your animals used to be as easy as feeding yourself. You just slid the leftover scraps--be they meat, pasta, vegetables or some ill-conceived tuna casserole--off of your plate and into your pet's bowl. Fido and Fluffy were none the wiser. They were also none the healthier. Table scraps can ruin a pet's fragile digestive system and, on top of that, provide empty calories that can lead to obesity and other harmful issues.

Today, our furry companions have nearly as many food options as we do. Here are some smart shopping tips to keep in mind the next time you buy pet food.

what is natural pet food?

Like our own food, pet food is monitored by the HS Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which defines natural pet food as ... well ... there is no official definition. Instead, the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine says that "natural" pet foods can be construed as lacking "artificial flavors, artificial colors or artificial preservatives." It's important to understand that "natural" doesn't mean "organic," so the strict USDA roles governing the organic label don't apply here.

what should you look for?

Since there's no established law for what natural pet food actually is, you'll have to stay sharp to find the best brand. The Animal Protection Institute suggests that consumers look for natural pet foods that have been approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Such foods should contain vitamins C and E as preservatives (instead of their synthetic counterparts BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate), as well as specific meats such as chicken, lamb or beef rather than unspecified by-products of various animals. But be warned. Finding out what's actually in your pet's food can entail some careful label reading, ...