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The Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Brands of 2020: Tested by Dogs

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Updated September 16, 2020 | Caring for Your Dog

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Table of Contents

Fresh dog food delivery is a hot new trend. Think of it as Blue Apron for dogs—only the cooking is already done for you. If you’ve ever considered homemade dog food, or wish your dog could eat whole, fresh foods more often, then these solutions might be a fit. And if those puppy dog eyes are any indication, your dogs wouldn’t mind, either. Homemade dog food delivery doesn’t come cheap, but it’s very convenient. There are now several companies that deliver fresh, prepared foods to your door for your pet. We tested a number of top options to give you the scoop on each.

How fresh are these dog meal kits? Well, they basically smell like your leftovers, and they look like a hearty stew, minus all the liquid. Packaging varies, from tear-off pouches to yogurt-like containers; some are frozen, others stored in the fridge. Read on for the full details, including price ranges. Get links to exclusive discounts for Rover readers, too!

Why Fresh Food for Dogs?

Alternative foods are gaining popularity among pet owners. Disenchantment with large pet food brands, concern over the quality of ingredients, and an increased focus on how food affects a pet’s health have led owners to consider a range of options from grain-free to raw food diets or making their own meals at home.

Fresh dog food delivery services take the place of making your pet’s food from scratch. They start with fresh, whole ingredients like lean proteins, veggies, and whole grains, package them up, and ship them to your door. They also make sure their recipes meet AAFCO standards for pet food, which means the foods include the vitamins and minerals needed to make a food nutritionally complete for your dog.

Many owners who’ve made the switch to fresh food say the diet has improved their pet’s coat, energy levels, and other health conditions. We weren’t able to test the long-term effects on our taste-tester dogs, but we can verify that they enjoyed each and every meal from this review.

You can feed these meals to your dogs as mixer add-ons to their current food, as a kind of dietary supplement, or feed them fresh food exclusively. If you’re using these meal kits as a supplement, the cost is lower. Whatever you decide, there’s likely to be a transition period where you’ll slowly introduce the fresh food to your pet so as to avoid any tummy upsets.

The Top Fresh Dog Food Delivery Brands Reviewed

Note: We were sent complimentary trial subscriptions of these dog food brands to test on our pups, but all opinions are unbiased and based on our observations of our dogs’ experience with the food.

Convenient, Customized, Consistent: Ollie

Price: Starts at $2 a day, depending on plan, recipe, and dog size. General averages range from $9 to $42 per week.

Get your first order at 60% off, plus a free bag of treats, using the link below.

Shop at Ollie

Our experience: My dog was a big fan of Ollie’s fresh food and wiggled with excitement every time he saw the container come out of my fridge. The feeding instructions were very detailed and easy to understand, and I appreciated the booklet with a schedule for easing my dog from his current kibble to an Ollie diet to avoid digestive issues. The brand is definitely very focused on education: the booklet also included tips for keeping the food fresh, guidelines for feeding (with tips for picky eaters), and expected results from switching to Ollie (increased energy, less allergies, weight management, etc).

I like that they provide a cute orange scoop and reusable container to keep the daily portions in my fridge between meal times. The food is easy to store, though two week’s worth took up quite a bit of space in my freezer. Even though it was wet, fresh food, it didn’t gross me out like other wet foods have, probably because it more closely resembles “human” food (i.e. I could see the peas, carrots, etc) and smelled pleasant. The ingredient list (I tried the Chicken recipe with my dog) was also high quality and seemed more straightforward compared to other premium dog foods I’ve encountered.

The whole experience, from initial sign-up to packaging and portion size, feels very customized.

What sets them apart:

The packaging was super thorough and attractive. The first shipment included dry ice so the food was still very frozen, plus a welcome packet with information I didn’t even know I needed, and a cute reusable scoop and container (they call it a “puptainer,” and it also doubles as a dog bowl).

The subscription seems very customized to my dog and Ollie asks quite a few questions ahead of time to recommend a food and portion size (they even get as specific as how many calories my dog should intake per day). They seem very cognizant of activity level, allergies, and other sensitivities when setting up the plan.

I received an email a couple days ahead of when my next order would ship out, which was nice because it allowed me to make changes to the frequency, ship date, or recipe ahead of time (or add on some treats).

The foods are “minimally processed” to preserve their nutrients and recipes are formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.

Available recipes: Heed the Cattle Call (Beef), Get Your Gobble On (Turkey), Dare to Cross the Road (Chicken), Get Some Sheep Thrills (Lamb)

Shop at Ollie

Most Variety: Nom Nom

Price: $30 to $120 per week.

Use the link below to get 20% off your first order.

Shop at Nom Nom

Our experience: Their system was the easiest to use: Small, space-saving packaging, portioned out by meal (two meals a day), so all I had to do was open a bag and pour it into the bowl. Their food also looked the freshest and most naturally colorful of all the brands.

What sets them apart:

Small, space-saving vacuum-sealed plastic bags with easy-tear tops

Each serving is individually packaged (two servings per day per dog)

The package has the name of the food and all the ingredients in it

These had the most vibrant colors of the brands we tried

My dogs seemed most excited to eat this one

They also offer meals for cats

Available recipes: Chicken Chow Wow (I could see individual sweet potato bites in this), Heartland Beef Mash, Tasty Turkey Fare, Porkalicious Potluck, Egg & Veggie Medley

Shop at Nom Nom

Price: Depending on age, breed, and size of dog, meal plans start at $2 a day.

Use the link below to get 50% off your first two weeks of food.

Shop at The Farmer’s Dog

Our experience: My dog, Whiskey, is a nearly 8-year-old Boxer-Cocker Spaniel mix. He’s very active, has a short coat, and is one of the world’s pickiest eaters. He’s not motivated by food and will go on hunger strike if he’s feeling upset about something. He’s the kind of dog who will leave some of his regular dry food in his bowl after a meal. We’ve tried several types of dry dog food over the years—grain-free, different types of protein, etc.—and nothing really gets him excited. His favorite treat is unseasoned cooked wild salmon. Did I mention he’s spoiled?

Buying dog food has never been fun. It’s like banking—something on the chore list to check off. Farmer’s Dog has somehow made feeding your dog joyful. The online quiz was simple and I really liked the variety of proteins to try that were customized for Whiskey’s dietary needs and behavior we wanted to address.

What sets them apart:

Packaging! As someone who gets a package delivered multiple times a week, it was a pleasant surprise to find the packaging is eco-friendly. Melting away the cornstarch wrap in the sink was cathartic. Had I not been so excited to get to the food, I would have made an activity out of it for my toddler as a sensory experience. And again, there was joy for the human: “Watch it melt away like your heart when snuggling puppies.” I love a brand with some personality!

The instructions: Easy to follow and it was reassuring to see Whiskey’s name on the individual food packs so I knew it was really customized for him.

What matters most? Whiskey loved it. We started Whiskey on the Turkey recipe at breakfast, and per the instructions, mixed it with his regular dry food. It was like he was eating a full Thanksgiving dinner! He quickly ate his whole breakfast, leaving nothing behind. At dinner, he was prancing by his mat and bowl, eagerly awaiting his next fresh meal. Wow!

Other noteworthy information: As expected and explained by Farmer’s Dog, Whiskey had a few tummy issues adjusting to the new food. We tried the the pork recipe next, which was a was a little too rich for him and gave him some bad gas and mushier poops, but he still gobbled it up.

My initial impression of the box when it arrived was that it felt a little daunting. Keep in mind my point of comparison is dry dog food with a scoop and literally my toddler can (and does!) do it.

Refrigerating, then scooping and fluffing the food, then using the fridge container was a little extra. My husband complained about it, and neither one of us could remember which package to use as we had been taking turns feeding Whiskey.

The used bags got a little stinky in the trash, which was easily remedied by taking out the trash more frequently. I appreciated the simplified instructions for transitioning the food, but would have liked something I could keep with the food (ie: magnet, laminated card, etc.) so it would stand out as extra important. We also realized that the dog bowl we used needed to be washed more frequently, which was another extra thing to keep it sanitary.

Available recipes: Turkey, Beef, Pork

Shop at The Farmer’s Dog

Price: $69 for two bags (a total 6 patties at 1-pound each).

Get 30% off your first delivery with code FRESH30 when you subscribe using the link below.

Shop at GroceryPup

Our experience: Our dogs could not get enough of Grocery Pup. They soon learned just what it meant when one of the packages came out of the fridge, and they gobbled it up—all three flavors were equally loved. Unlike other brands, Grocery Pup cooks their fresh dog food sous vide. This cooking method, popularized in high-end restaurants, is purported to help food retain more taste and nutrients. Grocery Pup puts their AAFCO-balanced foods into BPA-free vacuum-sealed bags and cooks them in a 180-degree water bath. While my dogs don’t know about sous vide, they did seem to notice the extra flavor.

Like the other brands, this healthy dog food comes in frozen packages to your front door. It’s easy to thaw in the fridge overnight and serve the next day, though I found that sometimes I needed to add a little hot water to the food to warm it up. It’s well-frozen!

A medium-sized dog, from 20-40 lbs, receives a single one-pound patty per day. For comparison, a 60-80 lb. dog would receive 2 patties per day.

What sets them apart:

Sous vide method

BPA-free packaging

Easy serving: each bag contains individual one-pound patties

USDA-inspected “human-grade” kitchen and ingredients

Available recipes: Texas Beef Stew (Beef), Turkey Pawella (Turkey), Porky’s Luau (Pork)

Shop at GroceryPup

Price: Based on my 12lb. dog, it costs about $3.10 per day, which is about $95 a month.

Shop at Just Food for Dogs

Our experience: Right off the bat, I was impressed with what I could see through the package. Large chunks of sweet potato, green beans, and russet potatoes, it reminded me of a stew I’d make for a cool fall night.

When the food arrived at my house, it was packaged very well, with the frozen food in a thermal bag and on ice. I also received their Pumpkin Treats, Salmon Bark, Supplements and a can of their DIY Nutrient Blend.

Inside the bags were informational pamphlets, a customized “Transition Guide” for moving from kibble to fresh, and there was also an adorable card with my dog drawn on the inside. The information included was easy to read, informative, and didn’t make me feel overwhelmed about the process or anything.

I thawed the first package and put it in the provided containers, and while my formula was fish, which is primarily cod, there was no fishy odor.

When I first gave Olive a small amount mixed in with her kibble, she seemed a little hesitant, like she knew it was out of the ordinary, and gave me almost a “what did I do to deserve this?!” look. She gave it a few licks, and then ended up eating the fresh food, and spitting the kibble out to be eaten last. I think that was a good sign! Ever since we’ve switched, she’s all in at meal time.

During the transition process, I had a question about my dog’s feeding amount suggestion that they provided. They were quick to respond, and even sent my question to a veterinarian to verify.

I didn’t experience any digestion issues with Olive. With squishy faced dogs, their digestive system can be temperamental, and most people know those breeds can be a bit stinky from gas. Olive didn’t have any gas, and her stool was nice and firm.

What sets them apart:

The veterinary consultation! This is an incredible service offered by the company to fine-tune the optimal diet for your dog. I originally planned to use it for our 17-year-old Dachshund; our Internal Medicine doctor had recommended Just Food for Dogs as an option for her IBS. But, after they reviewed all of our Dachshund’s vet records, ultimately, her medical issues made switching to a non-veterinarian prescribed food difficult, so we decided to have Olive, my Boston Terrier, be the official tester as her diet was less restrictive.

I appreciate that the staff at Just Food For Dogs is willing to work with people whose dogs have specific needs, and you can tell they try their absolute best to help you choose the food that will benefit your dog the most.

I truly felt that the staff was working with me to find a solution that was best for my dog. I never felt they were trying to push me to purchase or trial a subscription. They seemed to have my dog’s happiness and health in mind.

I’ve had dogs for over 10 years and have always fed kibble. I’ve been targeted for all of the ads for fresh food services, but I really appreciated that Just Food For Dogs has a full team of veterinarians, dermatologists, and nutritionists that I didn’t see with any of the other brands. This put me at ease as my dogs have medical concerns, and the brand was specifically recommended to us by our senior Dachshund’s Internal Medicine doctor.

Available recipes: Chicken & White Rice, Beef & Russet Potato, Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni, Fish & Sweet Potato, Venison & Squash, Lamb & Brown Rice

Shop at Just Food for Dogs

Odor-Free and Freezer-Friendly: Spot and Tango

Price: Meals start at $7 a week.

Use code ROVER for 50% off your first order using the link below.

Shop at Spot and Tango

Our experience: The sleeves of dog food arrived completely frozen as promised, and their slim packaging made it easy to fit them in my otherwise crowded freezer. The single-serving packaging made it so I never wondered how much to feed my dog Big Boy—the portion was created just for him (for reference he tested the Turkey & Red Quinoa and Beef & Millet recipes).

Spot & Tango uses whole ingredients in its fresh dog food like turkey, red quinoa, spinach, carrots, peas and apples, among other things. I saw whole peas and pieces of quinoa throughout both recipes.

Having never fed Big Boy fresh dog food before, I wasn’t sure how he’d like it. At first, he was hesitant, giving me side eye about the soft mixture in his bowl. It took a couple packages, but eventually he approached meal time with his typical enthusiasm and did not leave a single stray pea behind.

What sets them apart:

The fresh food was surprisingly not stinky at all

Spot & Tango sends a clip in case you don’t use the whole package

Slim packaging made it easy to fit in the freezer

Cooked in small batches for maximum nutrition

Other noteworthy information: When it comes to fresh dog food delivery, Spot & Tango is a solid option. As someone who typically shops for high-quality kibble, I would perhaps prefer their dry food to the fresh recipes. I am not in the habit of pulling packages out to defrost and prefer to not microwave plastic. The easy-peel packaging wasn’t flawless, and I ended up using scissors to get it open. Spot & Tango said their new packaging solves for this.

Big Boy is now used to the fresh variety, but initially he would leave the whole peas behind. He also manages to get quinoa everywhere, which is now dried to the floor and wall behind his bowl—not ideal. I wonder if he is not digesting it well, too, as his poops contained the full peas. For many reasons, whole peas are the star of this review.

Available recipes: Turkey & Red Quinoa, Beef & Millet, Lamb & Brown Rice

Shop at Spot and Tango

Recyclable Packaging: Pet Plate

Price: $23 to $90 per week.

Follow the link below and use code ROVER50 at checkout to receive 50% off your first box.

Shop at PetPlate

Our experience: Packaging was, again, the key here. Being able to easily place a lid back on the fresh dog food when I didn’t need the whole bowl was convenient but didn’t take up an obnoxious amount of space. I also loved that the insulating liner was made with recycled bottles. They lost points because it was a little challenging to understand exactly how much food to give my pets, even with the feeding guidelines printed on the label.

What sets them apart:

Food comes in compact yogurt-container type bowls with resealable lids—which made it easy to save the rest for later

Feeding guidelines are printed on the label

The insulation was made with recycled bottles and, depending on where you live, was recyclable

Available recipes: Braised Lamb (I could see quinoa in it!), Oven Roasted Turkey (hearty chunks of vegetables), Harvest Chicken, Farmhouse Beef

Shop at PetPlate

Awesome for Allergies: Evermore

Price: $14 to $300 per week.

Evermore subscriptions come in a variety of sizes so that you can choose to feed it exclusively, or use as a meal supplement. Learn more through the link below.

Shop at Evermore

Our experience: The packaging was compact and had serving sizes on the back of the boxes, and I liked that they used organic ingredients, but it was a bit of a hassle to find a ziplock bag when I didn’t need to use a full portion for a single meal and then try to stuff it back into the cardboard so I didn’t get the meals confused between dogs. Because they focus on organic ingredients, grass-fed meat, and avoid most problematic starches (even potato!) they’re our top choice for dogs with sensitive systems or food allergies.

What sets them apart:

Compact packaging (slim cardboard boxes on the outside, vacuum-sealed plastic on the inside)

Serving size is on the back of the box for convenient referencing

Evermore avoids corn, soy, wheat, potatoes, white rice, and pasta (more of a limited-ingredient option than the others)

They focus on grass-fed meats, organic pasture-raised eggs, organic vegetables, and all-USA ingredients

Woman-owned small business

Available recipes: Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, Beef

Shop at Evermore

Other Dog Food Subscription Services to Try

These subscription dog foods are not fresh dog meal kits but more like traditional kibble. The difference is that these companies offer customized meal plans, custom kibble, nutritional toppings, mix-ins, supplements and more, designed in consultation with dog nutritionists and veterinarians, that offer enough quality and variety we felt they were worth highlighting, too. Both of the brands below have never been recalled.

Infinitely Customizable: Hungry Bark

Price: From $13.59 for single bags of protein mix-ins to $199.22 for a four-week trial subscription.

Shop at Hungry Bark

Our experience: There’s a lot to like about Hungry Bark. Signing up for a subscription is easy and takes less than five minutes: Just share some information about your pet—dietary needs, sensitivities, lifestyle, etc.—and a subscription box will be recommended for you. This is great if you’re on the fence about how to start or which box to choose. The two-week taste test ($88.54, includes meal, supplement, and mix-in; 20% off the per-product price) is a simple way to safely gauge whether some version of this subscription is for you.

When my box was delivered and I cracked it open, the ingredients looked fresh and the packaging was appealingly clean. The mix-ins in particular were fragrant but not too stinky. Perhaps most importantly, according to Oso (my Border Collie/Husky taste-tester) who started salivating as soon as I opened the bag, it all was apparently delicious.

Oso preferred the Chicken Mix-In to the Beef Mix-In, and preferred the taste of the Move + Groove Hip + Joint Health Supplement to the Whole Health Multivitamin, but he wound up scarfing everything down. No complaints here.

The packaging is easy to seal and keeps your mix-ins and dry dog food fresh. Mix-in bags are resealable, and supplements are carefully packaged to avoid any contamination.

Only time will tell if the supplements are truly benefiting his overall health. But I can say he’s been perky with no digestive troubles since trialing his Healthy Bark goodies.

What sets them apart:

I dote on my dog, but I’m not likely to hand-prepare a fancy meal for him (unless it’s his birthday). This subscription service struck a nice middle ground between a healthy pet store kibble and the more deluxe gourmet subscription services out there. My dog went wild for the mix-ins and supplements and it didn’t require any preparation on my end.

Unlike other fresh food deliveries, you don’t need to make space in your fridge or freezer. The food and packaging is shelf-stable so you can store it wherever it’s convenient for you.

Ultimately, it costs less that $7 per day for the entire subscription box, and that’s for mix-ins plus kibble plus a supplement to feed your dog this healthy fare. This is a great fit for someone who wants a lightly-personalized and high-quality subscription for their dog, but isn’t ready to sign up for the DIY, super-bespoke, fix-it-on-the-stovetop type meal delivery services.

Available recipes: The “Superfoods” meal formulas include Chicken, Turkey + Brown Rice; Turkey + Duck (Grain-Free); Lamb + Turkey (Grain-Free); and Salmon (Grain-Free). Additional add ons include a variety of supplements and meal mix-ins.

Shop at Hungry Bark

Reliable Quality: Jinx

Price: Bag sizes of 4, 10, and 20 pounds (at $22.50, $40.50, and $67.50 respectively). You can set your subscription to deliver every 3-8 weeks. You can also order the bags of kibble individually, but you save 10% for subscribing.

Shop at Jinx

Our experience: The kibble was packaged in a standard bag and is shelf-stable. I loved opening the box it was delivered in, it had silly phrases like “If only dogs could create unboxing videos,” and the bag of food itself is packaged really well.

The ingredients are very clearly listed on the back, and the side panels contain nutritional information and transitioning guidelines.

The sign-up process was straightforward and quick, though I would have preferred more customization and guidance. The feeding guidelines provided are pretty standard compared to other kibble brands—e.g. your dog weighs 40 pounds so they should have 2.5 cups per day—and I was unsure how this translated into knowing what subscription cadence and size bag to order, or which recipe was best for my dog.

It’s difficult to tell if the food is made from the ingredients claimed (unlike the fresh frozen foods where you can see carrots, quinoa, etc) since it looks like normal kibble, but it seemed fresh and my dog scarfed down the Jinx food with no hesitation, and was excited when he heard the slightest bag crinkle. He didn’t seem to have any digestion issues.

What sets them apart:

Jinx’s food is in a dry kibble form, and looks very similar to my dog’s current food (Taste of the Wild). I personally like this because it makes for much easier storage when I don’t have to worry about keeping it cool.

I like the transparency into Jinx’s development process for their foods on their site, including their manufacturing standards, and how the recipes were formulated with scientists, veterinarians, and canine nutritionists.

Jinx also provided two different treat flavors for Enzo to try, two chicken variations, one with sweet potato and one with mango. They seemed very high quality (my partner commented that they looked “fancy”) and my dog loved them. The mango version is a little smaller, on the site they say great for small dogs, but I liked them as training treats. The sweet potato version is about the size of a fig newton. Full disclosure: I tried both out of curiosity because none of the ingredients freaked me out, and they weren’t bad!

Available recipes: Salmon, Brown Rice and Sweet Potato; Chicken, Sweet Potato and Egg; Chicken, Brown Rice and Avocado

Shop at Jinx

Dog vs Human Reviews

As all of the services reviewed here are human grade, we gave them the ultimate test: dogs and their humans trying each option out. Check out our video to see the reactions.

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The Review Process

How we tested Spot & Tango, Jinx, Just Food for Dogs, and Hungry Bark

Since originally publishing this article in August of 2018, a handful of new fresh dog food delivery and dog food subscription services came to market. These companies—Spot & Tango, Jinx, Just Food for Dogs, and Hungry Bark—were tested by various (and might we add, eager) Rover dogs in August 2020, as indicated in the individual reviews.

How we tested Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog

We tested Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog twice; first in 2018, when former The Dog People blog editor Irene Keliher tested the first batch of foods on her dogs (both to positive reviews) and again in 2020, on two different Rover dogs. The reviews here reflect the updated 2020 reviews.

How we tested Nom Nom, PetPlate, Grocery Pup, and Evermore

Former The Dog People blog editor Irene Keliher tested these foods on her two dogs, and shares the details below.

I have two dogs—one is 55 pounds and the other is 75 pounds. Both are mixed-breed rescues who have spent their whole lives eating natural brands of dry food. They’ve been on the same brand for the last three years or so, mostly because I’ve been too lazy to update our online subscription.

I recently had my pups try six different brands of fresh dog food and all the recipes they had to offer. Yes, my dogs were in heaven. Every brand had pros and cons, though my dogs had zero complaints about any of them, leaving me to do the hard work of choosing the top contenders.

In order to assess them, I kept notes on the brand’s packaging (everything from how easy it was to store to whether it was friendly to the planet), recipe choices, and the ease of the whole process. Because the brands were generous—and I’d signed up for them all at once—I was surprised at just how quickly my refrigerator and freezer filled up with dog food. I ended up pawning off some of the extras to my neighbors and Rover headquarters so that I could squeeze a couple of meals worth of my own human food in the fridge, too.

I also intended to keep track of which fresh dog food my dogs preferred, but they all seemed pretty equal in the eyes of my little piggies. Instead, you’ll see I made note of when the food seemed especially fresh or had interesting ingredients. PetPlate, for example, had a ton of quinoa in one of their recipes.

Since I was reviewing so many brands—and doing it over the course of just a couple of weeks—I didn’t try to track any changes in my dogs’ health, or test the nutrition claims some of the brands make. I can tell you that my dogs had some very healthy poops.

A Note on Pricing

You’re probably thinking, “sounds good, but how much does this cost?” The answer is: it varies.

The price ranges here were provided by the companies, but you can get your own personalized price by filling in your dog’s information on their sites. Costs vary based on your dog’s caloric needs (a four-pound dog eats a lot less than my 75 pound dog, obviously) and recipe selection. It also depends on whether you feed entirely fresh food or use these recipes to supplement your pet’s diet.

With some digging, we found that for a 15-lb. dog of normal activity level, average prices for a full fresh food diet ranged from $25/week to $33/week. For a 25-lb. dog of normal activity level, prices jump to anywhere from $34/week to $42/week. Again, it will vary based on your individual dog and preferences, so it’s worth going through a quick online quote to find out whether this fits in your budget.

Before Trying Fresh Dog Food

These super-healthy foods are better than most commercial pet foods, but any time you change your dog’s diet, it’s a good idea to go slowly. Transition them to the new food a little at a time. Be sure to talk to your vet, who can help guide you on any special needs your pet might have on a new diet.

A couple of other important considerations:

Fresh dog food usually needs refrigeration—make sure you have adequate space to hold a week’s worth of food in your fridge or freezer.

Consider whether you’re intending to feed your dog an entirely fresh-food diet, or just supplement their traditional food, which will determine what plan you sign up for and how frequently you need food delivered.

Further Reading

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source http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/the-best-fresh-dog-food-delivery-brands-of-2020-tested-by-dogs/ from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-best-fresh-dog-food-delivery-brands.html

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streeteatsdsm-blog · 5 years

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Hooyah! The Piggy Grilled Mac and Cheese coming atcha, creamy, gooey, porkalicious, buttery, tangy. Mess You Up! Along with our new Coney Fries! #eatlocal #dsmfoodies #foodtrucks #shopsmall #buylocal #desmoines #foodtruck #grilledcheese #fries #foodtrucklife #foodporn #dsmfoodtrucks (at Des Moines, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9kw0WBDem3/?igshid=9w5ul7wzv7xv

#eatlocal #dsmfoodies #foodtrucks #shopsmall #buylocal #desmoines #foodtruck #grilledcheese #fries #foodtrucklife #foodporn #dsmfoodtrucks

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primalaska · 5 years

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#porknoodle #porkopolis #porkhoney #porkskin #porknbeandream #porkbeans #porkbonesoup #porkisgood #porkramen #porku #porkonmyfork #porklife #porkchopporkysrib #porkkalanniemi #porkkana #porksoup #porkmince #porkkanakakku #porkkatsu #porkfloss #porkcrackle #porkysrib #porkbutts #porkchopbdg #porkchopbandung #PorkAdobo #porkstore #porkburger #porkalicious #porkparty (at Albuquerque, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B26ZzpVHV-9/?igshid=5d4js9dt120z

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thegrillinfool · 5 years

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THIS was the coolest thing I've ever seen at a BBQ event. This was prepared by @theshedbbq. I will share soooooo much more of this 170 pound beast tomorrow 🔥🐷🔥🐷🔥🐷🔥🐷🔥 Big thanks to @prairiefreshmeats for sponsoring this trip down to Memphis in May . . . . . . . . #MemphisInMay #memphis #pork #porktastic #gettingpiggywithit #gettinpiggywithit #pork #porkalicious #summerbarbecue #summerbbq #cookout #cook #cooking #grill #grilling #grilled #barbeque #bbq #barbeque #smoker #smokedpork http://bit.ly/2WcktGQ

#IFTTT #Instagram

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forlovedogs11 · 5 years

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You and I have something in common. I guarantee it. We both love dogs, and we both want what’s best for them. On this latter point, I decided to start looking at healthy, fresh food options for my pups. But let’s face it – as much as I love them and want what’s best for them, I just don’t have time to cook homemade meals for them everyday. For those of you that make this happen, I applaud you. But for the rest of us, I wanted to see if there was an option. A healthy, easy option. Delivered to my door.

Video for a little background on NomNomNowand why I’m doing this.

I currently feed my dogs Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Dog Food. The ingredients seem to be mostly healthy. They have a good record without recalls. I feel like it’s a well-balanced food for them. I’m sure everyone will have an opinion about my choice, but this is what I feed my pups. But I know it’s not the best.

So I started doing some research online for companies that prepare fresh food for dogs – sort of like Home Chef for humans. I was surprised to find a handful. Some of the criteria I used to narrow down my search were:

The Search Criteria

Quality Ingredients (transparency) – Do I understand the ingredients list? Is every ingredient there for a reason AND beneficial to my pup? Is it all sourced here in the USA?

Recipes – Will this be food my dog will like? Are there options for dogs with allergies, like gluten-free?

Track Record – Have there been any recalls or health scares associated with the food/company?

Price – Pricing for all the home delivery, fresh dog food services was comparable. I can tell you that for NomNomNow and the other companies, the price will depend upon how much your dog weighs and activity levels. NomNomNow is great because they offer price breaks if you order bi-weekly or monthly, as opposed to weekly.

Convenience – Home delivery is key. Plus, I don’t want to measure food – pre-portioned, individual meals are key.

With this in mind, I finally came to the conclusion that NomNomNow checked all the boxes. They had great sounding recipes, and based on the pictures (which also turned out to be real – see the video). The recipes are all formulated and tested by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist – NOT just a vet. Apparently, there are less than 100 veterinary nutritionists in the US. They are vets, but they also spend additional time studying animal nutrition. Who better to come up with healthy food for your dog. I was satisfied.

NomNomNow has facilities in California and Tennessee, which is a big deal, especially when you’re talking about fresh food that’s being shipped. I’m in Washington, so my food arrived within just a few days of placing my order. 4 to be exact. NomNomNowalso prepares and cooks all of the food in their own facilities. Nothing is farmed out. They have total control.

Signing Up.

This was pretty easy and straightforward. I simply went to the NomNomNow website, answered a few questions about each of my dogs (weight, age, birth date), selected the foods I wanted and entered shipping & payment information. That was it. NomNomNow also has a product called Insights, which is a microbiome testing kit for dogs and cats. You collect a fecal sample, send it back to NomNomNow. They analyze the sample and provide insights on your dog’s gut bacteria. I didn’t opt for this, but I wish I had. I think it would have given me an even better look at the health of my dogs prior to trying the fresh food program. It’s not absolutely necessary, but it would have been nice to know how my previous dog food was performing.

Food is Shipped.

After I had completed my online order, the first food shipment arrived pretty quickly. It took about 4 days from order day to arrival. It was two weeks worth of the four varieties NomNomNow offers:

Heartland Beef Mash

Porkalicious Potluck

Tasty Turkey Fare

Chicken Chow-Wow

The Food.

Let’s talk a little about the food. There are photos on the website. Glamour shots, right? Well, what I received looked exactly like the photos. It wasn’t a mashed up version. It’s whole food ingredients. I could see the meat, the egg, peas, everything – to be honest, it looked like something I would make and eat myself. As a retired firefighter, I’ve cooked my fair share of meals, so I am no stranger to criticism when it comes to food. This stuff actually looked really good. I mentioned how each meal was formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, and it shows. In fact, the NomNomNow foods exceed the standards set by the AAFCO. They’re charged by law to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds (including dog and cat foods) and animal drug remedies. So they set standards, and NomNomNow exceeded that. That made me feel pretty good. One other point of interest, the food came pre-portioned for each meal. There was no measuring. No storage of partially used food. It’s what we call in the business – firefighter proof. Simple.

Check out the video of the 1st shipment unboxing.

Day 0 – Pre-Challenge Check Up – The Vet

Before I started the 30-day challenge/test with my pups, I wanted to take my pups to the vet for their annual check-up, as well as a full blood work up and fecal test. I wanted to make sure there weren’t any underlying issues beforehand. As expected, they were in relatively excellent health. I was told my female, Sandy, was a little over normal weight – but nothing serious. The look test results would take a few days for results.

Day 1 – It Begins!

The food arrived yesterday. Time to unpack the box and get started. I was very pleased with how it was packed – definitely cold – which is huge considering you’re dealing with pork, chicken and other fresh ingredients. Included in the box were 2 free bags of single ingredient dog treats – I’m big on single ingredient treats. Also in the box, I had all 4 varieties of NomNomNow foods. Some additional literature and explanation of the transition period feeding was included, as well. For the first week, I’ll be giving my dogs a 50/50 mix of NomNomNow food and their regular kibble. This just helps their tummies adjust to the new food. I have to say, I’m really please with 1.) the small 50% pre-portioned bags and 2.) the labels on these bags which note that they are for the transition period. The food smelled and looked really good. Like something I would eat. Even my picky son wanted to have a bite. No surprise – my dogs gobbled it up. 30-day challenge…we’re off to a great start.

Watch my pups try NomNomNow for the 1st time!

Day 3 – Dogs Love NomNomNow

I got the blood test results back from a few days ago. Nothing to note – nothing abnormal. So that’s good! I haven’t really seen much of a change in the dogs – which to be expected this early…except the dogs are cracking me up. They are really digging the NomNomNow food. Each morning (and evening) they gather in the kitchen where we prep the food. They sit (without being told) like good little pups. So good. Waiting! They LOVE this stuff.

Day 8 – Transition Period Ends

With the transition period over, today I’m feeding my pups 100% NomNomNow fresh food. The previous week was really easy thanks to the pre-portioned transition packs. The dogs are still very excited each meal for their NomNomNow. It could just be the new food, but they definitely seem to be more energetic, especially around meal time. Go figure. I was a little worried that there would be an issue with diarrhea since I was changing up the food my dogs were used to, but I’m pleased to announce that there haven’t been any issues or accidents.

Day 11 – Potty Talk

Okay, so we’re into the test over a week and 3-days post transition, and I can say one thing I have noticed – the dog’s stools are smaller. Not weird small, but it just seems like they’re processing more. The poop is also super easy to pick up. Very firm. Okay, no more talk about poop. I don’t want to gross anyone out, but this seemed noteworthy for sure.

Day 15 – Puppy Love

So we’re a little over 2-weeks into the test. Both dogs definitely seem to be more energized. Puppy-like. They are only 5 years old, but I’ve noticed them bounding around more and playing with each other – wrestling. A lot more. It’s actually pretty fun to watch. I’m trying to keep an open mind, so I’ve been relying on my kids to give their opinions, as well. They’re funny – they talk as if we have different dogs. So maybe not the best sources.

Day 20 – I Might Be In Trouble

For almost 3-weeks my furry little friends have been devouring the fresh NomNomNowfood. It is clear to me that this will have to be a permanent change, I’ll be facing a mutt mutiny! Stools are still smaller and firmer (for those keeping track). Energy levels are definitely higher. I know I’m not imagining this. I have to say, their coats also seem a little shinier.

Day 27 – Big Changes

Scheduled my follow-up vet appointment today. I’m excited to see what, if anything has changed. I’ve definitely noticed Sandy seems a little more fit. She’s definitely more active, so that’s great! I don’t feel like the photos really do justice to the change I’ve seen in my dogs. I’m not a professional photographer, and I shot these photos on my phone. But I really see a difference in my dogs. Their coats are shinier and softer. And as I mentioned, they are so much more active.

Day 30 – The Last Day

The final day! Wow, that was easy. I’ve already got my next two weeks of food in the refrigerator. I just didn’t have the heart to return my dogs to the old food I was using. I can’t even imagine the outrage. My pups are just as excited for mealtime today as they were on Day 1. I am sold. Fresh food is the way to go. I love NomNomNow. Maybe not as much as my dogs. I know some will say – of course, fresh food is best – but this challenge wasn’t about just fresh food. It was about getting my dogs healthy, fresh food – that I didn’t have to make. If you have time to make food, by all means, go for it. It’s all about giving our dogs the best we can.

What Did I Learn?

The final vet check-up came back great. The vet commented that the dogs still are in excellent health. Sandy lost 2 pounds. So she’s closer to her healthy weight. I think the healthier food and increased activity are definitely to credit for this. Overall, I am really happy with the NomNomNow fresh food. It was really easy – pre-portioned bags made this so simple, and the home delivery was so convenient. No more lugging big bags of food from the store. Not once did I question whether or not this was good for my dogs. I really appreciate the work that went into coming up with these recipes. It’s comforting knowing that I am giving my dogs great tasting, healthy food.

It’s worth mentioning that NomNomNow also has a great guarantee. If you don’t think your pup benefited for the NomNomNow fresh food, just contact them within 10 days of your 30-day trial, and they’ll reimburse you up to $40 for your next food purchase. I like stuff like this. it gives me peace of mind. Plus, it tells me NomNomNow is confident in their product. And they should be. Over the past 30 days, my dogs have definitely benefited. Mind you, they were in good health to begin with, so I am not claiming some miraculous transformation. But from their appearance to their activity levels, I definitely see improvements. I can only imagine how this fresh food could benefit a less healthy pup.

Don’t take my word for it. Give NomNomNow a try. You won’t be disappointed, and they have a great deal right now for 50% off your first order. So give it a try and see the difference it makes in your dog

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nolafoodporn · 2 years

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Crispy, crunchy porkalicious pot stickers @hong_minh_restaurant 🥟 #chinesefood #westbankeats #nolarestaurants #nolaeats (at Hong Minh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYpBjKrqiv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#chinesefood #westbankeats #nolarestaurants #nolaeats

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formeryelpers · 2 years

Text

Carnitas El Momo, 411 Fairmount St, Los Angeles (Boyle Heights), CA 90033

Carnitas El Momo opened a brick and mortar location in Monterey Park earlier this year. They’ve been making carnitas and selling it on the street for decades, becoming one of the most popular street food vendors. The carnitas is cooked low and slow, frying in its own fat. Drool.

I thought I’d find the street version – a few tents set up and a grill on Fairmount Ave. The menu is simple and it’s all PORK. Carne (pork shoulder), buche (translated as pork belly but it’s pork stomach), cuero (pork skin). You can get the meat by the pound or order tacos ($4), mulitas ($10), tortas ($10). They also sell drinks.

Buche mulita ($10): Wow. Totally worth $10 because the mulita was loaded with tender buche and a ton of cheese. The cheese made a crispy cheese skirt. The pork juices infused the tortilla. The salsa was very spicy and smoky to the point that my lips tingled (love that). They also had bags of chopped onions and cilantro, lime wedges, and salsa prepacked. The pork was a tad salty but it was so indulgent and porkalicious. Can’t eat this too often but I will be back.

Cash only.

4.5 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

#Carnitas El Momo #carnitas #tacos #Mexican street food #mulita #torta #Boyle Heights #street food

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centralparkpawsblog · 5 years

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NomNomNow Review

https://www.centralparkpaws.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Opening-the-Porkalicious-Potluck-4.png

Of my four dogs I have two very picky eaters. But my oldest, Daisy, is the pickiest of them all.

We’ve tried everything possible to get Daisy to eat. Finally, it got to the point that I started cooking all of her meals.

To ensure I was providing well-balanced nutritious meals I made an appointment with a nutritionist, Dr. Churchill, DVM, at the University of Minnesota.

We left the appointment hopeful, with a specially formulated vitamin/nutrient supplement in hand. We had food recipes specially created just for Daisy and thought this would be the end of our food battle.

It wasn’t.

She wouldn’t eat the homemade food with the supplement, so we were back to our game of “What will Daisy eat today?”

Then I was told to check out NomNomNow. It sounded good, and I’m always up to trying a new food for Daisy.

Looking through the ingredient list I couldn’t help to notice it contained Nom NomNomNutrient Mix. I absolutely understand the necessity of it, but I was no longer hopeful that Daisy would eat this food.

Did NomNomNow pass Daisy’s standards?

What the Heck is NomNomNow (besides a cute name)?

The Food

Simply put, NomNomNow is dog food made from fresh, wholesome ingredients. All food is made to order.

There are 4 varieties to choose from:

Heartland Beef Mash

Tasty Turkey Fare

Chicken Chow-Wow

Porkalicious Potluck

The Service

NomNomNow is food delivered to your door. It’s packed with dry ice and well insulated.

There’s also a Pet Profile Account, which allows you to make changes to your orders, shipping, and general account information.

You also get some nifty bonuses:

They gift you a complimentary variety pack with your first order.

They provide 7 emergency meals (free of charge) with your second delivery

Emergency meals are kept in the freezer, “… life happens, and should a delivery ever get lost or stolen, these will ensure that your dog never goes without their NomNomNow”.

My NomNomNow Experience…

I ordered my variety pack on a Friday which, for my area, is after the deadline, and it arrived two weeks later.

Had I ordered before the deadline, for example on Wednesday, I would’ve received the food in a week.

When the box arrived, there was no guesswork to what was inside.

I was a bit curious as to what method NomNomNow used to keep the food cold.

To ensure the food was kept at the correct temperature, the box contained insulation and a packet of dry ice.

The food was frozen when I received it.

Because I wasn’t sure about exposing it to heat, not knowing if it would change the nutritional content, I let it thaw overnight in my fridge.

I chose to start with the Porkalicious Potluck, the reason being that Sophie has food allergies and the pork variety didn’t contain anything she’s allergic to.

Sophie nomming the NomNomNow

Here’s what the dogs thought:

You can’t see it, but Sophie was scoop shoveling the food into her mouth…

And Daisy (she just got a bath, thus the spiky hair) liked it so much she went over to help Calvin finish his…

Ginger had crazy eyes when she was eating it, so I didn’t feel like sharing that picture, but it was clear the dogs loved the food.

We’ve since opened the other packets and, though they ate them, they were not all received with the same enthusiasm.

Daisy “helping” Calvin finish off his food

Here’s how the dogs would rank them:

Porkalicious Potluck

Tasty Turkey Fare & Chicken Chow-Wow – Definitely well liked, but not as strongly as the Porkalicious Potluck.

Heartland Beef Mash – Not the favorite. They just picked at it.

Based on my dogs’ reactions, NomNomNow is a winner!

It’s terrific my dogs enjoyed the food, but I still had some questions that needed answers before I placed our first order.

Let’s Talk Ingredients

I love that the food is all human-grade and cooked to order.

Though nutritional supplements still needed to be added, I’m happy to see a lot of the nutrition is coming directly from a fresh source.

After reading through each of the recipes, I learned only one has brown rice and the others use potatoes as the carbohydrate.

I know a lot of people have steered toward grain-free foods, but recent studies are finding that grain-free diets may cause Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Yes, some dogs are more prone to DCM than others, so grain-free food may not be a concern.

I like that the recipe page not only includes the recipes but also indicates the nutritional benefits for each ingredient.

Who Created These Recipes?

It was nice to read about who actually came up with the recipes. With most dog foods you don’t have the comfort of knowing who the nutritionist is and their mission.

The recipes at NomNomNow were formulated by Dr. Justin Shmalberg “…one of the world’s foremost experts in veterinary nutrition.”

I looked into Dr. Shmalberg a bit more to see if this claim was accurate or not and it absolutely is.

He’s published numerous scientific papers in veterinary medicine and frequently lectures on nutritional topics to veterinarians. His credentials can also be found at the University of Florida’s Vet Medicine‘s website.

How Does NomNomNow Compare to a Raw Diet?

For me, it doesn’t compare.

Many veterinarians have warned me away from raw diets.

Raw diets carry the risk of Salmonella, Clostridium, Listeria and other bacteria found in raw meat. In addition to infection, there’s also the risk of broken teeth and internal punctures from the bones.

Also, many raw diets aren’t nutritionally balanced, which can have adverse effects on a dog’s health over time.

Alternatives

I looked into three similar dog food companies, and this is what I found:

Fresh Pet

Pros

Can be found at local grocery stores

Is the most economical

Cons

Not made to order

Less whole food ingredients than the others

Appears to be mechanically processed

Learn More

Farmers Dog

Pros

Bulk discount

Allows for multi-recipe orders without additional Charge.

Cons

The varieties were not listed on the website. I had to call to get a list of recipes and ingredients.

Only 3 formulas: Beef, Pork, and Turkey.

Their website doesn’t provide much information unless you sign up.

Cost. It’s more expensive than kibble.

Learn More

My Ollie

Pros

4 Recipes

Donates 1% of their revenue to a rescue organization

Cons

No Multi-Pet Discount

Cost. It’s a lot like human food; the fresher and healthier the food, the more it may cost.

Learn More

Overall, there were some universal benefits amongst NomNomNow, My Ollie, and The Farmers Dog.

Free shipping

Made Fresh to Order

Excellent Customer Service (I called all three)

No ingredient Substitutions – so, if your dog has allergies, you can’t adjust recipes to accommodate their food restrictions.

Why NomNomNow is the Favorite

Their Emergency Meal feature.

The variety pack so your pet can try all four flavors.

They introduced the nutritionist behind the recipes.

Their website is easy to navigate.

NomNomNow is great for a variety of dog breeds, from Pomeranians to German Shepherds.

Conclusion

I think freshly made dog food is a great idea, as long as you are feeding a balanced diet.

Because a dog’s nutrition needs are different than ours, I would only recommend a fresh dog food if it’s been approved by a veterinarian specializing in nutrition.

If you’ve ever tried making your dogs food you know how time consuming it is, which makes companies like NomNomNow so valuable.

Fresh dog food isn’t for everyone, and I’m not even saying it’s better than kibble.

I do think that it’s a great alternative when you have a dog that’s really finicky or one that needs a more specialized diet.

The post NomNomNow Review appeared first on Central Park Paws.

from https://www.centralparkpaws.net/dog-food/nomnomnow-review/

#dogs #cats #pets #reviews

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