I brought home Oliver, my golden retriever, four years ago, and have spoiled him with dog parks, tummy scratches, and treats ever since. Same when it came to his diet, feeding him only "premium," "natural," high protein dry food. But as he's aged and slowed a bit, I looked more closely at his food. That’s when I learned about the benefits of real food - aka food that is gently cooked and minimally processed.

To start our fresh journey, I ordered food from the three leading brands: Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie. Oliver and I tested them on taste, ingredients, health benefits, and price. To make an informed choice, we enlisted the help of Certified Pet Nutritionist Jennifer Baird to help us compare the three brands holistically.

Our verdict: Nom Nom wins with high-quality ingredients and meals prepared to maximize health benefits – and the best-tasting food of the bunch.

1. Taste and Variety: Nom Nom Wins

🥇 Nom Nom: We tried Beef Mash, Pork Potluck, Chicken Cuisine, and Turkey Fare. From day one, it was clear that Nom Nom was Oliver’s favorite. He chomped down the food in a few quick swallows (we've started using a "slow feeder"!). Now when he sees me opening the Nom Nom packets, his excitement's on a different level.

Nom Nom stood out to me because I can actually see the whole ingredients, versus the mushy texture of The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie.

❌ The Farmer’s Dog: We tried the Chicken, Turkey, and Beef recipes. Oliver didn’t finish his bowl of the beef recipe. He ended up liking chicken and turkey just about as much as his previous dry food, but unfortunately, I noticed looser stools.

❌ Ollie: I ordered the Beef with Sweet Potatoes, Turkey with Blueberries, and Pork with Apples recipes. The experience with Ollie was similar to The Farmer’s Dog – Oliver left some of the Pork in the bowl. He consumed the Beef and the Turkey, as if it was his once a week canned food. I wondered if that's because Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog food still resemble the ground-up mush of canned dog food.

2. Ingredients and Cooking Process: Nom Nom Wins

Taste is important, but what food is actually best for Oliver (and your dog)? Let's compare the nutrition of each brand. 

Turkey Recipe Breakdown by Brand:

All three brands fall within the AAFCO recommendations.

🥇 Nom Nom: stands out with higher protein and lower fat. The big difference is the cooking process. All three brands include animal protein as the first ingredient and no corn, wheat or soy. But Nom Nom is the only brand that cooks ingredients separately and then combines them before freezing.

Our pet nutritionist, Jennifer Baird, told me why that's so important: “slowly cooking each ingredient separately and then combining just before freezing is ideal for maximum nutritional availability, and prolongs freezer shelf-life.”

❌ The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie: Both cook the entire recipe together in batches and then freeze. That can lead to overcooking and moisture loss “which depletes nutrients,” Baird adds. 

With the optimal cooking process, Nom Nom is the clear winner.

3. Health Benefits: Nom Nom Wins

What ingredients should you look for in dog food? “Specific animal protein as the first ingredient, ingredients cooked separately and gently, and no vegetables, corn, wheat, soy, food coloring, or by-products," says Baird, our Pet Nutritionist.

Let’s look at the ingredients in each brand’s turkey recipe:

🥇 Nom Nom: While animal protein is the first ingredient for all three, two of Nom Nom’s recipes feature egg, the only brand to do so. Nom Nom also includes lots of veggies.

Are these differences important? According to Baird, yes: “Eggs provide biologically appropriate nutrients for amino acid and protein requirements,” while vegetables are important “for immune system support and digestive health.”

❌ Ollie: Ollie’s recipes are heavy in fruit, which, according to Baird, should only be fed in moderation due to high sugar content.

❌ The Farmer's Dog: The Farmer's Dog features the least recipe options of the three brands, and no egg.

With recipes that feature animal protein, egg, veggies, and no sugary fruit, Nom Nom is the clear choice.

4. Price: The Farmer’s Dog Wins

Here’s the price per meal of the chicken recipe compared for Oliver, a 67-pound golden retriever:

All brands are within a dollar, with The Farmer's Dog the cheapest.

I feel the ingredients and cooking process make Nom Nom worth the extra ~$1 per meal. 

It’s Time to Make The Switch

With balanced nutrition, high-quality ingredients, and great taste, Nom Nom is our clear winner. We've now switched to Nom Nom for all of Oliver’s meals, and I couldn’t be happier.

It’s a treat to see Oliver so happy eating at every meal. His energy levels and mood improved after just a few days, his loose stools are gone, and we’re excited to stick to our Nom Nom diet for years to come.

To see if Nom Nom is right for your dog, use our exclusive discount and try Nom Nom with 50% off: