Nom Nom: reviews, general information and price

Anyone who's stood in the dog park and chatted with other doggie owners knows that fresh dog food is getting pretty popular. Whilst kibble and canned pet food certainly have a place, there's a reason your dog is constantly at your feet, begging for leftovers and scraps. Human-grade food just tastes (and smells) better. There are also lots of health benefits if your pup eats fresh dog food, such as improved digestion, a sleeker coat, and higher energy levels.

One such fresh dog food provider is Nomnom (formerly called Nomnomnow). So, what are the benefits of this delivery service compared to others? And is now the right time to change your pup over to a fresh food diet?

Here’s our Nomnom dog food review.

What is Nomnom?

Nomnom started out when a small group of pet lovers decided that their furry friends’ food wasn’t good enough. They couldn’t find a list of the exact ingredients going into standard dog food and found out that it was full of preservatives and fillers. They wanted to improve their dog's health holistically, concentrating on nutrition and flavor – you are, after all, what you eat. 

They worked (and still work) with leading board-certified veterinary nutritionists and Ph.D. students to create well-balanced, healthy recipes for your pets. Even though they’ve grown into a large company, they’ve kept the small company feel and the owners are still in control of all the aspects of the process. They can even tell you the name of the person who mixed your dog food!

How does Nomnom dog food work?

Like with most pet food subscription boxes (they also do cat food) you’ll need to create a profile. They’ll ask you a bunch of questions about your pup, such as their name, age, and breed. What’s really good about Nomnom is that they also ask you to describe your dog’s body condition and whether they’re overweight, underweight, or ideal. They’ll then recommend portion sizes depending on your answers.

They also want to know what’s up with your pup – so whether they’re healthy, a picky eater, have a sensitive stomach or allergies, arthritis, or a dull and flaky coat. You can pick a mixture of a few or none at all. As well as pre-portioned meals, they’ll recommend specific recipes for your pup’s unique needs.

You’ll then enter your shipping address and payment information and how often you’d like to receive your Nomnom dog food (every 2 or 4 weeks or a one-off purchase).

Delivery day!

Depending on what you ordered, your delivery will arrive in a cool box – ensuring it stays fresh right up to your door. You’ll also get an instruction booklet that gives handy tips on changing your dog to a fresh food diet and how to store the meals.

Nomnom’s fresh food recipes (for dogs)

When making the change from kibble to fresh dog food, you want to know that what you’re getting is worth it. There are fewer than 100 board-certified veterinary nutritionists in the US and the mastermind behind each pea in Nomnom food is one of them. Dr. Justin Schmalberg creates the recipes to the nutritional levels laid out by AAFCO Food Nutrient Profiles and makes them very yummy too!

Something great about Nomnom is that you can ensure you’re getting fresh, human-grade food just by looking at the website. They’ve put all the nutritional information up there as well as the exact ingredients in the recipes.

There are four recipes to choose from.

As you can see, they use a great mix of real meat, veggies, and grains to give your dog the balanced diet they need.

Pros and Cons of Nomnom dog food

Pros

• Dogs love Nomnom. The second it arrives their tails go on overdrive and they spend the whole afternoon sniffing where the box has been. They also gobble it up very quickly!
• Great selection of recipes. They include gluten and grain-free options for sensitive dogs. The recipes are also pretty customizable if your pup doesn’t like a particular ingredient or is allergic.
• Made in the USA. All the quality ingredients are human-grade and sourced locally.
• Access to pet nutritionists. Changing your pet’s diet isn’t always easy, especially if they’re picky. With Nomnom, you can email, live chat, or phone a nutritionist to answer any of your questions.
• Pre-portioned. Your delivery arrives in pre-portioned bags so you don’t have to mess around with measurements and they help regulate your dog’s weight.  You simply pour them into a bowl.

Cons

• Storing and portability. Like many fresh dog foods, Nomnom needs to be frozen, thawed, and stored in the fridge (if it’s going to be eaten soon)! You need to have enough space and you can’t easily take it with you when traveling.
• The price. It’s freshly prepared food using higher-quality ingredients which means it’s going to cost more than kibble. Some think it’s worth it, others think it’s just too much. 
• It might not fix everything. Just like with humans, there’s a lot of research that proves that eating fresh and healthy food reduces the risk of some major health problems. But just by changing your dog’s food to Nomnom, doesn’t mean all their conditions will be cured.

How much does Nomnom dog food cost?

This really depends on how big your dog is and any individual needs they have. A 40-pound dog will cost roughly $50 a week and a 60-pound one will cost about $65. So yes, it’s quite a lot more than your average kibble but many believe they save money on vet’s bills because of it.

What else does Nomnom do?

They really care about gut health. You can order one of their at-home testing kits (for $90) to check your pup’s microbiome. This is particularly useful if there’s been a change in them, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or itching. The test shows you if their levels of a particular healthy bacteria strain are low and they offer probiotic supplements ($40 per jar) to sprinkle on food to keep their gut and immune system healthy.

Reviews – what are people saying?

Positive

“NomNom is one of the best products out there for healthy food for dogs. Since using this food, my dogs have lost excess weight. During their recent check-up, the vet noticed how different my dogs looked (coats were shiny and healthy) and they seemed happy and active (they are 9 and 10-year-old dogs).” Corrina, ConsumerAffairs.

Negative

“I ordered a trial pack of four meals at a cost of $25. The pack was to arrive on Friday 10/16 but then came a message that it was delayed and would not be here until Saturday 10/17. The items arrived about 10 am with no ice whatsoever and the food was warm. We threw it out fearing that it may be spoiled.” Karen, ConsumerAffairs.

Overall thoughts

Nomnom is a great option if you’re wanting to give fresh food a try. They provide dogs and cats with nutritious, tasty meals which avoid all the preservatives and added nasty bits that kibble tends to have. Like with all higher-quality products, they are more expensive but they’re well worth it if they keep your dog happier and healthier!

You can see our overview of the most popular fresh dog food companies here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

NomNom vs the other fresh dog food brands

• Nom Nom vs The Farmer's Dog
• Nom Nom vs Ollie