Nom Nom Review

Overview

Pet meal delivery services are becoming more and more popular, as owners are turning to chefs rather than pet store shelves. Gone are the days of grabbing a cheap bag of kibble and dumping it in a bowl, now, owners are more aware of the fact that what they had previously been feeding their beloved pooch may have been causing serious health concerns.

The processed dog food that is commonly found for sale is packed full of fillers and by-products, making for a cheap ingredient list that provides little in terms of actual meat or vegetables. Dogs may not mind the taste, but their digestive system often minds the food, and more owners are noticing skin concerns, energy level drops, and other digestive concerns.

Companies like Nom Nom have taken these concerns seriously, and in turn created a product that looks to feed dogs in a healthier way. They believe in serving up real ingredients without the use of fillers, and delivering nutritious and convenient meals straight to your door.

With their ease to portion packages, restaurant quality ingredients, on staff veterinarians, and added bonuses such as treats and probiotics, Nom Nom is a perfect way to feed you dog that is hassle-free and hearty – something you can feel good about serving.

 Nom Nom Brand Information

Nom Nom was founded in 2015 by Nate Phillips and is based out of San Francisco, where all of their food is made and shipped from. There is very little information available on line regarding how the brand was started, and instead, the company’s website focuses mainly on what they are currently doing, and working towards, instead of their past.

What we do know about Nom Nom is that they are home to a staff that are incredibly talented, and that they employ one of the leading experts when it comes to veterinary nutrition, Dr. Justin Shmalberg. A professor at the University of Florida, Dr. Shmalberg works closely with Nom Nom to assist them in developing their recipes and making sure each one meets all of the nutritional requirements for a happy, healthy dog.

Not only does Nom Nom work with Dr. Shmalberg, they also work with a number of other doctors in their own research and development lab. The company goes far beyond just making food, and is also invested in researching areas such as the impact of diet, obesity in pets, the effects of probiotics, and more. Pet owners can sign up on their website to participate in a number of different studies, where they are sent testing kits and then given free assessment results. On the surface this can help pet owners understand their own dog’s needs, but more importantly each returned kit goes a long way in helping science understand key areas and develop new formulas.

This is a company that is genuinely committed to providing the best, and while many similar companies also use high-quality ingredients, Nom Nom goes one step further and uses restaurant quality ingredients in all of their recipes. They firmly stand behind their claim that they would never serve something that they themselves wouldn’t eat, and so you will never find any by-products or fillers contained within.

Nom Nom Recipes & Ingredients

In total, Nom Nom offers four different protein options for dogs, as well as one option for cats. They also sell various other products on their website, such as treats, supplements, and a microbiome kit for owners to test their dog’s gut health for any imbalances.

The four proteins offered are chicken, turkey, beef, and pork, and customers can either buy one of the options or select a variety pack that contains all four. All ingredients and nutritional facts are clearly displayed, and there is a good level of transparency from the company. Below we will look at all four recipes a bit more in depth.

When attempting to decipher dog food labels, the thing you want to focus most on is the first few ingredients listed, as these are the ones contained in the highest quantity. Number one should always be a real protein source, such as chicken or beef, followed by vegetables and fruit. If you are reading an ingredient list and cannot identify exactly what the first ingredients are, or they are labelled as by-products, then you know that you are serving up highly processed and very low quality food.

With Nom Nom, all of the top ingredients are real meat and vegetables, followed only by nutritional supplements. Nothing that they list presents any cause for concern, meaning this is an excellent option for your dog’s next meal.

All of the recipes exceed the standard put in place by the AAFCO, and organization that monitors and advocates for what can and cannot be added into pet food. Everything is freshly-made before being conveniently frozen, and is then delivered within 1 to 2 days from when it was prepared. Once you are ready to serve, all you’ll need to do is defrost the appropriate portion for your pet, and it can the be given to them directly without the need for reheating.

Ordering & Delivery With Nom Nom

Before you place an order with Nom Nom you are required to fill out a survey about your pet. First you will select between dog or cat, and then you will answer a couple of questions about their age and weight. Next it will prompt you to select two different recipes for your first order, and after that you simply put in your shipping address and pay. Later on in the process you are able to add in additional information, such as activity level, goal weight, and any health concerns or allergies.

Deliveries happen every one week, two weeks, or four weeks, but unfortunately there is no option to select your preferred delivery date. This means that you are a bit at the mercy of the company, and if a particular day of the week is bad for you, there is no way to guarantee a different option. However, the food is packaged in a way that ensures it remains good for up to 24 hours, so as long as you return home and put it away in that timeframe you should be good.

If you happen to be going away on vacation, or simply don’t want the food for a period of time, you can easily skip a delivery or pause your subscription right on the website. There is also the option to purchase individual packs at your local PetSmart. Or if you’re not ready to commit to a subscription Nom Nom, sells a Variety Pack to sample all 4 recipes. 

Every package of Nom Nom food is one exact meal, which is something unique to this brand. While most companies put 2 or more meals worth inside a package, Nom Nom makes it much easier and less messy to serve. All you need to do is open it up, dump it in your pet’s bowl, and you’re done. No portioning, no resealing, just a hassle free experience. Food will also last quite awhile when stored correctly, and meals can last up to 7 days in the fridge as well as up to 6 months in the freezer. 

All of the packaging used by Nom Nom is environmentally friendly, and are either made from recycled materials or are recyclable. Even the insulation used inside the boxes to keep the food cold is biodegradable.

Nom Nom Pricing

Like with all pet meal delivery services, the price is going to be highly dependent on the size of your pet as well as their age and activity level. If you have a 5lb dog you will ultimately spend much less than someone who has a 95lb dog, and this is true regardless of what type of food you buy. This is also the case for someone who has a young dog with a lot of energy, versus someone who has a senior that sleeps all day. 

It’s hard to list all of the price combinations that can occur with Nom Nom, so if you are interested in knowing how much you would pay for your particular pet, the best thing to do is simply go on their website and take the quiz. Once they have your dog’s information, they can actually give you the final total that you will pay each week.

On average, if you have a dog that is under 10lbs, then you are likely to pay approximately $25 a week, or just over $3 per day. Dogs that are bigger, but under 40lbs, will be closer to the $43 mark per week, which is just over $6 per day. Finally, dogs that are much larger and closer to the 70lb mark will pay around $63 a week, or $9 a day.

Obviously these prices are significantly higher than what you would pay for generic dog food, or even for higher quality kibble. There is no denying that this is more of an investment, but in terms of your dog’s health it can easily pay off in the long run. More nutrient dense, rich foods means your dog is getting the proper fuel, and is less likely to suffer from digestive troubles or skin conditions which can lead to a lot on vet bills. In addition, if you have a dog that is already struggling with health problems, changing to whole foods can help improve many ailments and extend their lifespan.

This cost will certainly be a deterrent from some people, but when you look at the numbers logically, it ends up being much less than you would even spend on yourself per day. If you believe your dog deserves the same quality and care as you, then this is actually quite a bargain.

How Does Nom Nom Compare?

When comparing the various dog meal prep services, there are many aspects that tend to be the same. All of them offer free shipping, and they all offer a discount code on your first order. New customers of Nom Nom are eligible for 20% off of their first order, which is on the lower end of discounts. Brands such as Ollie offer 50%, whereas Farmer’s Dog offers 20% – 50% depending on which code you use. 

In terms of the biggest variables between the companies, price, nutrition options, and packaging are the main ones, and luckily Nom Nom falls at par, or better, when compared with similar brands. Starting with price, Nom Nom is on the lower end of the scale, and is only $1 a day more on average than the cheapest brand on the market. When comparing it to the most expensive brand, Pet Plate, you see that you are saving $2 per day on average, which is a total of $730 in savings per year.

For the recipes available, most of the companies offer four protein options, although one does only offer three. Nom Nom is standard in this regard, and their chicken, turkey, beef, and pork is similar it title to other companies. Where Nom Nom stands out, however, is the fact that their recipes are much higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than other companies. For a pet owner who is making this switch for nutritional reasons, this is a much better choice for your dog and will be more worth the money spent. On top of that, the food that arrives from Nom Nom literally looks high-quality and uses real ingredients that are clear to see. You can see the chunks of meat and vegetables, which is not true for all brands, and some look like a blended mash with no obvious chunks. This doesn’t mean other brands are not using high-quality ingredients, but visually you don’t get the satisfaction of actually seeing how good the food looks.

Many people who make the switch to freshly made food worry about convenience, since dumping kibble into a bowl is about as easy as it can get. This is why packaging is such an important factor, as complicated packages and difficulty serving can be very off putting for most people. Nom Nom does quite well in terms of packaging, although their method isn’t the one that is most preferred. Some companies use scoopable containers which create less mess and waste, and Nom Nom has yet to utilize this method. However, that doesn’t mean they have complicated packaging, in fact, far from it. 

Nom Nom is one of the only companies that packages each meal individually. This makes their food much simpler than all of the other brands, as you are not required to portion it out at meal time. Instead, all you need to do is open one pack, put it in your dog’s bowl, and serve. That packaging is plastic, but it is recyclable, and overall it does a great job of keeping the food preserved. The only downside to this method, however, is that sometimes the food can stick a bit to the sides, making it tricky to get every last drop.

As a whole, Nom Nom really stands out from the pack, and at a lower price point it’s hard to believe how great they really are. Their dedication to science and research is unique to them, and the fact that they employ a veterinary nutritionist full-time is also something only they are doing. 

If you are looking to make the switch to freshly made food, the lower price and higher quality makes Nom Nom a perfect choice.

Bottom Line

Nom Nom is one of the highest rated pet food delivery services, and it is not hard to see why. From the more reasonable price point to the high-quality of the food, many owner’s feel confident and happy serving this to their pets. It seems to be quite a hit with dogs as well, with very few people ever mentioning that they dog did not enjoy the taste. 

The individual packages, quick delivery times, and customizable schedule makes Nom Nom a convenient option for any pet owner, and should make the switch from dry food an easy one. They offer a lot of advice on their website on how to switch, and even sell probiotics to help your dog’s digestive system adjust. 

With their four protein options there is lots of variety, and it is unlikely your pet will ever become bored with their handcrafted recipes. Each option is packed full of healthy nutrients, and visually it is easy to see that they are using real meats and vegetables. They stand by the fact that their ingredients are restaurant quality, and they refuse to use fillers or by-products. In the end, you are left with great food that is sure to be a healthier and more enjoyable option for your pup.

It’s difficult to find any real downsides to Nom Nom aside from the price, and even then, it’s lower than many of the other brands on the market. Overall, it is a fantastic choice for any pet owner, and is sure to be a purchase that you won’t regret.