Nom Nom Dog Food Review | Our Experience with the Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service

February 17, 2021 2 Comments

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In 2019, Mike and I (Steph) came across Nom Nom fresh dog food. Now, it is a regular part of our dachshund Django's diet. It's impossible to resist feeding Django Nom Nom when he literally does a little dance every time we open a Nom Nom sleeve and pour it into his dinner bowl.

Do we only feed Django Nom Nom? Nope. We like to feed Django a variety of high quality dog foods—Nom Nom being one of them. Django's most common meal is a mix of high-quality dry dog food with nutrition-dense, freshly made dog food (aka Nom Nom).

In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we provide an honest review and comprehensive overview of Nom Nom fresh dog food. All opinions are our own and based on our own personal experience feeding our sausage dog Django.

What is Nom Nom?

Nom Nom is a fresh dog food subscription delivery service that ships made-to-order meals straight to your door. It uses whole food ingredients that come from U.S. growers and suppliers. Its ingredients are also sustainably sourced. Each human-grade ingredient is gently cooked to preserve its nutrients.

A subscription service? Yes. When you order your first Nom Nom box, you are signing up for a monthly subscription. After your two-week trial, your subscription will automatically be renewed. Your credit card will be charged at 9:59 a.m. PT on the day of your "deadline to make changes.” If you do not want to sign up for a monthly subscription, simply cancel all future deliveries (more on this below) after placing your first Nom Nom order.

Nom Nom has four dog food recipes: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck, and Turkey Fare. They are prepared in small batches in USDA-regulated kitchen facilities in Nashville, Tennessee, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Each meal is pre-portioned using an algorithm developed by Dr. Justin Shmalberg, who is a practicing veterinarian and one of less than 100 board-certified veterinary nutritionists in the United States. It is boosted with the NomNomNutrient Mix that contains a custom mixture of vitamins, iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, choline, and taurine.

WHAT OTHER PRODUCTS DOES NOM NOM OFFER?

In addition to fresh dog food, Nom Nom offers the following products:

• Variety packs. The Variety Pack for Dogs has all four recipes in 150-gram bags and a free sample of beef and chicken jerky treats.
• Dog Treats. Beef and chicken jerky treats are available. As of early 2021, dog treats are $13 for a 2 oz bag and $20 for a 4 oz bag.
• Supplements. Full-spectrum and GI-targeted probiotics can boost or rebalance your dog’s gut and immune system. As of early 2021, a 30-day supply costs $40 and includes free shipping.
• Gut health kit. Microbiome testing provides a comprehensive analysis of the different bacteria living in your dog’s gut. It can help you track his progress if you change his food or medicine. It can also help you understand his abnormally fluctuating weight or behavioral changes. As of this article's publication, it costs $90 and includes free shipping. Some pet insurance companies (e.g. Healthy Paws, PetFirst, and Trupanion) consider it a diagnostic test and will cover the costs.

Nom Nom Unboxing

Each Nom Nom box is shipped out and delivered within 1 to 2 business days. Given the highly perishable nature of the product, shipping is always extremely fast. We've never had a delay with one of our shipments. The inside flap of each box contains a feeding guide which explains how much Nom Nom your pet should be getting with each meal.

Nom Nom places dry ice within its packaging to keep the dog food sleeves frozen throughout transit. For full disclosure, there was one instance where we received a Nom Nom box and two dog food sleeves were thawed and room temperature upon arrival. Since all pre-portioned sleeves are supposed to arrive rock hard frozen, I did not want to feed them to Django. I immediately contacted Nom Nom customer service and they issued a partial refund for the problem. Did the instance bother me? No, because Nom Nom customer service was easy to reach, incredibly understanding, and ready to do whatever it took to correct the situation.

Mike and I have built DJANGO gear company to be environmentally philanthropic and are happy to report that all Nom Nom packaging is environmentally friendly and/or recyclable. Nom Nom's cardboard boxes are recyclable and reusable. Its brown liners are made from renewable plant-based components and paper, and its silver liners and hdpe#2 plastic meal bags are also both recyclable.

Recipes, Quality of Ingredients, and Nutritional Content

RECIPES AND GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Nom Nom currently offers four dog food recipes: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck, and Turkey Fare. You can choose between a "Full Portion Plan" (i.e. your dog only eats Nom Nom) or a "Half Portion Plan". Nom Nom’s meals meet or exceed standards set by AAFCO's Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. They are made with high-quality animal protein, whole vegetables and fruits, omega-3 rich oils and fats, and essential vitamins and minerals.

Here are the ingredient list and guaranteed analysis for each Nom Nom fresh dog food recipe:

BEEF MASH

Ingredients: Ground beef, russet potatoes, eggs, carrots, peas, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, fish oil, natural flavor, sunflower oil, vinegar, citric acid, taurine, choline bitartrate, zinc gluconate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, copper gluconate, niacin (vitamin B3), manganese gluconate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), selenium yeast, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), potassium iodide.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 10% min, Crude Fat: 5% min, Crude Fiber: 1% max, Moisture: 73% max

CHICKEN CUISINE

Ingredients: Diced chicken, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, sunflower oil, canola oil, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, fish oil, natural flavor, vinegar, citric acid, taurine, choline bitartrate, zinc gluconate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, copper gluconate, niacin (vitamin B3), manganese gluconate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), selenium yeast, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), potassium iodide.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 8.5% min, Crude Fat: 6% min, Crude Fiber: 1% max, Moisture: 77% max

PORK POTLUCK

Ingredients: Ground pork, russet potatoes, green beans, squash, kale, brown mushrooms, dicalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, fish oil, natural flavor, vinegar, citric acid, taurine, choline bitartrate, zinc gluconate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, copper gluconate, niacin (vitamin B3), manganese gluconate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), selenium yeast, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), potassium iodide.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 8% min, Crude Fat: 5% min, Crude Fiber: 2% max, Moisture: 75% max

TURKEY FARE

Ingredients: Ground turkey, brown rice, eggs, carrots, spinach, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, fish oil, natural flavor, vinegar, citric acid, taurine, choline bitartrate, zinc gluconate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, copper gluconate, niacin (vitamin B3), manganese gluconate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), selenium yeast, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B12 supplement, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), potassium iodide. 

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 11% min, Crude Fat: 5% min, Crude Fiber: 1% max, Moisture: 70% max 

QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS

All Nom Nom ingredients sourced are restaurant-quality and sustainably-sourced whole foods that come from U.S. growers and suppliers. Nom Nom examines every ingredient and rigorously tests it for safety and quality. Each ingredient is lightly cooked, which releases proteins and carbohydrates. Then it is mixed with precision in small batches.

Nom Nom also does not use organ meat because it has “vitamins and minerals that can be unpredictable.” Because Nom Nom never uses artificial preservatives, chemicals, or flavorings, keep 7 days worth of fresh dog food in the fridge and put the rest in the freezer. Nom Noms bags are vacuum sealed and will remain fresh for up to 6 months.

Has there ever been a Nom Nom recall?

As of February 2021, Nom Nom's fresh dog food has never been recalled.

How to order Nom Nom

It is very easy to order your first Nom Nom box. Here's how to do it:

• Step 1: Visit Nom Nom’s website via this 50% off promo link so your discount is automatically applied at checkout. Click “50% off first order,” then select “Get Started.”
• Step 2: Create your dog’s profile (name, breed, weight, age, body condition, and dietary restrictions).
• Step 3: Pick your dog’s recipes: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck, or Turkey Fare. You can choose between a 'Full Portion' or 'Half Portion' plan. You also can automatically rotate between recipes each delivery at no additional charge. Weekly and biweekly customers can choose two different recipes to be delivered with each order. Monthly customers are eligible to receive four different recipes in each delivery. There is an additional $5 flat fee per order.
• Step 4: You can also add another dog to your profile. With more than one dog, you automatically qualify for a multi-pet discount (approximately $10 per week).
• Step 5: Then enter your name, email address, and shipping address. The Nom Nom trial box includes seven half-portion meals that should be mixed with your dog’s current kibble or raw food. If he is already eating fresh food, you can skip the transition meals by updating his profile.  

How much does Nom Nom cost?

Nom Nom’s cost depends on your dog's age, breed, and weight. We priced out five scenarios based on different sized dog breeds: a 6 lb Chihuahua, a 14 lb Dachshund, a 25 lb French bulldog, a 50 lb standard poodle, and a 110 lb Rottweiler. After your initial box (which will be 50% off with our coupon), here is what you can expect to pay by the day, week, month, and year:

PRICING ESTIMATES FOR DIFFERENT BREEDS (FEBRUARY 2021)

Since Nom Nom dog food pricing is largely dependent on dog breed and size, we including cost estimates for five different types of pups: Chihuahua, 6 lbs; Dachshund, 14 lbs (what our little guy Django weighs); French Bulldog, 25 lbs; Poodle, 50 lbs, Rottweiler, 110 lbs. Each dog used for our pricing analysis is assumed to be 6 years old, in good shape (not underweight or overweight), and without health issues.

Nom Nom Dog Food Cost for Full Portion and Half Portion Subscriptions

	Full Portion				Half Portion
Breed*	Day	Weekly	Monthly	Yearly	Day	Weekly	Monthly	Yearly
Chihuahua (6 lbs)	$2.69	$18.79	$75.16	$901.92	$1.98	$13.84	$55.36	$664.32
Dachshund (14 lbs)	$3.96	$27.67	$110.68	$1,328.16	$2.93	$20.50	$82	$984
French bulldog (25 lbs)	$5.33	$37.28	$149.12	$1,789.44	$3.35	$23.45	$93.80	$1,125.60
Standard poodle (50 lbs)	$7.79	$54.53	$218.12	$2,617.44	$4.62	$32.33	$129.32	$1,551.84
Rottweiler (110 lbs)	$14.87	$104.15	$416.60	$4,999.20	$7.27	$50.83	$203.32	$2,439.84

Shipping is free across the 48 contiguous states. You can choose to have Nom Nom delivered every week, every 2 weeks, or every 4 weeks. You also can reschedule, change recipes, or cancel before the "order deadline" by going to the Plan page of your Nom Nom Account.

Go to Nom Nom’s website to calculate the cost of a meal plan for your dog.

HOW DO I CANCEL MY NOM NOM ACCOUNT?

To cancel your Nom Nom subscription, email care@nomnomnow.com or call 415-991-0669 (Mon-Fri: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. PT/Sat-Sun: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. PT) within 10 days of the 30th day of feeding. Nom Nom will give you a full refund for your first 30 days of fresh dog food.

IS IT WORTH IT? ONE FINAL THOUGHT.

Mike and I have tried almost every fresh dog food subscription service. Nom Nom is one of our favorites. We will keep adding the beef, chicken, pork, and turkey recipes to Django's dinner bowl as long as he keeps drooling over them.

The downside of Nom Nom for us? The daily cost of feeding Django Nom Nom is greater than the cost of feeding him dry dog food. Nom Nom’s individually packaged meals are incredibly convenient – no scooping, measuring, or prep work required. They are made with whole cuts of meat, healthful whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and beneficial oils and nutrients. That demands a higher price than dry dog food that has a shelf life of 12 to 18 months.

If you want to save money, order half portions and mix them with a high quality, all-natural dog food. We do this with Django to significantly extend the lifespan of each Nom Nom box. The best part? Django is just happy to be getting fresh dog food in his dinner bowl.

Have any questions about our experience with Nom Nom? Want to share your experience with Nom Nom or another fresh dog food subscription service? Please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Additional Resources

• THE BEST FRESH DOG FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES
• THE BEST ORGANIC, ALL NATURAL, AND GRAIN-FREE DOG FOODS
• WHAT IS DOG KIBBLE AND HOW IS IT MADE?
• HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST DOG FOOD

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