Nom Nom Dog Food Review
A 7-year-old beagle with chronic soft stools, a coat that never quite recovered from a skin infection two years ago, and a habit of eating too fast and then not finishing the bowl — that is the dog that makes a fresh food subscription worth considering. Nom Nom’s pitch is that fresh, minimally processed, human-grade food resets digestive health and palatability in ways that premium kibble cannot. The claim has more evidence behind it than most, including a published microbiome study. Whether the cost justifies the evidence is the real question.
Nom Nom is the most research-backed fresh dog food subscription on the market, with recipes formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists and a peer-reviewed microbiome study supporting its gut health claims. It is also expensive — full-portion feeding for a medium dog runs $80 to $120 per month. For owners who can afford it or who use it as a topper, the ingredient quality and formulation rigor are genuinely differentiated from grocery-store or budget fresh food alternatives.
Who Nom Nom Is Actually Built For
Fresh food subscriptions are not for every dog or every budget. Nom Nom sits at the premium end of a premium category. Understanding where it delivers real value versus where a quality kibble achieves the same outcome matters before committing to the subscription cost.
| Dog Profile | Fit with Nom Nom | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs with chronic digestive issues (soft stools, inconsistent appetite, IBD-adjacent symptoms) | Strong fit | Nom Nom’s published microbiome research shows measurable gut bacteria diversity improvement on fresh food; high moisture content and minimal processing support digestive health directly |
| Picky eaters that refuse kibble or eat inconsistently | Strong fit | Fresh food palatability is significantly higher than dry kibble for most dogs; the texture and aroma of cooked whole ingredients typically resolves selective eating without flavor additives |
| Dogs recovering from illness, surgery, or a period of poor appetite | Strong fit | High-quality whole ingredients with no artificial additives support recovery; palatability encourages eating in dogs with reduced appetite |
| Senior dogs with reduced appetite and lower caloric needs | Good fit | Smaller portion sizes reduce cost relative to large active dogs; digestibility improvements are especially relevant for older dogs with declining gut efficiency |
| Large, high-activity dogs (60+ lbs fed full portions) | Use as topper | Full-portion fresh food for a 70-lb dog costs $150 to $200 per month; the topper approach (20 to 30 percent fresh, 70 to 80 percent quality kibble) delivers meaningful benefits at a third of the cost |
| Budget-sensitive households | Not practical | Nom Nom starts at $40 to $60 per month for small dogs and scales steeply with weight; households for whom Victor, Kirkland, or Diamond Naturals represents the right price tier should look at those options instead |
What Nom Nom Actually Is
Nom Nom was founded in 2015 and acquired by Purina (Nestle) in 2022. The brand continues operating under the NomNomNow identity within Purina’s portfolio, with its original recipes and formulation approach intact. The acquisition brought Purina’s research infrastructure to an already research-forward brand.
Nom Nom published a peer-reviewed study (Journal of Animal Science, 2021) showing that dogs fed fresh food showed greater gut microbiome diversity compared to dogs fed dry kibble. Greater microbiome diversity is associated with improved immune function, reduced inflammation, and better digestive resilience. This is one of the only fresh food brands to have sponsored independent research rather than relying solely on ingredient marketing.
Every Nom Nom recipe is formulated by a veterinarian holding DACVN credentials (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition), the highest board certification in the field. Each formula meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition across all life stages. The portioning model is personalized — you enter your dog’s weight, age, activity level, and body condition score, and the subscription delivers pre-measured daily packs calculated to your dog’s specific caloric need.
The Recipe Lineup
Chicken Cuisine
Chicken thighs, russet potatoes, carrots, peas, and spinach with a vitamin and mineral supplement. The most widely recommended starting recipe for dogs new to fresh food. Clean ingredient list, high palatability, and a protein-carbohydrate balance suitable for most adult life stages.
Protein: ~11% as-fed (~38% dry matter) | Grain: Rice included | Primary protein: Chicken
Beef Mash
Ground beef, russet potatoes, carrots, peas, and egg with a vitamin blend. Higher fat than the chicken recipe, which suits active dogs with higher caloric demands. Not appropriate for dogs with pancreatitis risk or obesity without veterinary guidance on portion adjustment.
Protein: ~13% as-fed (~42% dry matter) | Grain: Rice included | Primary protein: Beef
Pork Potluck
Pork loin, sweet potato, butternut squash, and broccoli. No rice, making this the lower-carbohydrate option in the lineup. A useful alternative for dogs with chicken reactivity and owners seeking a lower-glycemic carbohydrate profile.
Protein: ~12% as-fed (~39% dry matter) | Grain: None | Primary protein: Pork
Turkey Fare
Turkey, sweet potato, and carrots with added supplements. Like the Pork Potluck, this recipe uses sweet potato rather than rice as the carbohydrate base. Suited for dogs that have not previously been exposed to turkey and are undergoing a dietary elimination approach.
Protein: ~11% as-fed (~37% dry matter) | Grain: None | Primary protein: Turkey
Fresh food contains 65 to 75 percent moisture, so as-fed protein percentages (10 to 13 percent) look much lower than dry food numbers (25 to 34 percent). The comparison requires converting to dry matter basis. Nom Nom’s recipes deliver 37 to 42 percent protein on a dry matter basis — comparable to or exceeding most premium kibble formulas on a like-for-like nutritional analysis.
How Nom Nom Compares to Similar Services
| Service | Formulation | Recipe Variety | Independent Research | Est. Monthly Cost (30 lb dog) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom Nom (NomNomNow) | DACVN board-certified vets | 4 recipes | Yes (published microbiome study) | $80 — $120 |
| The Farmer’s Dog | Veterinary nutritionists | 4 recipes | Limited (internal studies) | $80 — $130 |
| Ollie | Veterinary nutritionist team | 5 recipes | No | $70 — $110 |
| JustFoodForDogs | Veterinary nutritionists, retail available | 8+ recipes | Yes (clinical studies) | $90 — $150 |
| Spot and Tango | Veterinary team | 3 fresh + UnKibble | No | $60 — $100 |
Nom Nom and The Farmer’s Dog are the two most direct competitors. The Farmer’s Dog has stronger brand recognition and a slightly smoother onboarding experience. Nom Nom differentiates on published independent research and a broader supplement line. JustFoodForDogs has the most clinical research support of any brand in this category and is also available in-store at PetSmart, which suits buyers who prefer not to commit to a subscription. For most households choosing between Nom Nom and The Farmer’s Dog, the difference comes down to recipe preference and first-order discount terms.
Pricing Breakdown
Nom Nom pricing is weight-based and scales significantly with dog size. These are approximate monthly figures for full-portion feeding at standard activity levels:
| Dog Weight | Full Portions / Month | Topper Plan / Month (25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lbs | $40 — $55 | $15 — $20 |
| 20 lbs | $60 — $80 | $20 — $30 |
| 30 lbs | $80 — $120 | $25 — $40 |
| 50 lbs | $120 — $160 | $35 — $55 |
| 70 lbs | $160 — $200 | $50 — $70 |
| 100+ lbs | $200+ | $65 — $90 |
First-order discounts typically run 50 percent off. After the discount period ends, the full subscription price applies automatically. Set a calendar reminder to evaluate the full-price rate before the trial period closes — many buyers find the first month compelling and the ongoing cost surprising.
What to Watch Out For
- Cost scales steeply with dog weight: A 10-lb dog is a manageable subscription. A 70-lb dog on full portions is $160 to $200 per month — more than some households spend on their own groceries in a week. Run the full-price calculation for your dog’s weight before subscribing, not just the trial offer price.
- Cold storage requirement: Nom Nom delivers fresh food that requires refrigeration. Opened packs must be used within four to five days. For large dogs receiving weekly deliveries, the pack volume requires dedicated shelf space. If your household runs a small refrigerator, plan ahead or consider a standalone mini-fridge before starting the subscription.
- Subscription cancellation requires action: Like all subscription services, Nom Nom continues billing until you cancel. Cancellation is handled through the account portal or customer service. Pause options exist for travel, but the auto-renewal cadence catches some subscribers off-guard after the first-order discount period ends.
- Transition period causes temporary soft stools: Moving from dry kibble to fresh food almost always causes two to seven days of soft stools as the digestive microbiome adjusts. This is expected and typically resolves. Transitioning over 10 to 14 days — starting at 25 percent fresh food and incrementing gradually — minimizes the adjustment period. Do not interpret initial soft stools as a sign the food is wrong for your dog.
- Purina acquisition concerns for some buyers: Nom Nom was acquired by Purina in 2022. Buyers who specifically sought out Nom Nom as an independent alternative to large pet food conglomerates should be aware that the brand now operates within Nestle’s portfolio. The recipes and formulation team have remained consistent, but the ownership context has changed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nom Nom Dog Food
What happened to Nom Nom dog food?
Nom Nom was acquired by Purina (Nestle) in 2022 and rebranded under the NomNomNow name within the Purina portfolio. The recipes and veterinary nutritionist formulation approach remained consistent post-acquisition. The service continues to operate as a fresh food subscription with the same core recipe lineup and the same personalized portioning model introduced by the original company.
How much does Nom Nom dog food cost per month?
Nom Nom pricing is calculated based on your dog’s weight, age, activity level, and whether you are feeding it as a full meal or a topper. For a 30-pound adult dog fed full portions, expect to pay approximately $80 to $120 per month. A 10-pound dog runs roughly $40 to $60 per month. Larger dogs (60 lbs and up) can cost $150 to $200 or more per month on a full-feed plan. Feeding Nom Nom as a topper mixed with kibble cuts costs by 50 to 70 percent while still delivering fresh food benefits.
Is Nom Nom dog food vet-formulated?
Yes. Nom Nom recipes are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists with DACVN credentials (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition). Each recipe meets AAFCO nutritional standards for complete and balanced feeding across all life stages. The company also publishes a peer-reviewed microbiome study conducted on dogs eating their formulas, one of the few fresh food brands to have sponsored independent research.
Does Nom Nom have a grain-free option?
Nom Nom’s recipes vary in grain content. The Beef Mash and Chicken Cuisine recipes include rice as a carbohydrate source. The Pork Potluck and Turkey Fare recipes use sweet potato instead of rice, making them lower-grain options. None of the recipes contain corn, wheat, or soy. Nom Nom does not offer a specifically labeled grain-free formula but can be filtered during the signup process based on dietary preferences.
How is Nom Nom different from The Farmer’s Dog?
Both services deliver fresh, human-grade, vet-formulated dog food on a subscription basis. Nom Nom differentiates itself with published microbiome research, a slightly wider recipe variety, and a gut health supplement line. The Farmer’s Dog has stronger brand recognition and a slightly simpler signup flow. Pricing is comparable between the two at similar dog weights. Both are a step above generic fresh food services that do not employ board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
Can I feed Nom Nom as a topper instead of a full meal?
Yes, and this is one of the most cost-effective ways to use Nom Nom. Mixing fresh food at 20 to 30 percent of total daily intake alongside a quality dry kibble delivers many of the palatability and moisture benefits of fresh food at roughly a third of the full-portion cost. Nom Nom allows you to select a topper plan during signup. The subscription delivers smaller pre-portioned packs designed for this feeding style.
Does Nom Nom dog food need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Nom Nom delivers fresh food in insulated boxes with ice packs. Opened packs must be refrigerated and used within four to five days. Unopened packs can be frozen for up to four months without quality loss. The lack of preservatives that makes Nom Nom nutritionally appealing is the same reason it requires cold storage — plan for adequate refrigerator or freezer space before ordering, especially for large dogs where weekly delivery volume is substantial.
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