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NomNomNow is a subscription-based service that delivers healthy, made-to-order dog and cat food to your front door. Every recipe is formulated by leading experts in veterinary nutrition, ensuring your pet is getting all the vital nutrients they need. Because the food is made to order, customers will receive their individually portioned meals within days of cooking it, in NomNomNow's zero food waste facility.
Why Make The Switch To Fresh Food
The way we produce, process and make our Food is something that is on the top of many people's minds. We have all seen the science and facts showing that processed foods are causing long term risks and health problems for people.
If you are thinking about your own health needs and the issues with preservatives, chemicals, and unhealthy ingredients, it's worth considering what your dog is eating daily. Those same issues are going on with your dog. What do you think is a top contributor to your dog's health? Diet. Now, think about your dog's food. It's less regulated, more junk gets thrown in it, and ultimately it's held to a much lower standard.
The goal is for your dog to live a healthier and happier life for as long as possible. If this strikes a chord with you, it's worth looking into making the switch to a fresh food diet.
Unboxing
We signed up to have NomNomNow delivered once per week. An email notified us that our first box was delivered and upon returning home from work, it was sitting on our front porch. We received seven packages of the Heartland Beef Mash and seven packets of the Chicken Chow-Wow. The second week, we received the Porkalicious Potluck and the Tasty Turkey Fare.
Inside the box, you'll see the food insulated in a thick liner made out of brown recycled fiber. This liner keeps the food cold and safe during transit. In addition to the thermal liner, dry ice covers the food ensuring it stays cold even if you aren't home at the time of delivery. I returned home about four hours after delivery, and everything was very cold.
How we test dog food
Bark and Biscuits uses five tests to grade dog food: The Quality Test, Sniff Test, Storage Test, Lifestyle Test, and Value Test. From there, each test receives either a green, yellow or red light.
The Quality Test
The quality test is all about what's inside. When you look at a piece of kibble what do you see? Identifying even one ingredient is impossible. All I can pinpoint is the color – brown.
I examined all four of NomNomNow's recipes and could easily recognize each flavor without looking at the label. NomNomNow mentions on their website that humans can eat it. That is something a kibble company would never say as it is a pretty hefty proclamation.
I happily sampled the Tasty Turkey Fare. It is surprisingly good and tastes just like I expect it to; like ground turkey and fresh veggies but without the spices.
Every recipe exceeds AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards and is formulated by Dr. Shmalberg, a board-certified leader in veterinary nutrition. He believes that “feeding pets well is the best strategy for preventing chronic diseases.”
All of NomNomNow's food is prepared and portioned by hand in a human-grade kitchen that they own and control. The facility, located in the San Francisco Bay Area is entirely dedicated to fresh dog food to protect your pet's health. The kitchen team inspects every ingredient upon arrival to make sure it meets their high-quality standard.
Quality Test Result: Green Light
The Sniff Test
Do you ever open a bag of kibble and quickly pinch your nose? Dog food tends to stink and leads me to question why. It may be easy to write off the smell of kibble as something desirable to dogs, or a result of adding in the right funky dog-friendly nutrients.
Here at Bark and Biscuits, we are not so quickly convinced, and our experience seems to show most dogs prefer food that smells good to both dog and humans alike. That's the basis of the sniff test. What reaction will your olfactory have after a close sniff of your pet's food?
I took a pouch of NomNomNow's Heartland Beef fresh from our refrigerator and cut it open. Next, I brought the food under my nose and took a good sniff. The result? NomNomNow has a very mild scent. It smells far superior to all of the dry dog food we tested, and that is a testament to what human quality dog food provides. It smells like something you might consider tasting yourself, and that translates to a better taste experience for your dog.
Sniff Test Result: Green Light
The Storage Test
How much space do you need to store NomNomNow? That is a common question among people considering making the switch to a fresh food diet. The amount of space you need to allocate depends on the size of your dog and your subscription plan.
The bigger the dog, the larger the pre-portioned pouches will be. I have a small 12 lb. dachshund and need about a 7″ x 10″ space in my refrigerator for eight days worth of food. I easily have enough room for this, but again, Rocket is a jelly bean compared to some dogs.
The more significant challenge can be your freezer. If you subscribe to NomNomNow's monthly plan, which saves you the most money, you are looking at storing 56 meals at a time. 16 meals in the fridge and 40 meals in the freezer. These meals are going to take up a decent amount of freezer space. For our 12 lb. dachshund, this is equivalent to a Costco sized bag of meatballs. Alternatively, you can have your food delivered weekly, or bi-weekly, which saves freezer space but increases the price.
The next part of the storage test evaluates how well the pre-portioned pouches seal in the food.
I tested 14 meal pouches for any leaks. Of the 14, one of the meals did leak a small amount of fluid onto the shelf in my fridge which was a little disappointing. For this reason, I suggest placing the pouches on a tray or paper towel to catch any drips.
Storage Test Result: Yellow Light
The Lifestyle Test
The lifestyle test is all about convenience. My husband and I both work full-time. When choosing how we spend our time, we look for ways to take the hassle out of our lives. NomNomNow is suited for busy people that don't want or have time to deal with overhead.
I put NomNomNow to the lifestyle test and compared it to my experience with kibble.
Since NomNomNow delivers to your door, I save time by not having to drive to the store. That is a huge timesaver for me because Rocket's kibble is not readily available in every store. I also save time and dishes by not having to measure his food. Every pouch of NomNomNow is pre-portioned specific to your dog.
As frivolous as this sounds, I appreciate not having to stick my hand in a stinky bag of kibble which results in needing to wash my hands every time I feed my dog.
NomNomNow automatically renews so once you initially set up your subscription, there is no need to remember to order more food when you are running low. Additionally, if you want to change or cancel your order, you can easily do that yourself within your account profile. You have complete control.
Portability may be a challenge for you with NomNomNow. The food needs refrigeration, so if you are going on a trip, it may be difficult to bring the food with you. In situations like this, you will probably have to transition your dog back to kibble.
My husband and I try to be as eco-friendly as possible in our house. NomNomNow produces more waste than your typical bag of kibble. We were happy to see that all of their packagings, from the box to the thermal liners, to the meal packets are recyclable, but this type of food delivery does take more packaging.
Lifestyle Test Result: Green Light
Value Test
A comment that I frequently hear is “I'd love to feed my dog fresh food but how much does it cost?”
At first glance, serving your dog fresh food appears to be more expensive than conventional kibble. Just like humans, buying high-quality food costs more. NomNomNow does not use any preservatives or fillers in their recipes, and that level of quality is more expensive to produce. Think of it like this. Eating cheap pizza every day might save you money up front, but you are building up a big long-term health bill. The same can be said for your dog, and their future vet bills.
What you pay for goes beyond fresh ingredients. The exclusively owned facilities, a knowledgeable customer service team that will help address any health issues or concerns, thorough hand inspected food that is all conveniently delivered to your door nice and cold is all part of the value your are getting.
I pay about 28.00 a month for a 4.5 lb. bag of the high-end kibble, Acana. Again, Rocket is only 12 pounds, so the bag lasts me a month. With NomNomNow, it's about $80.00 per month for a 12-pound dog on their monthly subscription plan. Your pet's weight determines the price, so the best thing to do is head to NomNomNow and create a profile for you and your pet. Here, they will show you the price based off of your pet's weight and specific needs.
If you look at the big picture, you will see that feeding your dog fresh food offers many benefits and long-term savings that conventional kibble never will. By feeding your dog NomNomNow, you will have fewer vet visits resulting in lower vet bills. Many studies have shown that feeding your dog fresh food can help prevent and reduce the chance of developing serious diseases and health complications. A fresh food diet can also combat allergies, help to maintain a healthy weight, reduce medication, and improve your dog's skin.
Value Test Result: Green Light
Bottom Line
What sets NomNomNow apart is that every meal is prepared with the freshest ingredients, perfectly portioned for your pet's unique calorie and nutrition needs. If the above tests matter to you, then starting your dog on NomNomNow is a great decision that you and your pup can feel good about.
NomNomNow is offering Bark and Biscuits readers 30% off your first order when you order through THIS LINK! Your discount is automatically applied at checkout.
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