Nom Nom Sampler Pack Dog Food Review 2024: Our Expert’s Opinion

Nom Nom is a pet food brand that produces nutritious fresh dog food for dogs of all ages and breeds. The company is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and has its own kitchens in both Tennessee and the San Francisco Bay Area. Nom Nom dog food recipes are known for their simple ingredient lists and use of high-quality meats, grains, and vegetables. These qualities make its food popular for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs. However, if your dog has specific nutritional needs or health issues, Nom Nom dog food may not be substantial because the company doesn’t produce dog food with specialized formulas.

Nom Nom is a subscription-based dog food service, but you can easily try out each recipe by purchasing the Nom Nom Sampler Pack. This Sampler pack enables dog owners to test out all its recipes without any strings attached. It doesn’t require any sort of sign-up and isn’t constricted by a trial period. I tested out the Nom Nom Sampler Pack on my own dog and had an overall positive experience with just a couple of minor drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know about the Nom Nom Sampler Pack before purchasing your own.

At a Glance: What We Reviewed

Nom Nom Sampler Pack Reviewed

Who Makes Nom Nom Sampler Pack and Where Is It Produced?

Nom Nom is a pet food brand that was founded by Nate Phillips, Zach Phillips, Alex Jarell, and Wenzhe Gao in 2015. The brand was inspired by their search for high-quality dog food for their own Mini Australian Shepherds, Mim and Harlee. Today, Nom Nom has a larger team of vet nutritionists and processes its dog food in their facilities in Nashville, Tennessee. The dog food recipes are all made in small batches and go through strict quality-control testing to ensure high-quality food is delivered to its customers.

Which Types of Dogs Is the Nom Nom Sampler Pack Best Suited For?

Nom Nom dog food has generally positive reviews, but that doesn’t always mean that every picky dog will like its recipes. The Nom Nom Sampler Pack is a great way to test out meals without having to purchase a large batch of food or sign up for a subscription. It reduces the risk of food waste, and you can see which recipes end up being your dog’s favorites.

Subscription dog food brands usually offer a free trial period for prospective customers. However, these trial periods may not be long enough for your dog to try out the food, and you can end up getting auto-enrolled to a subscription once the trial period ends. With the Nom Nom Sampler Pack, you can take your time gradually introducing your dog to new food because you’re not restricted to a trial period. This is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs that may need extra time to get used to eating new food without experiencing digestive issues, especially since a gradual food transition is always better. 

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good & Bad)

Animal Protein

The Nom Nom Sampler Pack contains sample sizes of all four Nom Nom dog food recipes. Each recipe contains one type of animal protein as its first ingredient. The current protein options are beef, chicken, turkey, and pork. Animal proteins contain the greatest amounts of essential amino acids for dogs. Dogs can obtain the necessary nutrients from these sources, which they digest and utilize more efficiently than those from plant-based proteins. Plant-based proteins do not contain the necessary amino acids or precursors that dogs need. It’s important to note that some of the dog food recipes contain eggs, making them unsuitable for dogs with egg allergies. The recipes also contain fish oil, so it’s likely they won’t be a good fit for dogs with fish oil sensitivities.

Whole Vegetables and Grains

Nom Nom’s dog food recipes use various vegetables and grains as their main ingredients. The recipes list several different kinds of nutrient-dense vegetables, like carrots, mushrooms, squash, spinach, and kale. However, it’s important to note that the Beef Mash and Pork Potluck recipes contain a significant amount of russet potatoes. While russet potatoes are a good source of certain vitamins and minerals, they’re not recommended for dogs with diabetes because they can cause blood sugar levels to spike.

Also, most Nom Nom dog food recipes are grain-free, except for Turkey Fare. This recipe has brown rice, which is a good source of fiber. However, it may not be easily digestible for dogs with gastrointestinal issues.

Additional Vitamins and Minerals

Nom Nom dog food recipes contain additional vitamins and minerals that are essential to growth and development for puppies and daily living for adult dogs. They all meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) requirements for a complete and balanced meal for puppies and dogs. Just keep in mind that these recipes aren’t specially formulated for dogs with specific health issues or dietary needs, like urinary tract problems and diabetes. So, if your dog requires a specialized veterinary or prescription diet, make sure to consult your veterinarian before purchasing a Nom Nom Sampler Pack.

Limited-Ingredient Recipes

All the dog food recipes in the Nom Nom Sampler Pack have limited ingredient lists that consist of healthy and nutritious whole foods. The chicken and pork recipes only use one type of animal protein, while the beef and turkey recipes also contain eggs. Each recipe is also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog is constantly getting its daily nutritional needs met.

The simple ingredient lists make it much easier to find recipes for dogs with a food allergy or intolerance. The recipes are also easily digestible and are often appropriate options for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

No Commitment

Finding fresh dog food can be challenging, especially if you have a picky dog. Most fresh dog food brands require filling out a questionnaire and signing up for subscriptions before testing their recipes with your dog. The Nom Nom Sampler Pack is a commitment-free option that allows you to make a one-time purchase of all of Nom Nom’s dog food recipes, and shipping is free. So, it’s a convenient and budget-friendly way to test out new dog food while reducing the risk of food waste.

Recipes Are for All Life Stages

One convenient thing about Nom Nom dog food recipes is that they’re appropriate for all life stages. So, if you have a particularly picky pup, you don’t have to worry about switching to new dog food as it matures. Every recipe has a soft texture, so they’re easy for young puppies and older dogs with dental issues to eat.

The Majority of Recipes Are Grain-Free

Aside from the Turkey Fare recipe, all of Nom Nom’s dog food recipes are grain-free. It’s important to note that grain-free diets aren’t necessarily the best option for all dogs. There are currently investigations and studies being done to determine if there’s a link between grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy. While some theories point toward the inclusion of large numbers of legumes in the problematic diets, there are other theories that differ, and the veterinary community has still not found a specific answer. More research must be completed to determine possible relationships between grain-free diets and certain health issues.

It’s often best to have a conversation with your veterinarian to determine if Nom Nom dog food is a safe and healthy option for your dog.

A Quick Look at Nom Nom Sampler Pack

Reviews of the Nom Nom Sampler Pack We Tried

1. Chicken Cuisine

Chicken Cuisine contains a tasty blend of foods that dogs enjoy. It contains real shredded chicken bits as its first ingredient. It also uses easily digestible ingredients for dogs, like sweet potatoes and squash. The recipe also doesn’t contain any other type of animal protein, so it’s a viable option for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs.

Just keep in mind that this recipe is grain-free, which can be appropriate for some dogs that require specialized diets due to wheat allergies and other health issues. However, some dogs may not benefit from a grain-free diet, so it’s best to consult your veterinarian to see if this recipe would be a good fit for your dog.

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2. Beef Mash

The Beef Mash recipe is one of the more popular Nom Nom meals for dogs. It lists real ground beef as its first ingredient, and it includes nutritious vegetables, like carrots, and peas. The recipe is also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure dogs of all life stages can enjoy a nutritious and tasty meal every day.

Keep in mind that this recipe contains eggs and russet potatoes. So, it’s not the most suitable option for dogs with egg allergies or diabetes.

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3. Pork Potluck

The Pork Potluck contains several ingredients that many dogs enjoy eating. The ingredient list has ground pork as the first ingredient, and it’s the only source of animal protein. The recipe also contains a nutritious and savory blend of foods, like russet potatoes, green beans, squash, kale, and cremini mushrooms.

This recipe is one of the recipes with lower calories, so it’s more suitable for dogs requiring weight loss or weight management. However, it has russet potatoes as the second ingredient, which may not be a suitable ingredient for diabetic dogs.

Our Experience With the Nom Nom Sampler Pack

I ordered the Nom Nom Sampler Pack for my 8-year-old Cavapoo. When it comes to dog food, I have to be fairly selective because my dog has a sensitive stomach and food sensitivities. Right off the bat, I was impressed by the recipes’ simple ingredient lists and how they were made up of nutritious whole foods. Ordering the food was also easy and straightforward, and the delivery arrived without any issues.

I was impressed by how each recipe looked different and distinct from one another. I could see pieces of real vegetables, and it was reassuring to both see and know exactly what my dog would be eating. However, even if I was satisfied with how nutritious the recipes were, they ultimately had to pass my picky dog’s taste test.

I followed Nom Nom’s food transitioning guidelines, and my dog didn’t have any issues or get sick from eating the new food. Her clear favorites were the Turkey Fare and Pork Potluck, as she devoured those two dishes enthusiastically. It was nice to see her enjoying her food because it’s a challenge to find food that she both likes and is safe for her to eat.

For whatever reason, my dog wasn’t too enthusiastic about the Beef Mash and Chicken Cuisine. I suspect it’s because those recipes contained some ingredients that she generally doesn’t enjoy. For example, the Beef Mash has a decent amount of peas, which is a food my dog doesn’t like to eat. She ended up avoiding the peas and eating everything else. Squash is another food my dog dislikes, and it’s one of the main ingredients in the Chicken Cuisine. She took one bite of this dish and refused to eat the rest, which is saying a lot because chicken is her favorite protein.

Despite my dog not liking some recipes, I’m overall very impressed with the Nom Nom Sampler Pack. Each recipe was thoughtfully made, and it was nice to be able to serve my dog food that looked like real food. It’s also helpful to know that I should stick to ordering the Turkey Fare and Pork Potluck meals in the future. The Nom Nom Sampler Pack made it very convenient for me to test out the recipes on my dog and reduce food waste. It’s a great way to introduce fresh dog food to your dog without any hassles or strings attached.

Conclusion

Overall, the Nom Nom Sampler Pack is an excellent option for dog owners that are curious and looking to explore the world of fresh dog food. While most fresh dog food brands require signing up for a subscription, the Nom Nom Sampler Pack offers a commitment-free means of testing out their food. Each recipe has been formulated by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists and has a clean ingredient list.

So, if you’re looking for fresh dog food and have a dog with food sensitivities or allergies, make sure to talk to your veterinarian about switching to Nom Nom to see if it’s safe for your dog’s particular needs. If you get clearance, order the Nom Nom Sampler Pack to see which recipes your dog enjoys most before signing up for a subscription plan. Of course, if you already have an issue identified, don’t offer your dog any recipe that contains the ingredient that triggers your dog.