Four years ago I brought home Cloud, my fluffy and strong-willed Shih-Tzu. I've spoiled him with belly rubs, long walks, and “premium” kibble. But as he’s aged, he’s slowed down, is less excitable, and has lost interest in his kibble. It was time to take a closer look at his diet. That’s when I learned about the benefits of gently cooked food for dogs, and decided to test the top three brands to find the best match for Cloud: Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie. 

Over three weeks, Cloud and I compared them on taste, ingredients, convenience, and customization. I consulted our veterinarian, Dr. Joe Menicucci (DVM), to help me make the right choice. Read on to find out the winner!

Choosing the Right Food for Your Dog

What’s most important when choosing a gently cooked diet for your dog? According to Dr. Joe Menicucci, it comes down to:

• 🥩 Ingredients: “High-quality protein sources should always be the first ingredient. Look for real meat like beef, chicken, or turkey.” 

• 🐶 Taste: “Tastiness is crucial. Even the most nutritious food is ineffective if your dog refuses to eat it.”
• 🥄 Cooking Process: “Gentle cooking retains more nutrients, enhancing digestibility and nutritional value.”
• 🚫 Avoiding fillers and additives: “Avoid foods with corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives.”
• 📦 Customization: It’s important that the meal plans are tailored to your individual dog’s needs. 

So, how do Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie compare? Let’s find out.

1. Taste and Variety

Nom Nom Wins with Most Variety & Cloud’s Favorite Taste

Each brand offers a variety of proteins and recipes, but Nom Nom offers the most with six recipes, while Ollie offers five and The Farmer’s Dog features just four. 

First up in our testing was The Farmer’s Dog. We tried the Chicken, Turkey, and Beef meals. Cloud ate his full bowl of the chicken and turkey, but left half the beef in his bowl. He has some issues with digestion -  after a few days, I noticed his stool was looser than usual.

Next came Ollie’s Beef with Sweet Potatoes, Turkey with Blueberries, and Pork with Apples. Our experience was similar to The Farmer’s Dog - Cloud liked the turkey and beef well enough, but didn’t touch the pork. Not the excitement I was hoping for.

Finally, we opened Nom Nom. Right away, the difference was obvious. The food looked like actual food - chunks of real beef and eggs, visible carrots, and no mushy texture. Cloud inhaled the Chicken Cuisine, Beef Mash, and Pork Potluck as soon as I put his dinner down. Every meal since sparks the same excitement.

Nom Nom was hands-down Cloud’s favorite.

2. Ingredients and Cooking Process

Nom Nom Wins with Their Cooking Process

According to our vet, Dr. Menicucci, gently-cooked dog food should feature animal protein as the first ingredient, cook each ingredient separately at low temperatures to preserve nutrients,  and avoid corn, wheat, and soy. All three brands met the requirements for ingredients, but Nom Nom stands out with its nutrient-preserving cooking process. 

Nom Nom gently cooks each ingredient separately, mixing just before freezing. The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie, on the other hand, cook the entire recipe together in large batches and then freeze, which can affect taste and nutrient availability due to potential overcooking.

Nom Nom’s approach gave me confidence in what I was feeding Cloud—and it showed in both his excitement at mealtime and his energy levels.

3. Convenience

Nom Nom Wins with Easiest-to-Serve Meals

All three companies deliver two weeks of meals at a time in insulated boxes with ice packs—great for busy pet parents who want to skip trips to PetSmart.

The Farmer’s Dog ships all food in identical, unportioned packs, leaving you to figure out the right amount for every meal. For Cloud, the instructions said to cut the pouch across the middle and serve ¼ pack per meal. That meant I was reaching for scissors, wrestling with a slippery bag, and eyeballing portions twice a day. The whole process was more hands-on—and less convenient—than I expected.

Ollie was easier to serve with pre-portioned meals in bags with peel-off lids. These were easier to handle, but the mushy texture meant the food clung to the container and required scooping. I needed to wipe down the counter afterward—again, not ideal when trying to serve a quick meal.

Nom Nom was easiest to serve. Each meal came pre-portioned in flat, easy-tear pouches. Because the ingredients are less mushy, I could pour the food straight into Cloud’s bowl with zero mess—no scooping, scraping, or scissors required. 

Storage matters too, especially if you’re ordering larger quantities. Both Nom Nom and Ollie meals stacked neatly in the freezer, making it easy to stay organized. The Farmer’s Dog packs were bulky and uneven, taking up more space and tipping over constantly.

4. Customization

Nom Nom Wins with Personalized Recommendations

Picky eaters and dogs with allergies need personalized plans. All brands asked for Cloud’s weight, age, breed, and activity level. But Nom Nom stood out as the only brand with  personalized recommendations.

Based on Cloud’s picky palate and active lifestyle, Nom Nom recommended the Chicken Cuisine to “please picky eaters” and the Pork Potluck to “help support healthy digestion.” It wasn’t just a generic plan—the recommendations were clearly tailored to Cloud.

Neither The Farmer’s Dog nor Ollie, on the other hand, provided any personalized recommendations. 

It’s Time to Make the Switch

Which gently-cooked food is best for your dog? After our thorough testing, we recommend the brand that uses real, high-quality ingredients, cooks ingredients separately for optimal nutrition, and has the easiest to serve meals. And that’s Nom Nom.

Our vet Dr. Joe Menicucci agrees: “I recommend Nom Nom because of its commitment to using high-quality, varied ingredients, gently-cooked to preserve nutrients.”

Ready to try Nom Nom? With TCD, save 50% on your first order: