Nom Nom · The Farmer’s Dog · Ollie · Side-by-Side · Honest Costs · Recall Records · Real Situations
Same category, similar promises, genuinely different in ways that matter. Here’s what separates them, what they cost per day by dog size, which one won a peer-reviewed Cornell University study, and which one your specific situation calls for.
Trending — Cornell University Research Changes the Conversation
A year-long metabolomics study published in the peer-reviewed journal Metabolites (October 2025) found that senior dogs switched from kibble to fresh food showed measurable drops in harmful aging compounds within just one month. The study, led by a Cornell University researcher, used The Farmer’s Dog recipes and found elevated antioxidants and protective metabolites linked to slower cellular aging. Industry critics challenged the methodology — The Farmer’s Dog and Cornell defended it. Whatever your read on the debate, it’s the most rigorous long-form feeding trial any fresh food brand has produced, and it has reset how vets and owners talk about fresh food’s role in longevity.
📌 What These Three Brands Actually Have in Common
Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie all operate in the same basic model: fresh, minimally processed dog food delivered by subscription, formulated by veterinary nutritionists, portioned to your specific dog’s needs, and shipped frozen to your door. All three meet or exceed AAFCO nutritional standards. None use artificial preservatives, meat meals, or mysterious by-products. All three offer introductory discounts — typically 50–60% off a first box — to lower the barrier to trying them. That’s where the similarities start to thin out. The meaningful differences show up in how each brand handles ingredient sourcing, the science behind the recipes, what happens when something goes wrong, and the cost over the long run. This guide gets into all of it.
⚡ Recall Records — All Three Compared
The Farmer’s Dog: No recalls in company history. Clean record since founding.
Ollie: No formal FDA recalls on record. One limited voluntary action involving a single baked food lot (Gently Baked Beef, Lot #5202254) was handled directly with affected customers — without a public press release — raising some transparency questions among watchdog groups. Fresh food line has no recall history.
Nom Nom: No dog food recalls. One recall in 2021 involved the cat food line, which was discontinued following that event. No issues related to dog recipes have ever been recorded. For any current FDA recall information, check FDA.gov/animal-veterinary.
📋 The Questions People Search Most — Answered Directly
Fresh dog food has grown from a fringe category into a multi-billion dollar market over the last decade. But the surge in brands has made comparisons harder, not easier — because the marketing sounds nearly identical across all of them. These are the answers to what owners actually want to know before spending $150–$400 a month on their dog’s food.
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Which one is cheapest — Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, or Ollie? The Farmer’s Dog is consistently the most affordable · Ollie tends to run $1–$2/day more for the same dog · Nom Nom is priced similarly to Ollie · All three offer 50–60% off first box introductory pricingFor a pair of 15-pound dogs tested side-by-side in real subscriber tests, The Farmer’s Dog came in at about $8.36/day (both dogs combined), while Ollie for the same dogs ran approximately $10.36/day — a gap of roughly $700/year. Nom Nom falls in a similar range to Ollie. For a single 20-pound dog, The Farmer’s Dog typically runs $4–$5/day; a 50-pound dog $7–$8/day; and a 75-pound dog can reach $13–$15/day or more. These numbers are personalized at checkout based on your dog’s weight, age, activity level, and whether they’re spayed or neutered — there’s no single published price list for any of these three brands. The only accurate quote is the one you get after entering your dog’s actual details on each company’s website. All three frequently run 50–60% off first box promotions; that’s not the ongoing price.
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Which one has the best science behind the food? The Farmer’s Dog leads with the Cornell University metabolomics study (published in peer-reviewed journal, Oct 2025) · Nom Nom has the strongest microbiome research infrastructure · Ollie’s formulations are vet-nutritionist designed but have less independently published researchThe Cornell study carried out with The Farmer’s Dog is the most significant independent research any of these brands has produced. It found that senior dogs switched from kibble to fresh food showed a rapid metabolic shift — lower levels of harmful glycation end products linked to aging and chronic disease, alongside higher levels of antioxidant metabolites — within just one month. The study was peer-reviewed and published in the journal Metabolites, giving it more scientific weight than brand-funded white papers. Nom Nom has built the most sophisticated consumer-facing science infrastructure of the three: its at-home microbiome testing kit ($35) lets owners map their dog’s gut bacteria, and the brand has invested in ongoing gut health research. Ollie’s recipes are vetted by board-certified nutritionists and meet all AAFCO standards, but independent published studies are limited compared to the other two.
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Which has the most recipe variety? Nom Nom: 6 recipes (Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Lamb, Turkey & Chicken Cookout) · Ollie: 5 fresh + 2 baked recipes · The Farmer’s Dog: 4 recipes (Beef, Chicken, Pork, Turkey) — fewest options but broadest customization of portionsRecipe count matters most when your dog has known protein sensitivities or you want to rotate proteins to reduce the chance of developing a sensitivity over time. Nom Nom’s six protein options — including Lamb Pilaf, which is a genuine novel protein for most dogs — offer the most variety in this comparison. Ollie’s baked recipes add a different food format (lower moisture, denser calorie content, shelf-stable between servings), which is a real practical benefit: it means you can get a mixed plan that’s easier to manage day-to-day than a fully fresh subscription. The Farmer’s Dog has the narrowest recipe selection but arguably the most thorough pre-portioning — meals arrive cut to your specific dog’s exact caloric needs, so there’s less math involved in daily feeding.
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Which is easiest to use day-to-day? The Farmer’s Dog: pre-portioned packs are the simplest — no measuring, no guessing · Ollie: custom scoop + container included, baked option means no thawing some days · Nom Nom: pre-portioned pouches, but some owners find packaging more rigid than competitorsAll three ship frozen, require thawing in the fridge, and need to be used within 4–5 days of opening. The daily logistics are similar across all three. Where The Farmer’s Dog earns the convenience edge is in how little thinking is required: packs are sized exactly to your dog’s daily intake, so you literally tear open a pack and serve. Ollie includes a custom-sized scoop and a reusable storage container with the first order, which reduces mess and guesswork if you’re not doing a full-pack-per-day. Ollie’s mixed plan (fresh + baked) is genuinely the most flexible arrangement of the three — you can serve thawed fresh food most nights and baked food on days when you forgot to thaw, without compromising nutrition. For owners who travel or have variable schedules, that flexibility is practical.
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Can I reduce costs without dropping the subscription entirely? All three: topper/half-fresh plans cut costs by 40–55% vs. full fresh plans · The Farmer’s Dog: Nutrient Blend option allows home cooking with brand’s formulation (~$1/day) · Ollie: mixed baked + fresh plan reduces cost while keeping variety · Nom Nom: half-portion plans available for budget managementThe least discussed and most cost-effective option across all three brands is partial feeding — using the fresh food as a topper over an existing quality kibble rather than a complete meal replacement. This cuts monthly costs roughly in half while still delivering the nutrient density and whole-food benefits of fresh food with every serving. The Farmer’s Dog Nutrient Blend option takes this further: you purchase the supplement packet and cook the rest yourself using grocery-store ingredients and the brand’s published recipe. The gap between the Nutrient Blend price (roughly $1/day) and a full fresh plan ($4–$15/day depending on dog size) is significant enough that for large-breed owners feeling the full-plan sticker shock, the blend is worth a serious look.
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Which is best for a dog with digestive problems? Nom Nom: strongest edge here — microbiome testing kit ($35) identifies specific gut imbalances before you choose a recipe · All three outperform kibble for digestive issues in most dogs · Novel protein recipes (Nom Nom’s Lamb Pilaf, Ollie’s Lamb) are the starting point for elimination trialsDogs with chronic digestive issues — persistent loose stools, gas, mucusy stool, intermittent vomiting with no clear cause — benefit from switching to fresh food more visibly and quickly than most other health categories. The higher digestibility of fresh food (less unprocessed bulk moving through the gut), the absence of common commercial kibble binders, and the whole-food ingredient lists all contribute to improvement. Nom Nom’s microbiome testing is the differentiating factor for the most complicated cases: for dogs that have cycled through multiple diets without resolution, understanding whether the issue is a specific bacterial imbalance (rather than just a food sensitivity) shapes the next step in a way that recipe-switching alone can’t. For straightforward sensitivities and mild chronic GI issues, any of the three fresh plans will typically show improvement within two to four weeks.
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Which one is best for a senior or aging dog? The Farmer’s Dog: the Cornell metabolomics study specifically used senior dogs and found measurable anti-aging metabolic changes · All three: higher digestibility benefits older dogs with slower gut motility · Nom Nom: gut health research adds value for seniors with chronic GI declineSenior dogs face a cluster of interconnected nutritional challenges: declining appetite as smell and taste sensitivity fade, reduced gut efficiency, joints that need anti-inflammatory support, and a metabolism that shifts with lower activity. Fresh food addresses the appetite problem directly — the smell of gently cooked whole proteins is categorically more appealing to an older dog with a dulled nose than shelf-stable kibble. The Cornell metabolomics study is the strongest evidence yet that the benefit goes deeper than palatability: 22 senior dogs on The Farmer’s Dog food showed lower markers of cellular aging within one month — a finding that, if replicated in larger studies, would be genuinely significant. For senior dogs in particular, The Farmer’s Dog currently has the most science behind its role in longevity. That doesn’t mean the other two are less nutritious day-to-day — it means the research on that specific question is less complete for them.
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Which brand is worth it for a picky eater? All three dramatically outperform kibble for picky eaters · Trial box and money-back guarantee reduce the financial risk of testing · Nom Nom’s broader protein selection (6 recipes) gives the most options to try · The Farmer’s Dog: rotating all 4 proteins often solves reluctance over timeDogs that refuse kibble, eat reluctantly, or need rotation to maintain interest tend to respond to fresh food with a noticeably different level of enthusiasm — the difference in aroma and texture is significant enough that it registers with even finicky eaters. The practical challenge when dealing with a genuinely selective dog is that you don’t know which protein they’ll prefer until you try. Nom Nom’s six options give the most room to test across a trial period. All three brands offer meaningful first-box discounts specifically designed for this reason — the expectation is that you need to test multiple recipes before settling on a plan. One reliable strategy: begin with whatever the brand marks as its most palatable recipe (typically chicken or turkey), confirm the dog eats it enthusiastically, then rotate from there. Jumping straight to a novel protein on a picky dog’s first fresh-food experience adds a variable that makes it harder to know whether hesitance is about the food category or the specific ingredient.
📊 Side-by-Side — What Actually Differs
Scroll right on mobile to see all three columns.
| Category | 🔵 Nom Nom | 🟢 Farmer’s Dog | 🟠 Ollie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 |
| Recipes | 6 fresh (most variety) | 4 fresh | 5 fresh + 2 baked |
| Cost — small dog (10–15 lbs) | ~$4–$6/day | ~$3–$5/day (lowest) | ~$3.50–$6/day |
| Cost — medium dog (30–40 lbs) | ~$6–$9/day | ~$5–$8/day (lowest) | ~$7–$10/day |
| Cost — large dog (60–80 lbs) | ~$9–$14/day | ~$8–$13/day (lowest) | ~$9–$15/day |
| Pre-portioned? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes + custom scoop |
| Independent peer-reviewed research | Microbiome studies | Cornell metabolomics (Oct 2025) | Limited |
| Dog food recalls | None | None | One baked lot (limited disclosure) |
| Baked / shelf-stable option | No | No | ✅ Yes — unique to Ollie |
| Microbiome testing add-on | ✅ Yes ($35 kit) | No | No |
| Home cooking option | No | ✅ Nutrient Blend (~$1/day) | No |
| Money-back guarantee | Trial + refund | Trial period guarantee | 30-day 100% guarantee |
| USDA human-grade facility | Human-grade ingredients | ✅ USDA-certified kitchens | Human-grade ingredients |
| Probiotics / supplements | ✅ Full-spectrum + GI-targeted ($40/mo) | No proprietary supplements | Supplements available |
💰 What It Actually Costs — By Dog Size
🐕 Small Dog (under 20 lbs)
$90–$180/mo
Nom Nom / Ollie: ~$4–$6/day. Farmer’s Dog: ~$3–$5/day. Introductory 50–60% off discounts make first month ~$45–$90 across all three. After trial, expect $90–$180/month ongoing.
🐕 Medium Dog (30–50 lbs)
$150–$300/mo
Most common size range. The Farmer’s Dog is typically cheapest at $150–$240/mo. Ollie and Nom Nom tend to run $180–$300/mo. Topper plan (50% fresh) cuts these figures roughly in half.
🐕 Large Dog (60–80 lbs)
$250–$450/mo
Large breeds are where full fresh plans become financially demanding. The Farmer’s Dog $250–$390/mo; Ollie and Nom Nom $280–$450/mo. Half-fresh or topper plans often make more sense at this size.
🧪 Nom Nom Microbiome Test
$35/kit
Maps your dog’s gut bacteria via stool swab. Identifies imbalances linked to digestive, skin, immune, and weight issues. Not required — but the most diagnostic add-on any of these three brands offers.
🏠 Farmer’s Dog Nutrient Blend
~$1/day
Add to home-cooked meat and vegetables. Full recipes provided. Same nutritional standard as subscription meals at a fraction of the cost. Best cost-reduction option for large breeds or multi-dog homes.
🥣 Ollie Mixed Plan
Saves ~$60+/mo
Combines fresh frozen + baked recipes in one plan. Baked food doesn’t require same-day thawing, making it more practical for busy schedules. Reduces cost vs. full fresh while maintaining whole-food quality.
🔬 Cornell Study (Farmer’s Dog)
Oct 2025
Published in peer-reviewed journal Metabolites. 22 senior dogs. Significant drops in aging compounds within one month on fresh food. Industry critics challenged methodology; Cornell and brand stood behind findings.
❓ Your Situation — Which One Actually Fits
I have a dog with chronic stomach issues that nothing has fixed
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
This is where Nom Nom’s microbiome testing creates a meaningful fork in the road. Most owners dealing with a chronically gassy, loose-stool, or intermittently vomiting dog have already tried: a novel protein, a limited-ingredient diet, a prescription GI formula, a probiotic supplement. If the problem persists through multiple food changes, the issue may not be about which recipe you’re choosing — it may be a specific bacterial imbalance in the gut that no recipe change will address on its own. Nom Nom’s $35 stool test maps which bacterial strains are present and out of balance and returns specific dietary and supplement recommendations. That information changes the decision-making process from “let’s try another protein” to something more targeted. Alongside the test, Nom Nom sells both a full-spectrum probiotic and a GI-targeted probiotic ($40/month) formulated to address the imbalances their testing most commonly finds. For dogs where simple diet switching hasn’t worked, this infrastructure is genuinely different from what The Farmer’s Dog or Ollie offers.
🧪 Nom Nom: microbiome testing → targeted gut repair
🌿 All three: more digestible than kibble for most dogs
🐑 Novel protein options (Lamb) for elimination trials
💊 Nom Nom probiotics: GI-targeted or full-spectrum
I have a senior dog who’s slowing down and eating less
AGING DOGS
Two things typically happen to appetite in aging dogs: taste sensitivity fades as olfactory function declines, and gut motility slows, making large meals uncomfortable. Fresh food addresses both. The aroma of gently cooked whole-food proteins — actual chicken thigh, real beef, not reconstituted meal — is a substantially stronger smell signal than kibble, which is why dogs that have started refusing their kibble often eat fresh food enthusiastically from the first serving. The gut motility piece is handled by the higher digestibility of fresh food versus extruded kibble — less bulk moving through a slower digestive system means fewer bouts of discomfort that cause dogs to associate mealtimes with bad feelings. For choosing specifically between these three brands for a senior dog: The Farmer’s Dog has the most direct research linking its food to aging biomarkers, making it the stronger choice if longevity is the primary concern. Nom Nom’s microbiome testing is the stronger choice if your senior dog has concurrent digestive issues. Ollie is a practical middle ground if you want some meals that don’t require advance thawing — the baked option reduces the daily logistics of managing an older dog’s changing appetite unpredictably.
🔬 Farmer’s Dog: Cornell aging study — measurable metabolic improvement
🧪 Nom Nom: microbiome testing for senior GI decline
🥣 Ollie baked: no thawing needed for impromptu senior meals
👃 All three: far more palatable to dogs with dulled senses
Budget is a real concern — I can’t do $300+ a month
BUDGET-CONSCIOUS
The honest answer is that full fresh feeding for any medium or large dog at these price points is expensive by design — and for many households that’s a real barrier. Here’s what actually moves the needle on cost. First, The Farmer’s Dog is consistently the most affordable of the three for the same dog’s needs — not by a dramatic margin for small dogs, but meaningfully so for medium and large breeds over time. Second, the topper approach: using any of these three brands as 25–50% of daily intake (mixed with an existing quality kibble) cuts the monthly bill almost in half while still delivering whole-food nutrition with every meal. Third, The Farmer’s Dog Nutrient Blend at roughly $1/day lets you achieve the same nutritional standard by sourcing ingredients yourself at grocery store prices. Fourth, all three brands run their most aggressive introductory discounts (50–60% off) year-round — starting a trial during a promotional window and then evaluating on the discounted box before committing to full pricing is a low-risk way to test all three without spending full price on each.
💚 Farmer’s Dog: most affordable across size categories
🥣 Topper plan: any brand at 50% portion = ~50% cost
🏠 Farmer’s Dog Nutrient Blend: ~$1/day with home cooking
🎁 All three: 50–60% off first box is a real discount, not a trick
My dog has skin problems, a dull coat, or persistent itching
SKIN & COAT ISSUES
Diet-driven skin issues in dogs are more common than most owners realize, and the mechanism has two main pathways. The first is a sensitivity to a specific ingredient — usually a protein the dog has eaten long-term and developed a reaction to (chicken and beef are the most frequently implicated). The second is omega-3 deficiency: fish oil and omega-rich ingredients are present in most kibble, but high-heat extrusion during manufacturing degrades a significant portion of the fatty acids before the dog ever eats them. Fresh food, cooked at lower temperatures, delivers omega-3s in a more intact form. For ingredient sensitivities, recipe selection matters more than which brand you choose: Nom Nom’s Lamb Pilaf (a true novel protein for most dogs), Ollie’s Lamb recipe, and The Farmer’s Dog Pork recipe all offer departure from the typical chicken- and beef-heavy pet food landscape. The microbiome connection also shows up here: Nom Nom’s testing sometimes identifies gut bacterial profiles associated with skin inflammation, which shapes whether a recipe change alone or a probiotic intervention is the more useful first step.
🐑 Nom Nom Lamb Pilaf: novel protein for elimination trials
🐟 Farmer’s Dog: omega-3s better preserved in lower-heat cooking
🌿 Ollie Lamb: additional novel protein option
⏱️ Skin improvements: typically visible in 8–12 weeks
Which one is actually worth it — the honest bottom line
FINAL VERDICT
Choose The Farmer’s Dog if: you want the most direct clinical research behind the food, the most affordable option for the same size dog, the simplest daily feeding experience (pre-portioned, lowest decision overhead), or a home-cooking option that keeps costs low while maintaining the brand’s nutritional standard.
Choose Nom Nom if: your dog has a persistent gut issue that simple food changes haven’t resolved, and you want the microbiome testing infrastructure to guide what happens next. Also a stronger choice if you want a wider protein rotation — six recipes give the most flexibility for dogs that need variety or are working through an elimination diet.
Choose Ollie if: you want fresh food but need some days to be simpler — the baked recipe option means you’re not always locked into the thawing schedule of fully fresh plans. The mixed plan (baked + fresh) is the most practically flexible subscription structure of the three, and Ollie’s 30-day money-back guarantee is the clearest no-risk trial offer in this comparison.
All three are meaningfully better than most kibble for most dogs. The differences between them matter most in specific situations — cost sensitivity, gut health complexity, schedule flexibility — not in daily nutritional quality, where they are closely matched.
Choose Nom Nom if: your dog has a persistent gut issue that simple food changes haven’t resolved, and you want the microbiome testing infrastructure to guide what happens next. Also a stronger choice if you want a wider protein rotation — six recipes give the most flexibility for dogs that need variety or are working through an elimination diet.
Choose Ollie if: you want fresh food but need some days to be simpler — the baked recipe option means you’re not always locked into the thawing schedule of fully fresh plans. The mixed plan (baked + fresh) is the most practically flexible subscription structure of the three, and Ollie’s 30-day money-back guarantee is the clearest no-risk trial offer in this comparison.
All three are meaningfully better than most kibble for most dogs. The differences between them matter most in specific situations — cost sensitivity, gut health complexity, schedule flexibility — not in daily nutritional quality, where they are closely matched.
✅ Best research + value: The Farmer’s Dog
✅ Best for gut health / variety: Nom Nom
✅ Best day-to-day flexibility: Ollie (baked + fresh mix)
🎁 All three: try introductory box before committing long-term
📍 Find Help Near You
Find a vet nutritionist, pet food store, or groomer near you. All three brands ship direct — no retail location needed to order.
✅ Before You Subscribe — 5 Things to Do First
- Run each brand’s quiz with your dog’s real details. All three brands generate a personalized price — and your actual monthly cost can vary significantly from the ranges in this guide depending on your dog’s exact weight, age, and activity level. Don’t budget based on estimates; get your actual quote from each site before deciding.
- Start with whichever brand’s introductory offer is most generous right now. All three typically offer 50–60% off a first box, but these promotions rotate. Trying the one with the best current promotion first makes the comparison period cheaper, and you can always subscribe to a different brand after the trial.
- Transition gradually over 7–10 days. Switching a dog abruptly from kibble to fresh food almost always causes temporary loose stools — not because the food is bad, but because the gut microbiome is adjusting. Mix 25% fresh with 75% current food for a few days, then 50/50, then 75/25. Dogs who “don’t like” fresh food on day one are often just reacting to too fast a change.
- Use Nom Nom’s microbiome kit before subscribing if your dog has a chronic gut issue. At $35, it’s the cheapest diagnostic tool you’ll find for understanding what’s happening in your dog’s gut — and the information shapes which recipe and which supplement approach makes the most sense before you spend $150–$300 on a month of food.
- Track your dog’s stool for the first three weeks. The clearest signal that fresh food is working is stool quality: smaller volume, firmer consistency, and less gas are the most direct signs that more of the food is being absorbed. If stool quality improves within two weeks and stays consistent, the switch is working. If it doesn’t improve or worsens past the transition window, the recipe — not the category — may be the issue, and switching to a different protein within the same brand often resolves it.
📞 Key Links & Resources:
🔵 Nom Nom: nomnomnow.com
🟢 The Farmer’s Dog: thefarmersdog.com
🟠 Ollie: myollie.com
🧪 Nom Nom Microbiome Test: $35 at nomnomnow.com
🏠 Farmer’s Dog Nutrient Blend: thefarmersdog.com
🥣 Ollie Mixed Plan: baked + fresh — myollie.com
🔬 Cornell Metabolomics Study: Metabolites journal, Oct 2025
💊 Nom Nom Probiotics: GI + full-spectrum, $40/mo
📋 FDA Recall Database: FDA.gov/animal-veterinary
🩺 Find a Veterinary Nutritionist: ACVIM.org
⚠️ Report Adverse Events: safetyreporting.hhs.gov
This guide is for informational purposes only and has no affiliation with, sponsorship from, or compensation from Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, or any related brand. Pricing estimates are based on publicly available test data and reviewer reports and will vary based on your dog’s specific profile — always obtain a personalized quote directly from each brand’s website before subscribing. Recipe availability, formulations, and promotional pricing change frequently. This content does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before making significant dietary changes, especially for dogs with diagnosed health conditions. For current FDA recall information, visit FDA.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals.