The global fresh dog food market was valued at over $23 billion in 2023, and there is no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. Fresh dog food is particularly popular among American pet owners for its high-quality nutrition, but it can be an expensive option for full-time feeding.
In this blog, we’ll present the basics of fresh dog food diets, how homemade dog food fits in the mix and a few affordable options for getting dogs all the essential nutrients they need.
The Essentials of a Fresh Dog Diet
Fresh dog food is generally appealing thanks to its use of real, whole ingredients, often without preservatives, fillers or artificial additives that are found in many commercial dog foods. Fresh dog food diets also allow for greater control over what a dog eats, which can be comforting to pet parents who have a dog with specific health concerns and nutritional needs.
When choosing a fresh dog food diet, it’s important to understand the main ingredients and nutrients a dog needs for a well-rounded, balanced meal–especially if you’re taking a DIY approach. Keep reading to learn more.
Fundamental Nutrients
A fresh dog food diet must have the right balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Proteins are building blocks for strong muscles, skin and organs, while fats are a vital source of energy and aid in absorbing vitamins like A, D, E and B vitamins. Carbohydrates, while not always necessary, can provide dogs fiber and additional energy.
However, a common oversight in DIY fresh diets is the lack of essential microminerals, particularly calcium. Similar to humans, dogs need calcium for bone health. Without it, their bodies can experience serious deficiencies and a number of uncomfortable symptoms. Other microminerals overlooked in DIY fresh dog diets are magnesium , potassium and phosphorus , which can lead to long-term health problems.
Common DIY Ingredients
When pet owners make dog food at home, common ingredients include things you’ll find in any grocery store or farmer’s market:
Whole grains like brown rice or quinoa
Healthy fresh proteins, including ground beef, chicken or turkey
Legumes, including black beans, lentils and chickpeas
Fresh fruit and veggies, like sweet potatoes and green beans
Dog-friendly healthy fats like peanut butter
Beyond protein, fats and carbs, ingredients like ground eggshells or bone meal can be added as natural sources of calcium and phosphorus.
Unfortunately, even when these healthy foods are added, it can still be hard to ensure your dog is getting the full range of essential nutrients. To make up for this gap, many DIY fresh food dog owners add supplements formulated for dogs to their food. These supplements can help fill in nutritional gaps and ensure a dog’s diet is more complete and balanced.
Mistakes To Avoid When Building a Fresh Dog Diet
One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make when grocery shopping for a fresh diet is focusing only on whole foods without considering nutrient balance. While meats, fresh produce and grains are vital to a dog’s healthy diet, they often lack the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fatty acids dogs need to thrive.
Another mistake is trying to create the best budget meals without proper nutrition planning. While DIY fresh diets can be more affordable than buying pre-made fresh food, the process requires careful attention to detail. To ensure your dog’s diet is complete, consider working with a veterinarian or registered dietitian to develop a meal plan that meets your pup’s unique dietary needs and overall wellness.
Is Homemade Fresh Food More Cost-Effective?
As noted above, some pet owners believe that homemade fresh food is a great way to save money, but this often isn’t the case. It may seem cost-effective up front, but the costs of high-quality proteins, fresh vegetables and supplements add up quickly. When you take into account the time spent preparing food as well, a fresh food diet can actually be more expensive in the long run.
A low-cost alternative to homemade fresh food that ensures high-quality ingredients and nutrients is dog food from The Honest Kitchen, which falls somewhere between traditional commercial kibble dog food and fresh food.
The Honest Kitchen offers slowly dehydrated dog food as well as whole food clusters to provide dogs with balanced, healthy meals at a fraction of the cost of homemade fresh dog food. When comparing side by side, dehydrated dog food from The Honest Kitchen costs $2.62 per day (for a 30-pound dog), or just over $78 per month, while a homemade and raw diet can cost anywhere from $141 to $166 per month. The affordable meal choice is clear.
The Honest Kitchen’s Cost-Effective Alternatives to Fresh Dog Food
When you break down the dollars and cents of The Honest Kitchen’s dog foods versus homemade dog food, the smart option is pretty obvious. The Honest Kitchen provides a great alternative for pet parents who want to provide fresh-like, high-quality nutrition to their pups without the higher costs of homemade or fresh commercial dog food.
The Honest Kitchen uses ingredients found in fresh dog food at a fraction of the price, thanks to our efficient production and shipping processes. Below, we’ll outline specific human grade dog food options from The Honest Kitchen.
Dehydrated Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen’s dehydrated dog food is a practical, nutritious and cost-effective alternative to fresh dog food diets. With dehydrated dog food, simply add water to rehydrate the ingredients, and you’ll have a complete, healthy meal for your dog in just a few minutes.
Dehydrated food from The Honest Kitchen doesn’t require refrigeration, which makes it incredibly convenient from a storage and travel perspective. The best part is that the gentle dehydration process preserves the natural nutrients and flavors of the ingredients, providing an amazing meal you and your dog will feel great about.
Some dehydrated dog food recipes from The Honest Kitchen include:
Chicken Recipe: A high-protein recipe rich in nutrients, ideal for active dogs.
Turkey Recipe: A lighter option for dogs with sensitivities to other proteins.
Beef Recipe Hearty and flavorful, great for supporting strong muscles.
Fish Recipe: Packed with omega-3s to support skin and coat wellness.
Base Mixes
For pet owners who still want some control over their pup’s protein source with the convenience and cost savings of dehydrated food, The Honest Kitchen offers base mixes. The mixes include all essential fruits, vegetables and nutrients a dog needs for a balanced diet — minus the protein. This means you can add your protein of choice, customizing your dog’s meals while still saving money when compared to a full fresh food diet.
The Honest Kithchen’s base mixes offer the best of both worlds: customization and control you don’t need to think twice about. The base mixes also come in a few different varieties:
Fruit and Veggie Base Mix: Perfect for adding your choice of fresh meat or fish.
Grain Free Veggies Base Mix: Great for dogs with grain sensitivities, offering balanced nutrition without common allergens.
Whole Food Clusters
The Honest Kitchen’s whole food clusters provide a fresh food-like experience but with the added convenience and cost-savings of minimally processed dry food. The clusters are made from real, whole ingredients and then gently baked to retain nutritional value. They are also extremely easy to store and have a longer shelf life than other fresh food options.
Not only are the clusters packed with nutrients, but they also have a crunchy texture many dogs love. There is an array of flavor and recipe options, which ensures that even the pickiest dogs have choices they will enjoy. Here are some of the whole food cluster varieties:
Chicken & Oats Recipe: A balanced, nutrient-dense, whole grain recipe ideal for dogs in all of life’s stages (there’s also a grain free option!).
Turkey & Oats Recipe: A lean protein option for pups with chicken allergies or sensitivities.
Beef & Oats Recipe: A filling recipe of ranch raised beef, barley and veggies, for dogs on the go.
Puppy & Small Breed Recipe: Specially formulated for growing puppies and small dogs, providing essential nutrients for healthy development, like DHA.
How Does The Honest Kitchen Keep Costs Comparable to Fresh Dog Food Diets?
Despite using high-quality ingredients — much like those used in fresh food diets — The Honest Kitchen uses smart production and distribution methods to keep the price low without compromising quality!
One key factor is how we produce our dehydrated food. Unlike fresh dog food, dehydrated food doesn’t need to be kept refrigerated to prevent spoilage. Shelf-stable products eliminate the need for refrigerated trucks, dry ice and other costly temperature-controlled shipping methods. Instead, The Honest Kitchen ships our food in compact, lightweight boxes, reducing both transportation costs and our carbon footprint.
Cutting costs where we can and not skimping where it actually matters (the ingredients) is how The Honest Kitchen maintains prices that are about a third less than the average price of fresh food. So, a lower cost doesn’t mean lower quality in this case. The Honest Kitchen simply works smarter to ensure customers receive the best possible dog food at a budget-friendly price.
Save on Dog Food Without Compromising Quality
Finding affordable dog food that doesn’t compromise quality can be difficult, which may lead many pet owners to try fresh food or homemade fresh food. But with The Honest Kitchen, the best of both worlds is possible. You’ll have dog food that uses high-quality, whole food ingredients, while cutting down meal prep time and saving money.
Check out the full collection of dog food from The Honest Kitchen and consider making the switch today — your furry friend (and your wallet) will thank you.
