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We’re Leaving Crash Diets in 2022
New year’s resolutions are not my strong suit, especially when it comes to my yearly January “cleanse.” This year, I decided to get a nutritionist’s help in crafting a sustainable meal plan I’d keep up with all year—and that mindset doesn’t just extend to me. My dog Arlo is my best friend and I want him to live his best life, so in 2023, we’re building better eating habits together.
Issue is: Arlo is a picky pup. I’ve tried everything to get him to eat—from adding mix-ins into his kibble to topping every meal with whipped cream (seriously). I thought he’d eventually grow out of it…but when he started begging for my food at every meal, it became clear that I had to start feeding him meals that were delicious enough he’d want to eat.
I was about to start cooking him homemade meals every day until I learned about Ollie’s all-natural, “human-grade” dog food delivery (sighs in relief). If your dog leaves his food bowl half-full after every meal, you’re gonna want to keep reading.
Ollie’s Fresh New Take: Real Food, Made For Real Pups
Ollie is a no-sweat subscription dog food company founded by a team of passionate pup parents. Their mission: to provide nutritionally balanced, vet-formulated meals made with whole, high-quality ingredients that are specifically tailored to meet every dog’s unique nutritional needs.
For new customers, they have a 50% off starter box where you get two weeks of food in pre-portioned packs, a feeding guide to help your pup transition into a fresh diet, and a free scoop and “puptainer” to store open packs.
Much like my new meal plan, Arlo now gets a variety of menu options and delicious all-natural meals delivered straight to our doorstep—made just for him. I’d read a ton of reviews from parents of picky pups who love Ollie, so I was excited to try it out and to take advantage of the starter box.
Ollie values that every dog has their quirks and character and they’ve got needs that are unique to them. They see every dog as an individual and are committed to helping them thrive and live as long as canine-ly possible. Their all-natural food delivers results you can see, like a shiny coat, increased energy, and better digestion—all while providing the best possible experience for both pets and their parents.
I did enough research that I could write a dissertation on the different fresh pet food options out there, and Ollie was my top-pick (paws down) for how personalized it is, the wide variety of fresh meals, and the fact that everything is slow-cooked in small batches to preserve nutrients.
Getting Started With His Custom Meal Plan
It was simple to get started: I filled out a brief online questionnaire that included things like my dog’s age, his current (and ideal) weight, and allergies. Then, Ollie crafted up a custom meal plan with four recipes to choose from and perfect portion sizes for Arlo. Every recipe is full of protein, fiber, and nutrients—and free from wheat and corn (so not only is it allergen-friendly, but can also help your pup shave off a few extra pounds if that’s your goal).
I also added on some wellness supplements like the Zoomies for hip and joint health and the Chill Pills which help him enter his zen zone, plus some tasty jerky strips for treats because I want him to go into the new year with his best paw forward. These add that little extra that’ll keep him happy, healthy, and well-behaved.
I picked the beef and lamb recipes and the subscription price, including the supplements and treats, ended up being $27.90 per week. The pricing varies depending on the weight of your dog, the amount of food they need and if you add any subscription extras. For reference, Arlo is a 10lb Havanese Poodle mix, and his subscription includes 7 packs of food delivered every 8 weeks.
While Ollie isn’t as cheap as kibble, I could never put a price on investing in Arlo’s health. And with half off my first box, I saved on my first two weeks at only $13.95 per week!
Arlo’s Starter Box Arrives
When the box arrived, I was so excited. Shipping was super fast (and free), everything is packaged on ice, and they give you everything you need to get started. Just like human food, Ollie’s fresh meals only remain at peak freshness for about four days in the fridge (or 6 months in the freezer), so I popped all of the food in the freezer, except for the first pack which I put in the fridge to thaw.
That first night, I made myself some clean, healthy food and fed Arlo his first meal too. I’ve never seen him eat so quickly—he really licked the bowl clean AND came looking for me carrying his bowl in his mouth with a face that nearly convinced me to give him some more. Kibble could never…
One thing that immediately impressed me was how I could see the whole ingredients in each recipe—like beef, sweet potato, peas, blueberries, and chia. The meals come in vacuum-sealed packaging that keeps the food fresh, without using any preservatives or chemicals. I made sure to put the open meal pack in my Ollie ‘puptainer’ to preserve the food’s freshness.
My Thoughts 2 Weeks In
After two weeks, I’m an Ollie fan. Not only is Arlo happier and more energetic than ever, but I feel great about feeding him balanced meals with all of the protein and nutrients he needs to thrive. I’ve actually noticed a huge difference in his energy levels and his appetite (picky eater no more). His favorite is for sure the lamb dish with cranberries—plus, he absolutely loves the treats and supplements I sometimes give him in between meals.
Selfishly, I love that he’s stopped begging since he’s satisfied by his meals now. Plus, I don’t have to go to the store to pick up dog food thanks to the convenient subscription. I can edit or pause deliveries if we’re traveling and resume it with the touch of a button.
Help Your Bestie Thrive From Head to Tail
The habits we’ll actually keep up with for a long time are the ones that don’t feel like a chore. Ollie has made my life so much easier, and I’m excited to feed my pup something that’ll help him be his healthiest self in 2023 and years to come. He’s keeping me accountable for keeping up better habits in my own life!
I know making the investment into fresh food can be daunting, but think about it like this: good, real food is simple. It looks like food and smells like food. Feeding your dog real food isn’t “spoiling” them–it’s what dogs are supposed to be eating and no one should ever eat processed nutrient-less food for every single meal of their life. Ollie is a lifestyle, not a diet.
Take the best care of your pup with Ollie—and with 50% off your starter box, you get 2 weeks worth of food plus free goodies! Your pup will thank you.
