I've been feeding Piper, my zero waste pup, food from The Honest Kitchen for about 1 year, and it is absolutely my favorite brand of dog food now!
As far as zero waste and sustainability go, they're on top.
- They use minimal processing for their food - its just dehydrated
- Most of their ingredients are sourced in the US.
- Their packaging is 100% recyclable! The cardboard box is printed on 100% post-consumer paper and the plastic bag inside is plastic #7, so recyclable (you need to check with your curbside program to see if it's accepted).
And as far as taking care of my dog, I'd also say their at the top of the pack.
- Piper is a picky eater, getting her to eat kibble was always a challenge. But she LOVES their food and gobbles it all right up!
- It's 100% human grade. If I can eat it, she can eat it.
- It's nutritious and minimally processed. The dehydration process helps keep in nutrients, and flavor!
- All of their health claims seem to have held true for my pooch:
- High energy levels - she was already about as high on the spectrum as you can get
- Healthy body weight - check!
- Silkier skin and coat - Yes! Piper has always had a nice coat (we treat her to eggs pretty often) but the last time we were at the vet she couldn't stop talking about it! I think we have to throw some credit HK's way
- Better digestion - I don't really know if it's better or not, but her poops look good to me! I have have noticed that her breath is much nicer when she's on this food!
They are also a charitable business.
- They work with Donation Match to "lend a paw" to animal-focused organizations
- Over Labor Day in 2017 they donated 100% of their profits to Hurricane Harvey Victims in Houston.
Ok, so I know you're going to go look at Honest Kitchen's prices and immediately think "WTF!?" Yes, this was my initial reaction as well. We did have her on Merrick before the switch.
However, I'll make the reach that if you're reading this you may already buy higher-end kibble for your pooch. In which case the price is higher, but still pretty comparable.
Piper weights about 45 lbs and eats about 2 cups per day (pre-hydration). I have a recurring order (saves 5%) of two 10 lbs boxes coming every month of their Revel recipe, and I occasionally skip the recurring order because she goes through about 1.5 boxes a month.
If price is really a deal breaker, I would recommend maybe trying out 50% HK and 50% cheaper kibble. We did this for a few months in the beginning before fully switching over! Also, all the brand's I'm including in this comparison are one's I would still feel ok feeding my own pooch!
Price Per Lbs Comparison
Price Per Month Comparison
The Ingredients
A huge part of the reason I love honest kitchen is because of the high quality ingredients they use, and the transparency of where they source them from. You're paying for better food, not just a better name.
The Honest Kitchen - 58.79 / 20 lbs (hydrated)
Revel whole grain chicken dog food
Ingredients : Free-range chicken, organic barley, potatoes, organic flax, organic oats, green peas, carrots, bananas, parsley, organic kelp, celery, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, EPA/DHA, copper amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate.
Grandma Lucy's - $72.19 / 20 lbs (hydrated)
Artisan Grain-Free Chicken Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Ingredients: Chicken, Potatoes, Flax, Carrots, Celery, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Garlic, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Phosphorous, Zinc Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Monoitrate, Potassium Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cyanocobalamin.
Merrick - $56.83 / 25 lbs
Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Natural Flavor, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Salmon Meal (source of Omega 3 fatty acids), Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Blueberries, Organic Alfalfa, Salmon Oil, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate), Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.
Solid Gold - $56.99 / 28.5 lbs
Star Chaser Chicken & Brown Rice with Vegetables Adult Dry Dog Food
Ingredients : Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ocean Fish Meal, Dried Eggs, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Salt, DL-Methionine, Salmon Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Carrots, Pumpkin, Parsley, Apples, Cranberries, Blueberries, Lettuce, Celery, Beets, Watercress, Spinach, Dried Chicory Root, Broccoli, Spearmint, Almond Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Sesame Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Kelp, Thyme, Lentils, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Reuteri Fermentation Product
Buffalo Blue - $45.99/ 30 lbs
Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Peas, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Flavor, Potatoes, Alfalfa Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Potato Starch, Dried Chicory Root, DL-Methionine, Caramel, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Garlic, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Oil of Rosemary, LLysine, Parsley, Kelp, Blueberries, Cranberries, Apples, Spinach, Blackberries, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Barley Grass, Turmeric, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Copper Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Nicotinic Acid (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Taurine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, L-Carnitine, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Beta Carotene, Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.