(And I’m about to give you all the info you need to do the same… because we both know our dogs deserve it).
When I hear “holidays,” I have one thought: dinner parties. This is arguably the best time of the year for eating, and I’m soooo ready to get my hostess on. Seeing as my dog is my best friend, I consider him a guest, too—a guest of honor, at that. When I light candlesticks and invite friends over for rich, warm dishes, it feels wildly unfair to present Theo with the same old bowl of kibble… again, and again, and again.
About a month ago, one of my regular attendees (and dear friends) asked whether I’d heard of the fresh dog food brand Ollie. She filled me in, and now, just four weeks later, we’re on our second shipment. As it turns out, society has progressed far past the rudimentary bowl of traditional, pitiful kibble—I just hadn’t been looking hard enough.
What’s Ollie? The Brand Changing the Way We Eat
I’m obviously new to the Ollie scene, but over the last month, I’ve learned a ton. The company was founded in 2016 by a trio of dog lovers who decided it was time to start feeding their pups like the family members they are. The result was a revolutionary dog food production model: veterinary nutritionists helped to develop all 7 Ollie recipes, and each dog who “joins the pack” receives their own thoughtfully curated menu.
At the heart of Ollie’s mission is the steadfast belief that every dog has a personal set of needs and preferences. Their delicious and wide range of recipes, treats, and supplements can be mixed and matched to accommodate all the pups out there.
While I can’t personally vouch for the taste profiles of Ollie meals, Theo can, and all signs point to the fact that he loves them. In fact, I started theming my last few dinner parties around Theo’s new Ollie dishes because the flavor combinations sounded really good. Gatekeeping is my #1 pet peeve (pun intended), so of course I’m sharing our meal lineup with y’all.
Disclaimer: Despite human-grade ingredients, Ollie’s pup food is best left for the pups, so I recommend a human-friendly iteration of each dog recipe below. 🙂
Theo’s Rotating Dog Food Menu
Fresh Turkey with Blueberries
This recipe caught my eye first, for what is probably an obvious reason… blueberries! How fun, innovative, and just plain necessary… why shouldn’t our pups enjoy one of the healthiest fruits out there? Chock-full of antioxidants, fiber, and Vitamins C & K, blueberries contribute to a healthy digestive and immune system. No wonder they’re also rumored to extend a dog’s lifespan!
Conceptualized Human Version: Kale salad, turkey pot pie, blueberry cobbler
Fresh Beef with Sweet Potatoes
All of my non-carnivorous friends swear by chickpeas as an incredible source of fiber, flavor, and protein… so of course I appreciated Ollie’s inclusion of this legume alongside that famous canine favorite, beef. PSA: Ollie also offers a Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes Recipe, which features the same key ingredients in shelf-stable form.
Conceptualized Human Version: Vegetable lasagna with roasted sweet potatoes, red peppers, spinach, and mozzarella cheese… with hummus and veggies as an appetizer
Baked Chicken with Carrots
Lean, tasty, and high in protein, chicken is another foolproof dog food centerpiece. This Ollie recipe comes in both Fresh and Baked versions. While Ollie’s Baked Recipes may resemble kibble, the ingredients make it clear that this is far from your average artificial pellet of dog food—not to mention, all of Ollie’s Baked meals are gently baked to retain nutritional value.
Conceptualized Human Version: Roasted chicken, carrots, asparagus, served atop alfredo pasta
Fresh Pork with Apples
Fresh Pork Dish with Apples features two fiber powerhouses (butternut squash and sweet potato) alongside lean, white meat and mouthwatering apples. Growing up, my parents often prepared pork with apple sauce as a fairly inexpensive and hearty dinner so this Ollie recipe made me nostalgic. The addition of oats as an important source of omega 6 fatty acids also felt reminiscent of my childhood—and talk about “hearty”!
Conceptualized Human Version: Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, apple pie
Bone Appétit, Friends!
I understand that switching dog food involves a lot of consideration and planning. In case Theo disliked Ollie’s food (according to reviews, highly unlikely) I didn’t want to order too much. Luckily, new customers receive 60% off their first delivery (roughly 2 weeks’ worth of food) along with a puptainer (to store leftovers), food scoop, and bowl for free. Obviously, this deal got me. One more Pro Tip: I highly recommend downloading the Ollie app, where you’ll receive advice on how to introduce the new food into your dog’s bowl, easily refer back to feeding guidelines, adjust delivery dates, change up recipe selections, and more!
Dinner party season is about to be even sweeter now that Theo is in on the action, too. But whether or not I invite friends over for dinner, feeding Theo these Ollie recipes has turned our kitchen into an effortless 24/7 eatery… “Chez Ollie,” I like to call it. Our ranking? A full five stars.
