10 Best Pet Food for Picky Eaters 2024: Updated List

Picky dogs are challenging to shop for, and many owners struggle to find meals their pets will consistently enjoy. You might pour a heap of kibble or wet food into their dish, only for it to remain untouched or picked at.

The good news is that I’ve carefully analyzed and vetted the top pet food services this year. I’ve spent hours analyzing and verifying each service, because I really wanted to understand which of them truly cater to the preferences of picky eaters while ensuring they receive the nutrition they need.

Overall, The Farmer's Dog comes out on top. It uses a comprehensive food personalization questionnaire specifically designed for dogs. This feature allows pet owners to tailor their dog's food based on breed, age, activity level, and even particular likes or dislikes, making it an ideal choice for those with fussy eaters at home.

The Best Pet Food for Picky Eaters Reviewed

1. The Farmer’s Dog – Best Personalized Dog Food

The Farmer's Dog prepares high-quality fresh food for dogs. The meals consist of carefully selected ingredients that make them tasty and healthy. In addition, they are suitable for all breeds and all life stages.

What's on Offer?

You'll have a variety of meal options to choose from, including Turkey, Beef, and Pork recipes. These recipes are carefully formulated to have well-balanced macronutrient profiles. They contain a crude protein content ranging from 8 to 11%, while the crude fat content varies between 4.5 and 9%.

The meals incorporate ingredients like chickpeas, carrots, sweet potatoes, lentils, and green beans. Rest assured that all the ingredients meet or exceed AAFCO standards. There are no artificial preservatives or fillers, and the company sources ingredients sustainably and ethically, maintaining close relationships with local farmers and suppliers.

You can customize The Farmer’s Dog’s meal plans if your pet has special needs. Whether your dog is big or small, active or lazy, this service is ready to ship personalized meals with balanced macronutrients just for them. 

What Makes It Special?

There’s a questionnaire upon signup that considers various factors about your dog. It’s all basic and accessible info, like the age and weight of your dog. The questionnaire also helps you let the company know about any food sensitivities your pup has, along with his or her overall food preferences.

The Farmer's Dog food arrives at your doorstep every 3 weeks. The company is committed to environmental sustainability and uses packaging that is not only eco-friendly but also easily recyclable.

Is It Good Value?

All meals from The Farmer’s Dog are GMO- and gluten-free. For picky eaters, this is especially helpful. It ensures high standards for your pet's nutrition and health. Additionally, the meals are human-grade, guaranteeing top-notch ingredients. Discover more about these ingredients in our tested The Farmers Dog review.

Pricing starts at $2/day, but bigger dogs need more food and are therefore more expensive to feed. Your subscription begins with a 2-week trial, and you can get a refund if The Farmer’s Dog isn’t a good fit for your pup.

2. Ollie – Best Fresh and Dry Options for Picky Eaters

At Ollie, the focus is on personalized dog food plans for your pup. Every breed is unique with its own needs, and Ollie considers this and other elements when preparing your pet’s meals.

What’s on Offer?

You have a variety of fresh and kibble meals to choose from. The fresh meals include Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork, and Lamb, while the baked kibble includes Beef and Chicken. For more information on these options, you can refer to our extensive Ollie review.

This is a great service if your pet is a fan of superfoods. Ollie’s recipes include many star ingredients, like blueberries, sweet potatoes, squash, and more. In addition to vitamin-rich vegetables, Ollie’s meals contain up to 10% crude protein by weight.

Ollie's meals are also devoid of unnecessary by-products and free from preservatives. Likewise, its treats and supplements are filler-free. For instance, you can find options like Beef & Sweet Potato Jerky Strips, Sweet Potato Slices, Probiotic Chews, and more.

What Makes It Special?

During the sign-up process, you'll be asked a series of questions about your pet. Questions include its breed, age, size, current and ideal weight, activity level, and any food intolerances. Find out more about Ollie’s personalized plans in our review.

This service even has a team of vet nutritionists to oversee your meal plan. This helps to ensure that Ollie meets your dog's dietary needs.  

Ollie offers different plans including Full Fresh, Half Fresh, and Mixed Bowl. The Mixed Bowl plan combines fresh and dry food, while the Half Fresh plan is a smaller version of the standard Fresh plan. The half plan also allows your pup to sample things before committing to a larger amount.

Is It Good Value?

Ollie's food is cooked using the sous vide technique. The food is vacuum-sealed and then cooked in a low-temperature water bath. Generally speaking, this technique is reserved for classier restaurants, but Ollie uses it because it retains flavors, juices, and essential nutrients. It's impressive to see this technique applied to pet food.

Your minimum order is a 2-week box, which includes 28 packs of food. This will provide 2 daily meals over 2 weeks. Prices start as low as $4-$8 per day for smaller dogs. As is typical, larger dogs will cost more to feed with this service.

3. We Feed Raw – Best Raw Food for Picky Dogs

We Feed Raw offers raw food that’s great for picky eaters. The meals are all human-grade, and there are no fillers, preservatives, or synthetic flavors. 

What's on Offer?

Protein choices include chicken, turkey, beef, duck, venison, and lamb. All these choices include nourishing ingredients like flaxseed, beef heart, beef liver, and beef kidney. The meals are enriched with vitamins and minerals to further boost the nutritional content.

Every meal brims with the essential nutrients that are vital for your dog's health and well-being. What’s more, they primarily contain animal proteins.

You’ll notice that We Feed Raw's meals don't include vegetables.  Its meals are entirely meat-based apart from the flaxseed. Other services on my list, like The Farmer’s Dog, are better choices if you want your dog to get their daily serving of veggies.

What Makes It Special?

When you place an order, you can complete a quiz about your dog's stats. This includes your dog's age, weight, level of activity, and any current health issues. Doing this lets We Feed Raw construct a custom-made meal plan that matches your dog's needs.

Even without vegetables, each meal is crafted by nutritionists and has a vet's seal of approval. This is important as it guarantees a balanced diet. You can store the meals in their original packaging for up to 4 days in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.

Is It Good Value?

Every meal is meticulously designed to fulfill your pet's nutritional needs. Also, every meal strictly follows AAFCO guidelines. For more information about its high standards, check our full We Feed Raw review.

Your first order serves as a 2-week trial. Subsequent orders will be shipped and billed every 3 weeks. Pricing starts at $6.59/lb for the smallest breeds, with larger breeds costing more.

4. Nom Nom – Best Gently Cooked Dog Food 

If your dog’s a picky eater, he or she will find Nom Nom beneficial. The service has 2 board-certified veterinary nutritionists on its team, which is impressive considering that there are only about 100 of these experts in the entire US. The Farmer’s Dog is another of the rare pet food delivery services employing these dietary professionals.

What's on Offer?

Nom Nom presents an array of meals, specially made to suit your dog's dietary needs. There are 4 tasty recipes to choose from, including Chicken Cuisine, Turkey Fare, Pork Potluck, and Beef Mash. Learn more about these recipes in our Nom Nom review.

Nom Nom does a great job ensuring its meals are nutritionally dense. For example, the Beef Mash recipe rounds out the USDA-grade beef with healthy vegetables like peas and carrots. In addition to protein, this means your pup also gets fiber and vitamins.

You can buy 2 types of probiotics from this company – full-spectrum and GI-targeted. This ensures that the food your dog eats is great for its health as well as filling its tummy.

What Makes It Special?

When you sign up, you'll provide information about your dog's characteristics, such as age, weight, and level of activity. Once done, you'll get a meal plan customized to your specific dog, ensuring it meets your pup's exact nutritional needs.

Nom Nom's meals are pre-portioned, ensuring your dog gets the correct amount every time. Half portions are an option and may be a good route if you want to give your dog a taste test before committing to a larger order. The full portion does, however, save some money.

Is It Good Value?

Every meal is made from fresh ingredients with no artificial additives, preservatives, or fillers. Moreover, they're crafted by Nom Nom's very own board-certified veterinary nutritionists.

The initial commitment is a 2-week food trial. While the starting cost is $5/day for a smaller breed, the price will be a bit more for larger breeds. However, you can benefit from our special discount: Get 60% off your first box + free shipping

5. Spot & Tango – Best Dry Dog Food

Spot and Tango provides some of the best pet food for picky eaters. The company offers fresh and dry meals consisting of various proteins. It also has a detailed meal personalization quiz on its website.

What's on Offer?

Spot and Tango’s food options include Fresh and UnKibble, which is a premium dry food. Fresh meals come in exact portions ready for your dog's bowl, while UnKibble arrives with a special scoop just for your pet's serving size. 

UnKibble stands out as an extraordinary type of dry food that's full of nutrients. Spot & Tango perfected a process that turns fresh ingredients into a dry form but without cheap fillers. This gives you a convenient food that's ideal for picky eaters who need nutritious food.

The meals feature proteins like turkey or lamb combined with healthy veggies. Recipes on the menu range from Fresh dishes like Lamb + Brown Rice or Beef + Millet to UnKibble recipes like Beef + Barley or Cod + Salmon.

What Makes It Special?

Before you sign up, you'll answer a questionnaire covering your pet's activity level, weight, and other factors. Using this information, Spot & Tango makes sure the food you get is perfectly suited for your pet's nutritional needs.

Spot & Tango lets you order full meals or plans with just toppers. The topper-only option is more cost-effective and lets you boost your dog’s nutrition without taking them off their dry food.

The company also offers an assortment of pup-approved treats. For example, Bison and Chicken Bites are 2 meaty options. You’ll also find the superfood-fortified Sweet Potato Bites. Made with top-quality ingredients, these treats make sure you're not compromising on your pet's diet.

Is It Good Value?

Spot & Tango's food is free from preservatives, additives, and fillers. Plus, it's crafted by vets and meets AAFCO’s strict guidelines for feeding. You'll find more about its recipes in our Spot & Tango review.

6. The Pets Table – Top Dog-Tested Meals

The Pets Table qualified for our list of the best pet foods for picky eaters thanks to its fresh recipes. As the service states, its fresh offerings "make even the pickiest of eaters drool." What's more, the in-house dog testers give a paws-up to these meals. 

What's on Offer?

The service offers 3 fresh meals with different animal-based proteins for dogs. They are Chicken Casserole with Green Beans, Turkey Casserole with Broccoli, and Beef Stew with Carrots. Additional ingredients include apples, chickpeas, spinach, and eggs.

If your picky eater prefers dry meals, The Pets Table also provides air-dried Beef & Berries (which is grain-free) and Chicken & Sweet Potato. Try these dishes if you're working with a limited budget.

Keep in mind that the pet food subscription service freezes its fresh meals. Therefore, prepare enough space in your freezer. You can keep air-dried meals in a dry and cool place. Read our complete The Pets Table review to learn more about the provider’s offerings. 

What Makes It Special?

The Pets Table has 4 plans. If you’re looking for the supplier's favorite for picky eaters, consider the Fresh or Half of Fresh plan. The latter is for pet parents who want to introduce a new food or keep the current food while adding variety to their pup's diet. The remaining plans are Air-Dried and Mixed, which are best if your dog also likes dry meals.

The company has expert testers who approve its meals before shipping. These are a bernedoodle, a cavapoo, and a shihchon. They have discerning palates, so you can be sure that the food you get will make your dog lick their bowl.

You can take an on-site meal personalization quiz to tailor your best friend's food. It takes a few minutes, and you'll answer questions about your dog's weight, age, activity level, and so on. But if your dog likes fresh food, consider The Farmer's Dog, which has a more detailed quiz. 

Is It Good Value?

The Pets Table provides high-quality and great-tasting dog recipes. Its fresh meals incorporate human-grade ingredients, while air-dried food is gently baked. Read our Is Fresh Food Better for Dogs overview to learn about the benefits of freshly prepared meals for your dog's well-being. 

Another great thing is that you can test the service's meals with the trial box. If your pet doesn't like the food, contact customer support within 30 days for a full refund on the trial box. 

The starting price for The Pets Table's offerings is $1.59 per meal. But how much you’ll spend depends on your fussy eater's appetite, bulk, age, and other factors. The company ships products to pet parents in the mainland US.

7. Just Food For Dogs – Best DIY Food for Picky Dogs

Just Food For Dogs gives you the option to create your own dog food, as our review describes. Its budget-friendly DIY meal fortification kits enhance the nutritional value of your homemade meals with an array of vital macronutrients you can simply mix in. For picky eaters, this means you can formulate the exact food your pup will love.

What's on Offer?

The variety of recipes available is impressive. There are 3 menus: Fresh Frozen, Pantry Fresh, and DIY Homemade. You can also order variety packs such as the Puppy Variety Pack and Healthy Weight Variety Pack. Fresh Frozen features recipes such as Fish and Sweet Potato, while Pantry Fresh gives you options like Lamb and Brown Rice.

JustFoodForDogs offers a range of extras. There are treats such as Beef Liver Bark, supplements including Omega Plus, and bundles, such as the Joint Support Supplement bundle. Some packages feature meals, treats, and toys.

If your dog has specific health issues, JustFoodForDogs can cater to those too. The provider offers special diets for conditions like kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes. Our full JustFoodForDogs review has more details on this.

What Makes It Special?

This service offers personalized meal plans tailor-made for your dog's individual needs. It achieves this by assessing details about your dog, like age, activity level, and health conditions, through a comprehensive questionnaire.

It also has a team of vets and nutritionists who help devise the best meal plan for your dog. They can offer advice on meal planning and nutrition. Remember, their meals are cooked, fresh food. If you're looking for raw meals instead, you might want to explore We Feed Raw.

Is It Good Value?

All ingredients used by JustFoodForDogs are fit for human consumption. The dishes don't have any preservatives, fillers, or by-products, but they do include top-tier proteins, fresh veggies, and brown rice.

You can schedule auto-shipments for every 1 to 12 weeks to suit your schedule. If you're not satisfied with your first order, you can get a full refund, excluding shipping and delivery charges.

Prices start at $6.45 for smaller dogs. While there’s a provision for 1-time purchases, opting for the autoship program could help you save some money.

8. Open Farm – Best Traceable Meal Ingredients

Open Farm uses human-grade ingredients to provide premium food for your picky dog. From traditional kibble to freeze-dried raw food, there's something for every palate. But if it's only fresh dog food you're after, consider The Farmer’s Dog’s focused menu.

What's on Offer?

The meals feature wild-caught fish, responsibly raised meats, and organic produce. Open Farm is also mindful of dogs with particular dietary needs, with limited-ingredient options available if your pet has allergies or food sensitivities.

The meals feature essential nutrients and a high quantity of protein. The Grass-Fed Beef Recipe features 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef. This meal is protein-rich and a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Open Farm also offers a variety of snacks, supplements, and bone broths. Probiotics and bone broths made from beef, turkey, and chicken are available, as well as treats made of dehydrated chicken, beef, and pork.

What Makes It Special?

The pet food subscription service’s unique feature is its full traceability of all ingredients. You can scan each package's lot code to discover the origin of every part of the meal. It's an exclusive feature not found with most other competitors. You can find more about this in our in-depth Open Farm review.

Open Farm verifies the producers it partners with to ensure the highest quality ingredients. It has also set high environmental standards to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment. For example, the goal is to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere by 42% by 2030.

Is It Good Value?

What's impressive is the company’s nutritional value and environmentally friendly approach. The grass-fed beef, for example, is sourced from family-run farms across North America. On the other hand, the salmon is sourced via sustainable methods in the Pacific Northwest.

The company has no minimum order, offering flexibility to order whatever you like. You can choose 1-time purchases or autoship from 1 to 16 weeks. Prices start at around $7/day for small pups, and as usual, they’re higher for big dogs.

9. The Honest Kitchen – Best Overall Meal Variety

The Honest Kitchen provides a wide range of options and a lot of ingredient diversity. Its many food types include dehydrated options, wet food, treats, toppers, clusters, and much more. This impressive variety is perfect for picky eaters, and you can learn more in our detailed review of The Honest Kitchen.

What's on Offer?

What's commendable about The Honest Kitchen is its dedication to high-quality ingredients. For example, your pet's meals will have free-range chicken, wild-caught fish, and organic fruits and vegetables. Not many competitors can claim the same. Moreover, it uses non-GMO fruits and vegetables, and meals are free from corn, wheat, or soy.

The Honest Kitchen’s dehydrated food merges the benefits of fresh ingredients with a more budget-friendly format. Just add water to rehydrate the dried meat and veggies for a nutrient-dense meal that is cost-effective and easy to store.

The menu also includes other types of food. You’ll find adventurous options like Blueberry & Vanilla Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies, as well as conventional treats like Grain-Free Chicken Clusters. With such a range of options, there’s something for the pickiest of pups.

What Makes It Special?

The Honest Kitchen has solid filtering options, which is great if your companion is sensitive to certain ingredients. There are filters for proteins (which include beef, fish, and various types of poultry), as well as dietary preferences like Low Sodium.

The Honest Kitchen's suppliers must adhere to strict criteria. This includes mandates on food safety and sustainability, among other conditions. Annually, these suppliers must endorse the Human Food Grade Guarantee along with the Statement of Quality and Integrity. This ensures their continued partnership with the company.

Is It Good Value?

Each meal uses whole-food ingredients that meet human-grade standards. The company focuses on making food without any additives or preservatives, so your pet stays in optimal health.

There’s no requirement for a minimum order, and you can opt for regular deliveries ranging from every 2 to 12 weeks. Prices start at $5.99 for dry food, but the final price will significantly vary based on the specific items you choose.

10. A Pup Above – Best High Protein Food

A Pup Above is among the most flexible dog food manufacturers, so it’s a good choice for picky eaters. The company has options for dogs that eat both dry and fresh food, and its meals are vet-approved and contain superfoods.

What's on Offer?

A Pup Above offers 3 types of dog food – dry, fresh, and mixed. For instance, the Beef Pot Roast is a great pick from the dry food line, while fresh meals like Texas Beef Stew are also up for grabs. The mixed pack offers you the freedom to mix and match 4 different meal options to suit your dog's palate, which helps if he or she is picky.

A Pup Above’s meals are teeming with protein, averaging over 10%. A high-protein diet can be beneficial if your dog needs to shed a few pounds, as meals high in protein and low in carbs keep your dog feeling full for longer. This leads to less begging for snacks or extra servings from your furry friend.

Each meal includes vegetables and superfoods packed with vitamins and minerals. You'll find ingredients like sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots in the mix. And, as you'd expect, all meals are free from fillers and preservatives.

What Makes It Special?

The company sets itself apart by using the sous-vide cooking method. This cooking style not only tenderizes the food but also preserves much of the nutritional goodness, offering your dog a top-notch mealtime experience. You can delve into this technique in our in-depth A Pup Above review.

Serving the company’s meals is a breeze. You only need to thaw them in the fridge before feeding your dog. There's no need to measure portions because that's already been sorted out for you.

Is It Good Value?

A Pup Above's meals prioritize meat as the main ingredient. This ensures your dog is consuming mostly meat that's been raised in a humane way and is free of antibiotics. 

The smallest order you can place is a 3 lb bag of fresh food or a 2 lb bag of dry food. You don’t have to subscribe, but it's an available option if you'd like. You can place 1-time or autoship orders, with autoshipments being more cost-effective. You can schedule deliveries from weekly to every 8 weeks.

Prices start at $7.50/lb for small dogs. However, if you own a larger breed, you can expect a slightly higher cost.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Pet Food for Picky Eaters

Here’s what I took into consideration when choosing pet food for picky eaters. I recommend keeping these things in mind to maximize the chances your pet will love his or her new food.

• Human-grade ingredients: The best pet food recipes use simple, whole ingredients that are safe for humans to eat as well. Ingredients such as lean meats, veggies, fish oil, and more make for some of the healthiest recipes. The Farmer’s Dog offers human-grade fresh food for your dog.
• Options for customization: Even though you can’t change the recipe, a meal plan designed based on your pet’s caloric needs is a good idea. This way, you know how much to feed and which recipes work best. Ollie has a customization quiz to help you find the best meals for your dog.
• Vitamins and essential nutrients: Dogs, cats, and other pets have specific nutritional needs that can only be met by adding various elements to their foods. Talk with your veterinarian and ask them about your pet’s needs, and then check that the recipes you feed them are formulated to meet those needs. Nom Nom has 2 board-certified nutritionists on hand to ensure the meals offer the best nutritional value.
• Fresh vs. dry: Both versions of food are good as long as the ingredients and methods used follow the official guidelines. Overall, senior and young pets may have some trouble with dry food due to their teeth. Spot & Tango offers both types of food, so you can try them out to see which your pet prefers.

FAQ

What is the best dog food for extremely picky eaters?

I’d recommend The Farmer’s Dog as it offers a great personalization questionnaire. It’ll take your dog's stats into consideration, like age, weight, breed, activity level, and food preferences. That way, you can get food that is essentially tailored to his or her exact palate.

What do you feed a dog that is a picky eater?

It’s a good idea to focus on ingredients he or she will like. For instance, Ollie offers a number of dog foods with different ingredients to cater to a broader palate. You can also fill out the questionnaire that helps you get food recommendations. It takes into consideration your specific dog’s food preferences and more.

Is Royal Canin good for picky eaters?

I wouldn’t recommend Royal Canin for picky eaters. We Feed Raw is a much better idea, as picky dogs sometimes prefer raw food. The food is raw and fortified with vitamins and minerals. You can also fill out an extensive customization quiz that takes into consideration your dog’s specific preferences. This will increase the chances that your picky dog will love the food.

Best Pet Food for Picky Eaters Delivery for 2024 — Final Score