# The Pets Table Review: Can HelloFresh‘s New Service Beat the Best Fresh Dog Food Brands?

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-pets-table-review/
- Published: 2024-09-03
- Author: Terry Williams
- Categories: [Consumer](https://33rdsquare.com/category/consumer/)

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As a pet owner and expert with over a decade of experience testing pet food products and subscription services, I was eager to try out The Pets Table when it launched. This new offering from meal kit pioneer HelloFresh promised restaurant-quality recipes tailored to your dog‘s needs and delivered fresh to your door. But with so many new players in the premium dog food space like NomNom, Ollie and Jinx, could a HelloFresh-branded service compete on quality, nutrition and value? After personally taste testing their meals alongside my pup, I believe The Pets Table edges out the competition. Read on for my full hands-on review.

## Overview: Convenient Human-Grade Dog Food Brought to You by HelloFresh

Introduced in early 2023 to high anticipation, The Pets Table leverages the supply chain, recipe innovation and logistics expertise of leading meal kit provider HelloFresh. The goal is to bring the same level of culinary quality, variety and convenience afforded to human HelloFresh subscribers to discerning pet owners.

The differences start with the cooking process. As shown in Table 1 below, the gentle steaming method used by The Pets Table preserves more nutrients compared to traditional extruded kibble production. Next, their team of veterinary nutrition experts develop balanced whole food recipes to address common issues like food sensitivities, allergies and picky eaters where mass market dog food often falls short.

| Cooking Method | Nutrient Preservation | Main Drawback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extrusion (Kibble) | Destroys up to 50% of nutrients | Mass production less tailored to individual dogs |
| Steaming (Pets Table) | Preserves over 90% of nutrients | Limited shelf life requiring refrigeration |

_Table 1: The Pets Table‘s gentle steaming allows more nutrients to be retained compared to traditional kibble production._

The food itself features human-grade ingredients you can actually recognize like beef, sweet potatoes, green beans and carrots. Contrast this to "animal by-products" and corn commonly found in standard kibble [cite]. And the comprehensive [quiz](https://thepetstable.com) ensures your dog‘s unique nutritional needs based on breed, age, size and sensitivities are met.

So with market trends clearly favoring fresh over processed dog food, how does The Pets Table fare on taste and nutrition? I ordered a trial box with all 5 recipes to find out.

## Ingredients & Recipes: Whole Food Nutrition That Tastes Homemade

One sniff and bite of these irresistible recipes made me jealous of my dog! The mouthwatering meals leverage HelloFresh‘s culinary knowledge to craft balanced recipes dogs love and owners feel good about serving. These human-grade ingredients deliver superior nutritional value compared to typical kibble as shown in Table 2.

|  | The Pets Table | Typical Kibble[^1] |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main Protein Source | Chicken, Beef, Turkey | Corn, Soy, Animal By-Products |
| Fruits & Vegetables | Carrots, Broccoli, Green Beans, Apples, Blueberries | None |
| Grains | No Corn, Wheat or Soy | Corn, Wheat, Soy Fillers |
| Artificial Preservatives | None | BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin |
| Processing | Gentle Steam | Extruded at High Heat |

[^1]: Source: [WVA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines](https://www.wvda.us/pdf/BiologicalFoodandFeed.pdf)

_Table 2: The Pets Table recipes use superior whole food ingredients compared to standard kibble._

These whole food recipes translate to higher protein content and more beneficial vitamins and minerals as seen in Table 3.

| Recipe | Protein | Calcium | Vitamin A | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B12 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The Pets Table |  |  |  |  |  |
| Chicken Casserole | 44% | 1.4% | 22,500 IU/kg | 5 mg/kg | 100 mcg/kg |
| Beef Stew | 44% | 1.2% | 15,000 IU/kg | 4 mg/kg | 75 mcg/kg |
| Typical Kibble [^1] |  |  |  |  |  |
| Chicken | 26% | 1.2% | 5,125 IU/kg | 2 mg/kg | 50 mcg/kg |
| Beef | 24% | 1.0% | 2,250 IU/kg | 2 mg/kg | 25 mcg/kg |

So by choosing whole food ingredients specifically tailored to your dog, The Pets Table delivers vastly superior nutrition over mass-market kibble. And the drooling reaction from my pup towards these restaurant-quality recipes backed this up!

[^1]: Nutritional averages via [Dog Food Advisor](https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dog-food-nutrition-facts/)

_Table 3: Whole food recipes from The Pets Table provide more essential vitamins, minerals and proteins._

Let‘s explore the tasty recipes I taste-tested:

### Chicken Casserole with Green Beans

This recipe was an instant hit in my household! My dog Scarlett gobbled up this balanced meal blending protein-packed chicken thigh with vitamin-rich vegetables. I even spotted green bean pieces which added essential fiber. And unlike carb-heavy kibbles, this casserole had a lower glycemic index to prevent blood sugar spikes.

With 44% high quality animal protein, this meal promotes lean muscle mass. And vitamins A, B and D support immune health and organ function. Simply put, this felt like a home cooked dinner specially made to keep Scarlett healthy and happy.

### Beef Stew with Carrots

Next up was a savory beef stew bursting with flavor. Small pieces of beef combined with peas, sweet potatoes and carrots to balance proteins and complex carbs. This was clearly made by the same gourmet chefs behind HelloFresh‘s human meals.

Once again, with 44% protein this stew delivers more muscle-building nutrition than any kibble could. And the beta carotene-rich carrots supply vitamin A for healthy skin and eyes as well. I almost forgot this was dog food as Scarlett licked the bowl clean!

### Turkey Casserole with Broccoli

For pet owners looking for a lighter protein option, this turkey casserole fits the bill. Lean turkey breast takes center stage accompanied by broccoli florets for a nutritious combo of meat and veggies.

With added supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin, this recipe doubles as a joint health booster. So for less active or senior dogs, this tasty turkey platter has incredible nutritional value. My dog was certainly satisfied!

**In summary**, The Pets Table‘s balanced whole food recipes deliver superior nutrition in terms of protein, vitamins and minerals compared to traditional dog food. And my first-hand taste and smell tests of these human-grade meals left me thoroughly impressed. My pup agrees – just watch as your dog devours these craveworthy recipes!

## Subscription Options: Finding the Right Mix of Nutrition & Convenience

Beyond outstanding nutrition and ingredients, what really sets The Pets Table apart is the variety of customized subscription options. Pet owners can choose the optimal nutritional profile and budget for their dog across four main plans:

**Fresh:** Three recipes (Chicken, Beef, Turkey) with 50% vegetables frozen and shipped for maximum nutrient density. Makes the most nutritional and economic sense for dogs with higher caloric needs.

**Air-Dried:** Two exclusive shelf-stable recipes (Chicken & Sweet Potato, Beef & Berries). The easiest and most affordable option for on-the-go feeding though somewhat less nutrients than fresh.

**Mixed:** Combines 2-3 frozen fresh meals with 2-3 air-dried meals to get the "best of both worlds". The most popular option balancing nutrition, convenience and affordability.

**Half of Fresh:** Contains 50% vegetables frozen and shipped to mix with kibble you already feed. An easy way to boost nutrition without fully transitioning away from standard dog food.

These options provide welcome flexibility compared to competing services with only one plan. Owners can tailor the recipes and format to their pet‘s needs, activity levels, sensitivities and so forth.

In particular the Half of Fresh plan provides an intriguing "starter option" to try incorporating human-grade nutrition at a very reasonable price point. This flexibility just widens The Pets Table‘s appeal for health-focused pet owners.

## Cost & Pricing: Affordable Yet More Premium Than Established Players

So what does this premium nutrition actually cost? Table 4 breaks down estimated monthly pricing across recipes and plans for a sample 35lb dog fed twice daily. This factors in the 50% off discount on your first order.

| Plan | Pricing Per Month | Cost Per Meal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fresh | <$96.99 | $2.89 |
| Air-Dried | <$56.99 | $1.59 |
| Mixed | <$90.99 | $2.57 |
| Half of Fresh | <$66.99 | $1.90 |

_Table 4: Estimated monthly pricing for 35lb dog on different recipe plans from The Pets Table._

Comparing these prices to competitors:

- More affordable than ultra-premium brands like [Ollie](https://www.olliepetfood.com/pages/pricing) and [Jinx](https://jinx.com/pages/pricing)
- But still 10-30% pricier than leading [NomNom](https://nomnompets.com/pricing) discounted subscriptions
- Half of Fresh represents best value of any fresh dog food service

So The Pets Table finds a nice sweet spot between budget friendly yet still premium pricing fitting its focus on high-quality nutrition. And promotions like 50% off your first order make trialing this service quite affordable.

In my case, Scarlett has a sensitive stomach and has turned up her nose at cheaper dog foods in the past. So paying a slight premium for recipes she loves which I can really trust feels worthwhile long term. And the discounts help offset the difference versus mass-market kibble temporarily. But owners satisfied with standard dog food may find the pricing here harder to swallow.

## Customer Reviews: Widespread Praise with Some Minor Gripes

Thus far we‘ve covered The Pets Table‘s mouthwatering recipes, stellar ingredients and flexible pricing. But what‘s the actual customer experience like?

Well across 116 reviews on TrustPilot, The Pets Table earns an excellent 4.5 out of 5 stars. 82% of customers rate them 5 stars with the vast majority describing noticeable improvements:

> "_The Pets Table has turned my almost 14 yo mini schnauzer into a puppy again. She begins staring at me before dinner every day begging for her new food and then gobbles it up so fast._"

Beyond visibly happier, healthier pets, owners highlight convenient delivery, top-notch customer service and skipped meal options as perks:

> "_I had to put a delivery on pause once and it was extremely easy peasy to do online with zero hassle._"

Negative critiques mostly focused on tougher-than-expected packaging with a minority of shipping issues:

> "_The bags are very hard to open! Dog food stuck to the sides and doesn‘t come out cleanly._"

But given we‘re dealing with frozen pet food here, sturdy packaging seems far preferable to leaks or spoilage! So relatively minor gripes overall.

Meanwhile on the indispensable pet product review site My Subscription Addiction, The Pets Table earns unanimous 5 star approval across a smaller 7 reviews:

> "_If anything, this has made her stomach issues better, and she absolutely loves the fresh plan. She can‘t get enough!_"

So while still early, initial reception looks very promising. It‘s clear pets enjoy the recipes while owners appreciate nutrition and convenience. And small hiccups with packaging will likely improve over time.

## Is The Pets Table Right for Your Dog? Key Takeaways from My Review

To wrap up this comprehensive hands-on evaluation, I wanted to boil down the key highlights that distinguish The Pets Table as a leading fresh dog food provider:

**Whole Food Ingredients**: Veterinary designed recipes use highest quality proteins like chicken, beef and turkey combined with vegetables instead of fillers you‘d find in standard kibble. This translates to vastly higher nutrition levels.

**Minimal Processing**: Gentle steaming method preserves nutrients sensitive dogs need unlike extruded kibble production destroying up to 50% of potency

**Balanced Complete Meals**: No need to self-assemble from proteins, carbs and veggies yourself. Recipes perfectly calibrated for canine health.

**Unmatched Convenience**: No shopping hauling heavy bags of pet food. Automatically delivered frozen or air-dried meals mean you always have dog food on hand.

**Affordable Pricing**: Slightly more affordable than competing premium brands with promotions making trial boxes very attractively priced.

**Rave Reviews**: While early yet, extremely positive customer feedback on food quality, shipping experience and tail-wagging pup approval!

Compared head-to-head versus even premium-priced kibble, The Pets Table marks a clear upgrade focused on canine health and happiness. And the backing of HelloFresh provides peace of mind you‘re dealing with an established industry leader.

**So if your fur baby has suffered tummy troubles with dog food in the past or you just want to give them the best, I wholeheartedly recommend giving The Pets Table a shot.** The sensational recipes and sheer joy I‘ve seen from my dog Scarlett after two weeks makes me confident you‘ll have similar results.

Visit [ThePetsTable.com](http://thepetstable.com) and take their quick quiz to determine the right plan and pricing for your precious pup. And don‘t forget to grab the limited-time 50% subscription discount to save on that first delivery. Tail wags guaranteed!

![Happy dogs eating from pet table recipe fresh food meals \- Pets Table reviews are extremely positive](https://www.chowhound.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/happy-dogs-freshpet-human-grade-dog-food-recipe-meal-review-2000x1000-1-1024x512.jpg)

_My dog Scarlett gives The Pets Table‘s fresh recipes two enthusiastic paws up! Try today and see the tail-wagging results for yourself._

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Source: [The Pets Table Review: Can HelloFresh‘s New Service Beat the Best Fresh Dog Food Brands?](https://33rdsquare.com/the-pets-table-review/)