Redefining Dinnertime | Childless / Dog Mom Blog

Sensitive Post with Possible Triggers AND The All-Important Disclaimer…

This post includes an honest review of Ollie Fresh Dog Food, including my dog mom musings and some insights about my childless life. These childless life insights include discussion of family meals, dinnertime, littles, and more… If you are feeling vulnerable today, you might want to skip to the section entitled, “Maddie’s Home-Cooked Dinner.” With regards to My Dog Mom Review… I was compensated for this post, receiving a small monetary bonus, as well as a complimentary box of Ollie meals. (This is not an advertisement, however, but a truthful review.) Finally, when you purchase from Ollie, I will receive a bit of money to help keep Not So Mommy… up and running, as I have an affiliate link with this U.S. company.

Redefining Home…

At the beginning of April, we began a series about “Redefining Home.” In the first blog, I focused on our master bedroom. (You can read that post here.) This week, I’d like to continue talking about redefining home by moving into the dining room…

Before Our Infertility Battle…

Our First Dinner Table…

The first dining room table that Dane and I ever purchased was square and only sat four people. It worked because our dining room was ridiculously small, plus it was just the two of us. (Well, and Prancer & Valentine.) I knew that I eventually wanted a bigger table, though.

Our Second Dinner Table…

So, the next table we bought was huge! It seated eight people easily, and I was in love. I remember inviting my girlfriends over for Italian at Thanksgiving. I remember Dane’s family seated around the ornate wooden table, enjoying a feast prepared by us. And I was looking forward to the day when our two-legged little would sit at that big ol’ table.

When we moved to Oklahoma City, I insisted that we drag that ginormous table with us. It was so difficult to find a house in which it would fit. But I didn’t care. I wanted that table.

Our Third Dinner Table…

About a year and a half after moving to OKC, Dane convinced me to let go of our eight-person table and downsize. I agreed. But only to a six-person one. And we put benches on the sides (instead of chairs) so that we could fit more people.

When we moved to South Carolina, I insisted that we keep that table. But about a year later, Dane once again convinced me to let go.

Our Fourth Dinner Table…

And we ended up where we started, with a smaller, four-person dining table.

That little table with an iron base and marble top, which now sits on our covered front porch, is where we ate when Bruna (our exchange daughter) lived with us. It is also where Dane and I enjoyed many a dinner while watching TV. And it’s a table Maddie sat patiently by, waiting for her after-dinner treat.

Redefining Dinnertime after the Struggle…

Dinnertime at our house does not look anything like I thought it would so many years ago. In my mid-twenties, I never dreamed that dinnertime would include cooking for a puppy rather than a two-legged kiddo…

But while redefining home, redefining dinnertime has also taken place. After starting Not So Mommy…, I began to connect with other Dog Moms. Because of that, I learned that many dog mamas actually cook for their fur babies rather than feeding them store-bought dog food. Because I had more time on my hands since resigning from teaching and because I was fully embracing my dog mom role, I decided to start cooking for our Maddie.

Maddie’s Home-Cooked Dinner…

Over the past couple of years, I have created a six-week dinner schedule for Maddie. It includes a variety of meat from salmon to bison to lamb. It also includes a selection of vegetables, plus hard-boiled eggs and coconut oil. Currently, I am trying to add grain back into Maddie’s diet in the form of rice. But I have to be careful, as too much grain really upsets our girl’s tummy. (Don’t worry! I give her a vitamin every day, as I know grain is important for heart health.) And though I didn’t consult a veterinarian while creating Maddie’s meals, I did research to ensure that I was feeding her people food which is safe for her to consume.

Maddie’s Fast Food…

Now, meal-prepping for our girl isn’t always easy. Sometimes—like during our remodel or when we are out-of-town—we give her what we call “fast food,” which is simply canned dog food. Dane researched and found a brand that he felt was the best quality for the most reasonable price. I really try to limit how much store-bought food Maddie eats, however, as I want to ensure that she is consuming quality ingredients. I mean, I want our girl to live as long as possible. (I always tell Maddie that I want at least 20 years!) And good nutrition is a key factor in making sure that our fur baby stays healthy.

A New Option for Dinnertime: Ollie . . .

Recently, Ollie, a company which delivers dog food made from fresh, human-grade ingredients right to your front door, contacted me. They wanted to know if I’d become an affiliate partner and share their products with my readers. Well, as always, I wanted to try their product before suggesting that you, fabulous dog moms, buy it. So, they sent me a complimentary box.

I want to remind you that though we received a complimentary box of Ollie meals prior to my writing this blog, this is not an advertisement, but an honest review, including some dog mom musings… (Full Disclaimer at top of this post.)

My Dog Mom Review of Ollie Fresh Dog Food…

The Delivery…

Now, I must say, Maddie’s special Ollie delivery came at the perfect time. I was in the midst of trying to track down all our groceries and supplies, as Covid-19 was spreading. Knowing that we would need to practice social distancing for several weeks (perhaps months), I wanted to get all my errands run. Plus, Dane and I were trying to eat healthier, so I was cooking dinner every night. That meant, I had less time to prep meals for Maddie. This was causing me stress, as I didn’t want her to eat too much “fast food.” So, when our Ollie box with pre-packaged dog food made from human-grade ingredients showed up on our doorstep, it was a lovely convenience!

Packaging & Feeding Instructions…

Opening the box, I placed the individually packaged meals in the freezer, as they arrive frozen. Honestly, I prefer that, as they’ll last longer. (Remember, I do often cook for Maddie.) The instructions say to place a package in the refrigerator 24 hours before feeding to allow to thaw. So, I popped a beef recipe in the fridge. (They sent us three different recipes–beef, turkey, and lamb. We did not receive the chicken.)

Now, the feeding instructions that Ollie sent told me to feed Maddie half a package twice a day. (When ordering, Ollie asks several questions about your pup, including age, activity level, and known allergies.) Problem is… I only feed Maddie once a day. So, I gave her half a package for dinner. Since she gets a morning treat, carrots throughout the day when she goes out to potty, her evening “dessert” bone, and a bedtime “snack,” I knew she really didn’t need the entire package of food. (In fact, our vet told us our girl could stand to lose a couple of pounds!)

Maddie’s Taste Test…

When I placed Ollie’s beef recipe in front of Maddie, she gobbled it up. I mean, she licked the bowl clean! This was a bit surprising to me because one of the key ingredients in Ollie’s beef recipe is sweet potatoes, which Maddie normally does not care for. But she ate her entire Ollie beef dinner without hesitation!

She loved the turkey recipe, too, despite the fact that it includes pumpkin–another food that Maddie normally snubs her nose at.

And the lamb recipe was no exception, with Maddie digging right in!

Maddie’s approval of Ollie’s recipes makes this fur mama super happy. ?

Photos of Maddie taste-testing Ollie's beef recipe

The Ingredients…

Photo of Ollie Fresh Dog Food's beef, lamb, and turkey recipes

I really love that Ollie uses some ingredients that I don’t normally feed Maddie, like fruits and chia seeds. Their beef and turkey recipes, for example, include blueberries, which have powerful antioxidants, as well as vitamins C and K. And their lamb recipe includes kale, chickpeas, and butternut squash.

I’m also grateful that their meat is sourced from family farms which give no added hormones to their animals, as I use organic ingredients when I cook for our girl.

Though Ollie says that I could eat it with a fork (because they use human-grade ingredients), it does look like puppy food. So, I can’t say I’ll be giving their claim a try!

Some Final Thoughts about Ollie . . .

I plan to keep some Ollie Dog Food on-hand in the freezer. Not only is it a healthier quick dinner option when I don’t have time to cook for Maddie, but it also offers vet-crafted recipes designed by canine nutritionists. So, Ollie Fresh Dog Food will help me feed our girl a balanced diet, which is extremely important to me.

I won’t feed Ollie exclusively, however, because I truly do love cooking for our Maddie. I love knowing that she is eating organic foods, prepared lovingly by me. So, I will keep meal prepping for our fur baby.

I do realize that not everyone has the time to cook for their fur kids, though. And store-bought dog food… Well, there are better options available.

So, if you’d like to feed your four-legged kiddo human-grade food made with high quality ingredients, I encourage you to check out Ollie Fresh Dog Food for yourself. Their website has TONS of information! Just click here to give it a browse! And when you decide to order, make sure to take advantage of this special offer…