Rating: 
Simply Nourish canned dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 4.5 stars.
The Simply Nourish product line lists 6 canned dog foods… each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Simply Nourish Tuna and Salmon
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Pasta
- Simply Nourish Fish and Potato Stew
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Fish Stew
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Rice Stew
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Beef Stew
Simply Nourish Chicken and Beef Stew was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Simply Nourish Chicken and Beef Stew
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Water sufficient for processing, chicken, sweet potato, pea, beef, tapioca starch, sunflower oil, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, vitamin D3 supplement, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement (B2), pyridoxine hyrdochloride (B6), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 1% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 59% | 8% | 25% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 57% | 19% | 24% |
The first ingredient is water… which (of course) adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The second ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein… a factor that must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The fifth ingredient includes beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
The sixth ingredient is tapioca. Tapioca is a natural extract made from the root of the cassava plant. It is a starchy carbohydrate that is not only grain-free… but also gluten-free.
The seventh item is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil… some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is tricalcium phosphate… a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorous. Plus (in canned products) this additive also acts as an emulsifier… an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
Xanthan gum is a food additive used here as a thickener to create gravy.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With one notable exception…
The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Simply Nourish Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Simply Nourish looks to be an above-average canned dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 59%, a fat level of 8% and estimated carbohydrates of about 25%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 59% and a mean fat level of 8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 25% for the overall product line.
High protein. Low fat. And average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a canned product containing an abundance of meat.
However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include non-chelated minerals in its recipes. Without this lower quality ingredient, we’d have been compelled to award this line our highest rating.
Bottom line?
Simply Nourish Dog Food is a meat-based canned product using an abundance of chicken, beef or fish as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
07/01/2011 Original review
07/01/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.