Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Kieran Beckles
Are you wondering what’s the difference between Butternut Box and kibble?
If you’re looking to make a change to your dog’s diet and you’re thinking about switching to fresh meals, you’ll probably have heard of Butternut Box.
They’re a dog food company based in the UK who are looking to encourage pet owners to adopt a fresh and healthy approach to dog food.
Unlike some dry food that you may find on a store shelf, Butternut Box use transparent ingredients labels to so you can feel good about what goes into your dog’s food.
But what exactly is the difference between Butternut Box and kibble? We’re going to answer that question in this article.
(Cut to the chase: We recommend Butternut Box and you can save 50% on your first box and 50% on your second box by clicking here)
Who Are Butternut Box?
Butternut Box are a fresh dog food company who have been providing dog owners in the UK (and now the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and more) with a fresh dog food. They create balanced and complete meals made out of human-grade ingredients so dogs can enjoy healthy food.
They use high-quality ingredients that are cooked at low temperatures to ensure the nutritional integrity of the food and lock in maximum flavour to keep even the fussiest of pooches happy at mealtime. You won’t find any additives, nasties or preservatives in Butternut Box’s food.
Butternut Box have an extensive range of recipes that is almost unrivalled amongst dog food companies in the UK. At the time of writing, the Butternut Box menu includes: Beef It Up, Chicken You Out, Gobble Gobble Turkey, Wham Bam Lamb, Pork This Way, Duo Of Duck & Chicken, Ready Steady Veggie, Plant Get Enough, Pork Of The Town, Salmon To Love, Tuck In Chicken and You’ve Got Game. As you can see, there’s something for every dog.
Once cooked, the meals are frozen before being packaged in eco-friendly insulation and boxes. Butternut Box will ship your dog’s meals direct to your door so you won’t have to worry about running out of dog food.
By filling out their questionnaire, you can help Butternut Box to tailor their meals to meet your dog’s specific needs. So if you’ve got a dog who needs to lose a little weight or put on a few pounds, Butternut Box have you covered as their meals are stored in pre-portioned packaging. You can also let Butternut Box know if your dog has any allergies or illnesses so they can take the appropriate steps and make recommendations based upon your situation.
If you fancy giving Butternut Box a try, you can save 50% off your first box and 50% off your second box when you click here or the link below.
What Is Kibble?
Kibble is the name given to a type of dry food for cats and dogs that you’ll usually find at your local supermarket or pet store. There are some brands who offer customized kibble recipes if you sign up their subscription plan online.
Kibble will usually come in the form of small circle, square or rectangular dry pellets or possibly biscuits. Brands will formulate a recipe for their kibble that aims to provide a balanced and complete diet for dogs and cats.
Kibble is typically made by combining various ingredients such as meat, grains, vegetables, and vitamins and minerals. The ingredients are mixed together and then cooked at high temperatures to remove moisture and create the dry texture. The cooking process helps to preserve the food and extend its shelf life.
While some brands are transparent about what ingredients are used in their recipes, you may find the packaging of some kibble companies a little confusing to understand.
Kibble can sometimes contain additives, preservatives to extend shelf life and be manufactured using poor quality meat. This isn’t the case with all kibble brands but it’s important to pay close attention to labels to make note of any nasties in the recipes.
While kibble is a convenient and widely used option, it’s important to note that not all brands and formulations are created equal. The quality and nutritional value of kibble can vary, so it’s important to choose a reputable brand and consult with a veterinarian to ensure that you’re feeding your pet a balanced diet that meets their specific needs.
Some dog owners may prefer kibble to other dog food formats such as fresh meals like Butternut Box or raw dog food like Naturaw because it’s convenient to store kibble in a cool, dry place such as a cupboard or pantry rather than using up vital fridge or freezer space.
Kibble tends to be a lot cheaper than fresh meals so it’s a more affordable option for dog owners working on a tight budget.
Butternut Box Or Kibble?
I’ve fed Butternut Box and some different kibble brands to Copper and Skye over the past five years in the UK.
When we first moved to the UK from the USA, we tried to stick to dry food but Copper and Skye would regularly turn their nose up at different kibble brands.
We started with some big name brands that you’ll likely find at your local supermarket before moving to some newcomers to the kibble space.
But my Klee Kai would grow bored of their dry food meals within a week or two, which would lead to spate of tummy issues and fussiness at mealtime.
After multiple trips to the emergency vets, I decided to give Butternut Box a try. We haven’t looked back since making the switch to their human-grade meals.
Skye is the fussier of my two dogs but she’s never grown tired of her Butternut Box food – her favourites are Pork This Way, You’ve Got Game and Wham Bam Lamb.
Copper’s tear stains made a noticeable improvement after we made the switch to Butternut Box and both dogs started to shed less as they ate a higher quality diet.
I really liked Butternut Box’s inclusive feel. If you sign up to their subscription plan, you’re really becoming part of the Butternutter community!
They’ve got an eco-friendly approach to their business, which I really appreciated as someone trying to take steps to do my bit for the environment.
Such was the impact of Butternut Box, we continued to pay out of pocket for their meals despite being offered the chance to get free food from other dog food brands.
Typically, I would pay between £70-80 a month for enough meals to feed Copper and Skye. The price would vary depending on the meals selected (some recipes cost more).
We haven’t fed kibble for over five years and I would recommend Butternut Box to any dog owners who are at their wits end trying to find dog food to satisfy a fussy dog with a sensitive tummy.
Do We Have A Butternut Box Coupon Code Or Discount?
To help you along your way, you can save 50% on your first Butternut Box order and 50% on your second Butternut Box order when you click here or below. So you’re effectively getting a free box over the course of two orders and it gives you an opportunity to give Butternut Box for a significant amount of time to see if your dog likes their new food.
Wrapping Up
We’ve reached the end of our article and hopefully you know how we feel about the question of Butternut Box or Kibble.
Every dog is different and some may be content with their dry dog food. There’s nothing wrong with that, I’d just encourage dog owners to double check the ingredients label.
But when it comes to the question of Butternut Box Or Kibble, there’s only one winner in my house: Butternut Box.
Kieran runs Life With Klee Kai on social media and other online platforms alongside his wife Yasmin. With over 10 years of experience as a journalist and a passionate dog owner, Kieran loves to combine his passion for pets and writing to share useful insights and product reviews to help other dog owners.