Your Step-by-Step Guide to Starting the Tom&Sawyer Journey
Learn how easy it is to feed the best human grade gently-cooked food!
See Our MenuSTART HERE: Ready to feed your dog gently-cooked meals made with care and backed by science?
You’ve come to the right place. Tom&Sawyer meals meet the AAFCO definition of Human Grade and are nutritionally complete and balanced, scientifically formulated and gently-cooked to deliver exceptional quality at every mealtime.
The best way to feed Tom&Sawyer is through a Membership, which delivers fresh, frozen meals automatically at your preferred frequency. Also, by becoming a Member, you gain access to preferred pricing and benefits!
To get started, choose the approach that works best for you:
• DIY Meal Plan – Select the meals you think your dog will love most and customize your delivery schedule. Our Feeding Calculator helps determine how many meals you need, by recommending daily portion amounts.
• Custom Meal Plan Quiz – Create a pet profile and receive personalized meal recommendations, ideal for dogs with sensitivities or specific health or dietary needs.
If you’d like to explore our recipes at your own pace (or send a thoughtful gift to someone), Discovery Boxes are available as a one-time purchase option.
THEN: Human Grade Quality, Delivered to Your Door
Every Tom&Sawyer meal is prepared in a regulated facility in Canada and produced to standards equivalent to AAFCO’s Human Grade requirements. This means our meals are made with the same strict safety and quality standards used for our own human food — that’s what makes it truly human grade. Once cooked, each recipe is flash-frozen to lock in freshness, packed in insulated boxes with dry ice, and delivered right to your door. Learn more about how our meals are made and shipped by clicking "Learn More" below.
How Our Food Is Made (Safety First, Nutrition Always)
Every Tom&Sawyer meal is prepared in a regulated human food facility in Canada, produced to standards equivalent to AAFCO’s Human Grade requirements (following the same strict safety and quality standards used for our own people food). To maximize the natural nutrients in every ingredient, we cook each one individually to its optimal internal temperature — hot enough to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens, yet gentle enough to preserve nutrient integrity, flavor, and digestibility.
This carefully controlled process is what makes our recipes truly Human Grade and consistently high in palatability, quality, and nutrient absorption.
Your Order & Box (Packed with Care Using Science)
Your pet’s fresh meals are flash-frozen and shipped in a specially designed, insulated Meal Box engineered to keep food cold for up to 72 hours in transit.
We use:
- Insulated corrugate boxes
- A secondary insulation liner
- Food-safe dry ice
- The power of thermal density (our 10 meal minimum helps maintain temperature stability)
- Reliable courier partners that deliver straight to your door
It’s normal for some meals to begin to thaw during transit. As long as the pouches are cold to the touch, they are completely safe to refreeze.
Dry Ice Safety
If any dry ice remains in your box, avoid direct skin contact. Handle the sealed bag by a corner and let it evaporate in a well-ventilated area, such as your kitchen sink or front porch.
🎥 WATCH: Learn how to handle and dispose of dry ice safely
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bBXMsUY_gkE
Unpacking, Storing & Thawing Your Meals
Once your box arrives, transfer all meals directly to your freezer. For best results:
- Keep 3 to 4 days’ worth of meals in your fridge.
- Meals stay fresh in the freezer for up to 24 months.
- For a gentle (and less watery) thaw, leave meals in the fridge overnight.
- For a quicker thaw, run the sealed pouch under warm (not hot) water.
What To Do at Mealtime
Serving Tom&Sawyer is simple:
- Use our Feeding Calculator to determine your pet’s ideal portion amount. If you’ve already used it, be sure to keep your Pet’s Feeding Guide handy for quick, accurate reference for serving.
- Open a thawed meal package by cutting the top edge of the pouch (under the seal).
- Empty contents into an airtight container or directly into your pet’s bowl.
(Have leftovers? Thawed meals should be stored in an airtight container — not the original pouch). - Weigh the meal to confirm accuracy: place the bowl on a scale, press TARE, then add food until you reach the target weight.
- Optional: Warm the meal for a few seconds in the microwave, then stir. This enhances aroma and palatability — especially for picky eaters.
🎥 WATCH: How to Open & Serve a Tom&Sawyer Meal
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AXs95z2Xwy0
NEXT: Transition Slowly for the Best Results
Most pets need time to adjust to a new diet, and transitioning too quickly can cause digestive upset. Keep the switch smooth and comfortable (for both you and your pet), by following our 7-day transition plan when introducing your pet to gently-cooked Tom&Sawyer meals.
Switching foods is exciting — but doing it gradually is the key to happy tummies and a smooth, stress-free experience. Follow our simple 7-day plan to help your pet ease comfortably into Tom&Sawyer.
7-Day Transition Plan
- Days 1–2: 75% old food + 25% Tom&Sawyer
- Days 3–4: 50% old food + 50% Tom&Sawyer
- Days 5–6: 25% old food + 75% Tom&Sawyer
- Day 7+: 100% Tom&Sawyer
If Your Pet Has a Sensitive Stomach
Some pets (especially those who have been on the same diet for a long time), may need a slower transition. If you notice mild digestive changes like soft stools, extra gas, or hesitation at mealtime:
- Pause at your current step.
- Repeat the same ratio for a few more days.
- Move forward slowly once stools and appetite have stabilized.
Sensitive pets may take 2–3 weeks to fully transition, and that’s completely normal.
Pro Tips for a Successful Switch
- Start with one recipe at a time
Stick to one recipe for the first week, until digestion has steadied. - Introduce one protein at a time
If rotating recipes, add new proteins gradually. - Limit extra treats!
Keep treats and table scraps to a minimum during week one — fewer variables make for a smoother switch. - Feeding Raw? Keep meals separate
Do not serve raw and gently-cooked food in the same bowl. Allow a few hours between meals.
SEE THE RESULTS: Real Food. Real Benefits. Real Change.
See visible improvements within 7–14 days of consistently feeding fresh, gently-cooked meals. You’ll notice healthier stools, a shinier coat, increased energy, and fewer allergy symptoms — results that many pet parents describe as truly life-changing (especially for pets with sensitivities).
We’re proud to be known as the problem solvers of the pet food world. Whether your fur baby is dealing with allergies, picky eating, chronic digestive issues, or just hasn’t been thriving on their current diet, our gently-cooked meals are designed to make a visible, meaningful difference.
What to Expect in 7–14 Days
Many pets begin showing early improvements within the first week or two:
✓ Better digestion & smaller, healthier stools
✓ Increased energy & playfulness
✓ Shinier coats & healthier skin
✓ Improved gut health
✓ Reduced gas
✓ Better appetite — even for picky eaters
These early wins are some of the most motivating for pet parents choosing to make the switch to feeding fresh, gently-cooked meals.
What to Expect After 14+ Days
As your pet continues enjoying their meals, the benefits become even more noticeable:
✓ Less itching & fewer allergy symptoms
✓ Healthier weight & improved satiety
✓ Improved joint mobility & smoother movement
✓ Fresher breath
✓ Consistent stools (even for pets with chronic diarrhea)
✓ Better overall vitality and quality of life
We hear from pet parents every day who tell us the transformation has been truly life-changing.
Real Stories. Real Results.
Nothing speaks louder than the experiences of pet parents who’ve already made the switch. From allergy relief to life-saving recipes, their stories say it all.
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🎥 WATCH: See the Difference
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1kg52pHpmig
🎥 WATCH: Hear From Pet Parents Like You
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dh_OupGv_Sk
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Fresh Feeding: A Little Extra Effort, For A Lifetime of Benefits
Feeding fresh may take a bit more care and planning — from thawing, to portioning, to thoughtful serving — but your pet will thank you every single day for it. They’ll know every meal was prepared with love, just like you do for the rest of your family.
FINALLY: Eat. Sleep. Fresh Food on Repeat.
Keep mealtime simple with a flexible fresh food Membership that delivers your pet’s favorite meals right to your door. Save 15%* on all Member orders and easily swap meals, skip a delivery, or pause at your convenience through your account page.
By becoming a Member, mealtime becomes consistent for your pet and effortless for you. Our flexible fresh food Memberships help keep your freezer stocked, your pet happy, and your routine stress-free — all while saving on every box!
Always Have Fresh Meals on Hand
Never worry about running out again. Your pet’s meals arrive at the frequency that works best for your household, from every 1-8 weeks.
Flexible & Fully Customizable
You stay in control, and we make it easy. From your account page, you can:
- Swap recipes before your order processes
- Change your delivery frequency
- Skip a delivery
- Pause your Membership
- Update your delivery address
Member Savings & Perks
Members save on every order, and enjoy VIP treatment with birthday surprises, an annual holiday gift, and exclusive news and insights from our R&D and Nutrition Team.
Better for Our Community of Loyal Companions
Your Membership helps all Tom&Sawyer pets! Knowing upcoming orders allows us to prepare exactly the right amount of food — reducing waste and supporting the highest quality standards.
What are you waiting for? Join Sawyer's pack of Loyal Companions, and bring on the happy dances, tippy-taps and tail-wagging for delicious, nutritious Tom&Sawyer meals!
*Member savings of 15% are calculated based on our standard meal pricing, as reflected in the combined price of meals included in Discovery Boxes.
🎥 WATCH: Rocky loves dinnertime!
https://cdn.shopify.com/videos/c/o/v/4b7533de8e3748fb8a1f0604508f5295.mp4
