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: Choose Your Perfect Box
Whether you’re new to Tom&Sawyer or already love our fresh, scientifically-backed complete and balanced meals, we’ve made it easy to find exactly what your pet needs.
Try a Trial Box to sample our gently-cooked recipes, Build Your Own Box filled with their favourites, or create a Pet Profile to receive a Custom Meal Plan designed to suit your pet’s unique dietary and health needs. Regardless of which path you take, feel confident that you serve the 'paw-fect' portion at mealtime with help from our Feeding Calculator.
Every Tom&Sawyer meal is prepared in a CFIA-inspected human food facility, meeting the same strict safety and quality standards used for our own 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 to your door. Learn more about how our meals are made and shipped by clicking "Learn More".
How Our Food Is Made (Safety First, Nutrition Always)
Every Tom&Sawyer meal is prepared in a CFIA-inspected human food facility, following the same strict safety and quality standards used for our own 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, flavour, 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 an 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 14 lb 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 3–4 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 at mealtime.
- Open a thawed meal package by cutting the top edge of the pouch.
- Empty contents into an airtight container or directly into your pet’s bowl.
(Note: 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
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. Most pets need time to adjust to a new diet, especially when transitioning from kibble to fresh, gently-cooked meals. 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
- Stick to a single Tom&Sawyer recipe for the first week. Once digestion is steady, you can begin rotating new flavours.
- Limit extra treats
Keep treats and table scraps to a minimum during week one — fewer variables make for a smoother switch.
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 fresh, 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.
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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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJPuB1i-3w
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.
Keep mealtime simple with a flexible fresh food subscription that delivers your pet’s favourite meals right to your door. Save 5% on all subscription orders and easily swap meals, skip a delivery, or pause at your convenience through your account page.
Subscribing makes mealtime consistent for your pet and effortless for you. Our flexible fresh food subscription keeps your freezer stocked, your pet happy, and your routine stress-free — all while saving you 5% 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 subscription
- Update your delivery address
Subscriber Savings & Perks
Subscribers save 5% on every order, and enjoy VIP treatment with birthday offers, an annual holiday gift, and access to our satisfaction guarantee.
Better for Our Community of Loyal Companions
Your subscription helps all of our 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!
🎥 WATCH: Rocky loves dinnertime!
https://cdn.shopify.com/videos/c/o/v/4b7533de8e3748fb8a1f0604508f5295.mp4
