In this comparison article for Nature's Recipe vs Hill's Ideal Balance, we'll
highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly
compare Nature's Recipe and Hill's Ideal Balance, we'll use up-to-date nutritional
and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet.
Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history,
and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Hill's Ideal Balance vs Nature's Recipe comparison, we've utilized
average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews,
visit our Nature's Recipe Review Page or
Hill's Ideal Balance Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Hill's Ideal Balance vs. Nature's Recipe
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide
a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis
must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude
protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude
fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a
dry matter basis.
Nature's Recipe Dog Food vs. Hill's Ideal Balance Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Nature's Recipe
Hill's Ideal Balance
Crude Protein
27.1%
23.5%
Crude Fat
13.7%
17.8%
Crude Fiber
4.7%
1.6%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Nature's Recipe
Hill's Ideal Balance
Crude Protein
52.2%
26.6%
Crude Fat
13.8%
19.7%
Crude Fiber
6.7%
4.8%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.
There is a small difference between the protein content of Nature's Recipe and Hill's Ideal Balance. We can see that Nature's Recipe guarantees about 3.67% more protein than Hill's Ideal Balance. In addition, Nature's Recipe wet dog foods also provide more protein than Hill's Ideal Balance wet foods.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.
There is a relatively large difference between the fat content of Hill's Ideal Balance and Nature's Recipe. On average, Nature's Recipe dry dog food recipes contain 4.16% less fat than Hill's Ideal Balance recipes. In addition, Hill's Ideal Balance wet dog foods also provide more fat than Nature's Recipe wet foods.
According to our average data, Hill's Ideal Balance typically provides less fiber than Nature's Recipe. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands. For wet dog foods, Nature's Recipe and Hill's Ideal Balance provide roughly the same amount of fiber.
Nature's Recipe Pet Food Ingredients vs. Hill's Ideal Balance Pet Food Ingredients
Nature's Recipe and Hill's Ideal Balance both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
Canola Oil
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Pea Protein
Pea Protein
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice
Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Caramel Color
Caramel Color
Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Tomato Pomace
Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Nature's Recipe.
Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Garlic
Garlic
Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Beet Pulp
Beet Pulp
Beet pulp is the by-product which remains once sugar has been extracted from sugar beets. The primary contribution of beet pulp is dietary fiber.
We'd also like to note that beet pulp is fairly controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that beet pulp can promote intestinal health and regulate blood sugar. However, opponents claim that beet pulp is an inexpensive filler.
Fat Product
Fat Product
Fat product is controversial because the source of the fat is not identified. Ingredients which do not clearly specific a source are typically very low quality ingredients.
Garlic Spice
Garlic Spice
Garlic spice in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Garlic Powder
Garlic Powder
Garlic powder in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Soybean Flour
Soybean Flour
Soybean flour contains more than 50% protein. Therefore, soybean can significantly boost the protein content of the product.
The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Feeding Oatmeal
Feeding Oatmeal
According to AAFCO, feeding oatmeal "is obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats". It contains "broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats." In other words, feeding oatmeal is an inexpensive by-products of rolled oat processing.
Ground Whole Wheat
Ground Whole Wheat
Ground whole wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Soybean Protein Isolate
Soybean Protein Isolate
Soy protein isolate is a highly refined/purified form of soy bean protein. Roughly 90% of soy protein isolate is protein. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Soybean Protein Concentrate
Soybean Protein Concentrate
Soybean protein concentrate is produced by removing the water soluble carbohydrates from soybeans. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry fat is a by-product of poultry tissue rendering. Poultry fat is a controversial ingredient because the specific protein is not specified. Such ingredients are typically low-quality in comparison to named poultry fats (e.g. chicken fat, turkey fat).
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Hill's Ideal Balance.
Caramel
Caramel
Caramel is a widely used natural food colorant. The concentrated form of caramel is typically listed as caramel color and has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Pork Plasma
Pork Plasma
Pork plasma is the colorless fluid part of a pig's blood. It may sound disgusting, but it's actually very nutritious for pets. Regardless of the nutritional aspects, consumers are shocked by this ingredient, which is why pork plasma is considered a controversial ingredient.
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.
Pea Protein Concentrate
Pea Protein Concentrate
Pea protein concentrate is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein concentrate is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health
affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Nature's Recipe and Hill's Ideal Balance both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Product Safety: Recall History of Nature's Recipe & Hill's Ideal Balance?
According to our records, neither brand has issued any product recalls. Therefore, consumers have no reason to
question the safety of Nature's Recipe or Hill's Ideal Balance pet food products.
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Dry Dog Food
Nature's Recipe
Hill's Ideal Balance
Per Pound
$1.63
$1.98
Per Calorie
$0.0010
$0.0011
Wet Dog Food
Nature's Recipe
Hill's Ideal Balance
Per Pound
$4.52
$3.32
Per Calorie
$0.0108
$0.0100
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each
brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates
the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Nature's Recipe or Hill's Ideal Balance,
input your pet's weight into our cost
analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands.
However, the actual price that you'll pay for Nature's Recipe or Hill's Ideal Balance will depend on your shopping habits.
Cost Analyzer Widget
Cost of Feeding Nature's Recipe
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Cost of Feeding Hill's Ideal Balance
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Nature's Recipe
and Hill's Ideal Balance. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article.
We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Nature's Recipe Pet Foods
You can purchase Nature's Recipe pet foods from the following stores:
32 Recipes In-Stock Today
13 Recipes In-Stock Today
8 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Hill's Ideal Balance Pet Foods
You can purchase Hill's Ideal Balance pet food products from these retailers:
10 Recipes In-Stock Today
1 Recipes In-Stock Today
2 Recipes In-Stock Today
4 Recipes In-Stock Today
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Nature's Recipe
Hill's Ideal Balance
Dry Dog Food
17 Recipes
6 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
15 Recipes
2 Recipes
Dog Treats
3 Treats
3 Treats
Dry Cat Food
4 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
2 Recipes
Cat Treats
Compare Pet Food Prices Across Multiple Pet Stores