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LINE VS LINE · NUTRO KIBBLE

Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Nutro Natural Choice against Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet, measured across 23 and 6 kibble recipes: 24.2% vs 20.7% protein and 42% vs 46% starch, as fed.

23 kibble recipes reviewed 6 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Natural Choice recipes average 24.2% protein and 13% fat as fed. Limited Ingredient Diet recipes average 20.7% protein and 13.8% fat, fat levels are close between the lines.
  • Natural Choice's estimated starch averages 42% with 340 kcal per cup. Limited Ingredient Diet's estimated starch averages 46% with 432 kcal per cup.
  • Natural Choice is 0% grain-free while Limited Ingredient Diet is 100% grain-free.
  • Natural Choice offers 23 recipes for Adult, Puppy and Senior dogs across All Breeds, Large Breed and Small Breed sizes. Limited Ingredient Diet offers 6 recipes, all for Adult dogs, across All Breeds, Small Breed and Large Breed sizes.
  • Natural Choice's estimated price per pound is $2.67, lower than Limited Ingredient Diet's estimated price per pound of $4.23.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Nutro Natural Choice Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 23 6 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 24.2%20.0% to 28.0% 20.7%20.0% to 22.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 13.0%8.0% to 16.0% 13.8%13.0% to 14.0% 14.3%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 42%37% to 49% 46%45% to 48% 37%
Calories per cup 340264 to 386 432373 to 460 398
Grain-free recipes 0% 100%
Life stages Adult 15, Puppy 4, Senior 4 Adult 6
Breed sizes All Breeds 21, Large Breed 7, Small Breed 2 All Breeds 6, Small Breed 1, Large Breed 1
Price per pound, estimate $2.67/lbEstimate, median of 22 of 23 recipesRecipes run $2.50 to $3.19Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $4.23/lbEstimate, median of 4 of 6 recipesRecipes run $4.23 to $4.23Prices checked Oct 6, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None None

Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Nutro Natural Choice

Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Best seller of the line on Amazon Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 22% Fat 14% Starch 45% 343 kcal/cup Nutro Natural Choice Dry Dog Puppy Lamb and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 28.0% as fed Nutro Natural Choice Dry Dog Puppy Lamb and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 28% Fat 16% Starch 37% 359 kcal/cup Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 37% Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 28% Fat 16% Starch 37% 386 kcal/cup

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Salmon & Lentils Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 22.0% as fed Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Salmon & Lentils Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 22% Fat 14% Starch 45% 460 kcal/cup Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 47% Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 20% Fat 14% Starch 47% 432 kcal/cup Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Venison Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 373 kcal per cup Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Venison Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 20% Fat 14% Starch 47% 373 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Nutro Natural Choice

  • Owners of puppies, since 4 of 23 Natural Choice recipes are made for the Puppy stage.
  • Owners of senior dogs, since 4 Natural Choice recipes are made for the Senior life stage.
  • Owners seeking a recipe sold for weight management, as low as 264 kcal per cup.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

  • Owners wanting a grain-free recipe, since 100% of Limited Ingredient Diet's kibble recipes are grain-free.
  • Owners of active dogs needing energy-dense food, with recipes up to 460 kcal per cup.
  • Owners wanting a recipe sold as a limited ingredient diet, choosing among 6 kibble options.
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Nutro Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Natural Choice 23 24.2% 13.0% 42% 340 0% $2.67
Ultra 10 26.2% 14.2% 40% 389 0% $2.91
Max 8 22.8% 14.0% 43% 348 0% $1.76
Limited Ingredient Diet 6 20.7% 13.8% 46% 432 100% $4.23

Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.

KEEP COMPARING

More Nutro Line Comparisons

Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Ultra Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Max Nutro Ultra vs Nutro Max Nutro Ultra vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Nutro Max vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

The Nutro Lines

All Nutro food Nutro Natural Choice Nutro Ultra Nutro Max Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

Nutro Against Other Brands

Nutro vs Blue Buffalo Nutro vs Purina Nutro vs Hill's Wellness vs Nutro

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.

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