What's actually in Natural Balance?
We analyzed Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Chicken and Sweet Potato Formula. The ingredients are deliberately few: chicken, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potato protein, canola oil, and flaxseed. That's essentially the entire functional ingredient list before vitamins and minerals.
The minimalism is intentional. L.I.D. (Limited Ingredient Diet) formulas are designed to reduce the number of potential allergens in a food, making it easier to identify what a sensitive dog is reacting to. Fewer ingredients means fewer variables in an elimination protocol. That's a legitimate clinical use case. Shop on Amazon →
The good stuff
Chicken and chicken meal in the top two positions provide solid animal protein density. Sweet potato is one of the best carbohydrate sources in kibble — high in fiber, beta-carotene, and antioxidants, with a lower glycemic index than white potato or corn. Flaxseed provides plant-based omega-3s for skin and coat.
The limited ingredient count is genuinely useful for dogs with confirmed food sensitivities or during elimination diet protocols. If a vet has advised a limited ingredient diet to identify allergens, Natural Balance delivers on that premise cleanly. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
The not-so-good stuff
Potato protein at position five is a filler. It's a plant-based protein concentrate extracted during starch production — present to boost the protein percentage cheaply, not because it adds nutritional value. This is the same function wheat gluten plays in lower-quality formulas, just from a different source.
Canola oil instead of fish oil or chicken fat is a meaningful gap. Canola oil provides omega-6 fatty acids but lacks the EPA and DHA of fish oil or the functional fat profile of chicken fat. For a formula targeting skin and coat health alongside digestive sensitivity, the fat source matters. There's no marine omega-3 here at all — only plant-based ALA from flaxseed, which has limited conversion to EPA/DHA in dogs.
No probiotics, no prebiotic, no vegetables beyond sweet potato, no fruits. The nutritional simplicity that makes L.I.D. useful for elimination diets is also what makes it a poor long-term feeding choice for dogs who don't need that restriction. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach scores higher (B/76) while being nearly as simple, thanks to its salmon-first protein and functional probiotic.
How it compares
At C/66, Natural Balance L.I.D. scores above the mainstream vet-recommended brands but below the B tier. It's a better choice than Purina ONE (C/58), Hill's Science Diet (C/61), and Royal Canin (C/58), but it doesn't reach the quality level of the premium B-tier brands.
The closest functional comparison is Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach (B/76), which also targets sensitive dogs. Pro Plan Sensitive scores 10 points higher — salmon as the first ingredient, a heat-stable probiotic, and fish oil for marine omega-3s make it a more complete formula, even at a comparable price and similar ingredient count. If the goal is sensitivity management rather than strict elimination dieting, Pro Plan Sensitive is the better-formulated option.
Read the full breakdown in our head-to-head comparison: NutriSource vs Natural Balance.
The bottom line
Natural Balance L.I.D. earns a C grade (66/100) from KibbleIQ. The limited-ingredient philosophy is sound for dogs with food sensitivities, and chicken plus sweet potato is a clean base. But potato protein filler, canola oil, and the absence of marine omega-3s and probiotics limit its nutritional value. It's the right choice for elimination diet protocols; it's not the right choice for long-term optimal nutrition. Once you've identified your dog's sensitivities, upgrade to a more complete formula. Shop on Amazon →