I feed my dog homemade diets. BARF isn't a meal, it's just basically a way to feed, ya know? Like BARF is to kibble, not BARF is to Pedigree. Does that make sense? So, yeah, there's preparation involved, depending on what you feed. I have to puree veggies in a blender, but, other than that, it's just a matter of buying the food. I buy beef for stew, so, it's already chopped up and then I separate into containers and freeze them. I also freeze the veggie puree into containers, and, thaw daily what I need for Finn. And, there are tons of ways to feed raw food, and, a million (or more) sites on how to do it. there are books, too. the one I got is The Veterinarians' Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs by Zucker. Talk to your vet, too. Especially because they know your pet(s). I feed my puppy over a pound of meat a day, plus veggies pureed, and, egg shell powder for calcium. But, he's also a growing puppy, about 13 weeks old, so, he actually has to eat a lot more now. I don't know how much cheaper it is than kibble, because honestly I haven't fed dog food in awhile. I know that it's worth it, though, regardless. I'll try to remember some of thes sites I've gone to for advice. If I remember, I'll post them. It's a good decision, though, you won't regret it.