Some people make their own dog food, but those who do usually have no choice because their dogs have special requirements and allergies. YT members who home cook recommend that you have a diet created by a canine dietician. Remember, a balanced human diet is not a balanced canine diet, they need as much calcium as a human woman, and it's very difficult to give them that much with regular human food, so supplementation is necessary. Even the worst dog food is probably healthier than a human diet that isn't specially formulated for dogs.
I do not believe that you have to buy the most expensive dog food to give your dog a healthy diet, but I'd stay away from the cheapest brands, as they usually use cheaper forms of protein.
Garlic got a bad name because a dog will eat an excessive amount of garlic, for example, a dog died after eating a bottle of garlic powder, a human would never eat that much, but a dog will, so garlic had to be placed on the poisons' list because there is an amount that is dangerous. The amount found in food and treats is considered safe. Here's a great site that will help educate you on choosing a food that best for your dog.
The Dog Food Project - Myths about Dog Nutrition
White Karo syrup is a good substitute for Nutri Cal.