A Day in the Life of a Full-Time Food Blogger: Behind the Recipes, Photos, and Business of Jessica in the Kitchen
Friends, I am beyond thrilled to finally share this much-anticipated post with you! Ever since I transitioned to being a full-time food blogger, many of you have asked to peek behind the curtain and understand what my daily life truly entails. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain to reveal the general scope of my work, delve into the specifics of how I generate income, and walk you through a typical workday in my life as a full-time content creator. My aim is to provide a comprehensive overview, assuming you might only know me for sharing delicious recipes. I promise to explain as much as I can, and I envision this post evolving with even more relevant insights over time.
Before we dive in, if you’re curious about my morning rituals, you can click here to read more about my morning routine before work. Now, settle in with your favorite matcha latte or a bowl of popcorn, and let’s explore this journey together.
It’s important to approach this post with an open mind. My profession as a food blogger often defies traditional career definitions, leading to common misconceptions. I’ve frequently encountered questions like, “So, do you just sleep all day?” or “What do you actually do? Is that really a full-time job?” and even “You’re so lucky – I wish I had your luck!” While these comments sometimes still sting, I’ve learned to frame them as opportunities to educate. There’s a widespread assumption that working from home equates to minimal effort, but the reality is quite the opposite. For me, and many others in entrepreneurial roles, this career choice is often a 24/7 commitment, requiring constant dedication and strategic thinking.
Even as an attorney-at-law, I never dedicated this many hours to my work. From the moment I open my eyes until I close them, I am essentially “on the clock.” This past year, I’ve made conscious efforts to implement adjustments, forcing myself to prepare properly for the day and dedicate evening hours to unwinding. However, it’s a constant challenge. Emails are a relentless stream, often arriving between 11 PM and 1 AM, some instantly urgent. Given that my audience spans the globe, questions from readers come in at all hours. Despite the demanding schedule, I genuinely love every aspect of it. Answering your questions, receiving your photos of completed recipes, and reading your heartfelt emails often bring tears to my eyes. This deep connection and passion fuel my desire to continue this work, or some version of it, for the rest of my life.
To properly frame this discussion, let me briefly recount my path to becoming a full-time blogger. In my context, being a full-time blogger means that Jessica in the Kitchen LLC is my primary career. I own the business, and I am the sole creator of all the recipes and content you discover on the blog. Long-time readers might recall that I launched Jessica in the Kitchen in 2014, but my blogging journey actually began in 2010. It was around the time of the Jessica in the Kitchen rebrand that I started taking blogging seriously. I believe it’s fair to say that six years of continuous blogging experience, coupled with two years of exceptionally hard work during law school and then as a practicing lawyer, ultimately guided my decision to become a full-time food blogger. My inherent calling has always been to help others, and the realization that my healthy recipes were positively impacting hundreds of thousands of readers profoundly inspired this career shift. Receiving emails from readers sharing how my recipes aided them in weight loss, diabetes management, or simply in finding nutritious options for their toddlers, served as constant affirmations that I was on the right path. As the blog also began generating a consistent income, it became clear that I could transform this passion into a sustainable salary. In March 2016, I made the leap to full-time, and it’s incredible how quickly two years have flown by.
The Many Hats of a Full-Time Food Blogger
The term “blogger” is a vast umbrella, encompassing an incredible array of responsibilities. In essence, it means being the CEO, founder, editor, content creator, recipe developer, recipe stylist, photographer, videographer, social media manager, producer, and customer service representative – among countless other roles, depending on the specific niche. While I generally work every day, including Sundays, I’m actively working towards making Sundays a dedicated day off. Here’s a general overview of the diverse tasks I juggle on a regular basis, painting a clearer picture of what it takes to run a successful food blog.
Bringing a Blog Post to Life: From Concept to Publish
Creating engaging and valuable blog posts is undeniably one of the most common and crucial aspects of my career. Let me walk you through the intricate steps involved in this process. It all begins with idea generation, which typically involves forecasting culinary trends, observing seasonal ingredients, and listening to reader requests. My partner, Gav, and I then hold a planning meeting where we discuss upcoming blog posts, YouTube video concepts, and short-form video ideas. We brainstorm an extensive list before carefully narrowing it down to the most promising and relevant topics. Following this, I conceptualize the specific recipe, and Gav takes on the task of sourcing and purchasing all the necessary ingredients. Sometimes a new recipe evolves from a previous creation, while other times it’s an entirely novel concept. I meticulously test the recipe, often multiple times, refining it until it meets my exact standards for flavor, texture, and ease of preparation. Once perfected, I prepare it again for the actual blog post, paying meticulous attention to precision in measurements and presentation, ensuring beautifully clean cuts for the photographic elements. Gavin then expertly sets up the photography and videography studio, and I proceed to style the recipe, arranging it artfully to maximize its visual appeal.
The next critical phase is photography. I typically capture around 40 high-quality photos per shoot, sometimes including step-by-step imagery to guide readers through the cooking process. After the shoot, I meticulously edit these photos to enhance their visual appeal and ensure consistency with my brand aesthetic. Simultaneously, I embark on writing the blog post itself. This involves crafting engaging prose, detailing instructions, and ensuring the content adheres to rigorous SEO (Search Engine Optimization) standards. This is vital for ensuring that you, my cherished readers, can easily discover my recipes through search engines like Google. SEO best practices include assigning descriptive ALT tags to all images, providing accurate and keyword-rich descriptions, and crafting blog post titles based on thorough research using tools like Moz Explorer or Answerthepublic.com. There’s a comprehensive checklist of SEO elements I meticulously tick off for each and every post. Finally, I schedule the post for publication, and once it goes live, it’s shared across all my social media platforms, eagerly awaiting your creations in your own kitchens.
If a video component is involved, the process expands. We carefully arrange all the ingredients into smaller, visually appealing bowls, and Gav then sets up the lighting and camera equipment specifically for video capture. Overall, this entire content creation process, from initial idea to final publication, typically spans about 8 to 9 hours for a text and photo-based post. When video production and editing are included, this can easily extend to 13 hours or more, representing a significant investment of time and creative energy.
Monetization: How Jessica in the Kitchen Generates Income
Let me offer full transparency regarding how Jessica in the Kitchen generates income. While I provide some details on my About Me page, I believe it’s essential to reiterate and expand upon them here. Jessica in the Kitchen primarily earns income through a combination of display advertising, affiliate links, and sponsored posts. You will always find a clear disclaimer when a post is sponsored, and I also maintain a prominent disclaimer on my sidebar. It’s crucial to emphasize that all opinions expressed are always my own, and I exclusively partner with companies whose values align perfectly with my personal convictions and, most importantly, with the core values and interests of Jessica in the Kitchen’s discerning readers.
First and foremost, let’s discuss advertising income. My dad once offered a perfect analogy: “A blog is like a newspaper.” Just as a newspaper publishes new articles daily and relies on advertisers, I create fresh content, collaborate with sponsors, and connect with a dedicated readership. This website features display advertisements, and I earn revenue when readers view these ads or interact with them through clicks. Believe it or not, even this aspect is carefully considered. I work closely with my ad agency to implement blocks for meat-related advertisements, aligning with my vegan content. If you ever notice one that slips through, please don’t hesitate to inform me! Sometimes, despite our best efforts, they can appear, which is neither their fault nor mine.
Another significant income stream comes from collaborations with brands, commonly known as sponsored posts or brand partnerships. The process typically begins with a brand reaching out to us, though occasionally – perhaps 1 out of 10 times – we initiate contact with a brand we admire. We then engage in discussions, usually via email or phone calls, to explore potential collaborative opportunities. As a food blogger, I predominantly partner with food brands. In these collaborations, I often feature their product – for instance, a specific ingredient – within a carefully developed recipe, demonstrating the best ways to incorporate and utilize it. I’ve stated this many times, but my paramount goal is to collaborate exclusively with brands that resonate with Jessica in the Kitchen’s core food values: healthy, wholesome, and beneficial for well-being. Furthermore, I only work with brands whose products I genuinely enjoy and would personally consume. You will never see me endorsing something I wouldn’t eat myself, and I have, in fact, declined countless opportunities from brands that simply didn’t align with my brand’s ethos or my personal values.
The truly remarkable aspect of this business model is the virtually limitless potential for diversifying income streams. This strategic diversification is not only important but also highly achievable. Beyond the primary sources, my income can also include freelance photography and videography assignments, earnings from affiliate links (where I earn a small commission on products purchased through my recommendations), participation in brand trips, freelance recipe development for other companies, selling proprietary products (such as my e-books), conducting online courses, hosting workshops, offering consultations, and a myriad of other innovative opportunities. This multi-faceted approach ensures stability and continued growth for the business.
The Essential Team: Collaborating for Success
The extensive behind-the-scenes work involved in running this business is so vast that if I were to detail every single task, this post would easily exceed 5,000 words. However, it’s important to highlight the crucial collaborations that make it all possible. A significant portion of my work takes place outside the immediate creation of website content but is still integral to the business’s operation. My Virtual Assistant (VA), Kerri, plays an indispensable role in managing the consistent scheduling and posting of content across our key social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. While I still actively engage by dropping in posts occasionally and responding to comments and questions, Kerri and I maintain constant communication. Whether it’s discussing a delayed post, a new technique I want her to implement, or a strategic adjustment, our collaboration is fluid and continuous. I also work closely with my design team. I have two talented designers, Katelyn and Norel, who are responsible for crafting all the compelling graphics for Jessica in the Kitchen. Our collaboration began a couple of months ago, building upon Katelyn’s fantastic rebranding and redesign of Jessica in the Kitchen in August 2017, ensuring our visual identity remains fresh and consistent. Furthermore, I am in regular contact with my developer, Brandi, and her dedicated team. They are instrumental in handling a wide array of technical aspects of the site, from resolving buggy features to investigating complex issues. Robin, my invaluable blog technician, manages all site backups and addresses any coding challenges or bugs that arise. And finally, my hosting team – Jason, Caleb, and Hayley – are always there to assist with site changes, new email setups, and various other technical needs. While sometimes issues are minor, other times a rogue plugin can crash the entire site, leading to long Skype calls with Robin as she calmly recovers my data and reassures me. In short, I am incredibly fortunate to be supported by an amazing team, predominantly comprised of talented women and three dedicated men, who collectively ensure the smooth operation and growth of my business.
Beyond scheduled tasks and team collaborations, we also constantly address unforeseen issues. This could range from navigating new internet laws like GDPR to dealing with content theft – a regrettably frequent occurrence, where my photos, and even my actual image, are used without permission. Suffice to say, you never quite know what challenges or surprises will greet your inbox when you start your day!
Work-Life Integration: Travel, Lifestyle, and Content
A common question I receive is about how my work adapts when Gavin and I are traveling or ostensibly “on vacation.” The reality is that for a blogger, especially a food blogger, the lines between work trips and personal travel often blur. Whenever we travel, we consistently capture lifestyle photos that are later utilized for my social media presence or incorporated into “Out of the Kitchen” blog posts, including travelogues. This means activities like dining at vegan restaurants are often done with content creation in mind, including live updates on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram Stories. Even typical tourist activities can be framed as opportunities for new content. Being a blogger is inherently a lifestyle-integrated profession, and I know many of you have expressed a desire to see more of what I do beyond just recipes, which I am always happy to share.
Sometimes, we embark on trips specifically to get a change of scenery, but also to gather unique and authentic lifestyle content. Other work trips involve attending industry conferences, engaging in extended meetings with brand partners, or undertaking freelance assignments. On all these occasions, we remain actively engaged in blogging, sharing content, or performing some other form of work-related task. Even when we intentionally plan a “vacation,” it almost invariably transforms into a mixed trip. My laptop is a constant companion; I never leave it at home. During planned work trips, we allocate specific blocks of time for blog-related tasks. The one exception I consistently maintain is the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This is the only full week of the entire year where I genuinely disconnect from work (I literally have to delete the apps from my phone to resist the urge!).
A Glimpse into My Workday
Option A: A Productive & Packed Day
9:00 am – My day begins with my established morning routine, followed by a seamless transition into work. A quick note here: Yes, I often wake up around 9:00 am, sometimes even 9:30 am. I deliberated whether to share this detail because, for some reason, many people instantly jump to the conclusion that it signifies a leisurely, effortless life. Over the past two years, I’ve heard numerous comments to that effect. But the truth is, I prioritize and deserve adequate sleep, needing 7-8 hours every night to function optimally. I used to guilt-trip myself into surviving on 6 hours, which inevitably led to burnout. I’ve since learned a crucial lesson: I cannot live my life or manage my energy based on anyone else’s expectations.
10:00 am – The first official task of my workday is to open my email inbox. (Okay, full disclosure: I might have already peeked at them in bed, especially if I’m awaiting an urgent response for an important sponsored post!) This morning, my inbox reveals a diverse range of communications: a couple of emails from brands I’m actively collaborating with, several heartwarming messages from readers sharing their love and recipe successes, two updates from my talented designers, and the remainder consisting of new collaboration opportunities and various other work-related items. I methodically work through each email, providing thoughtful responses, before heading over to my blog to perform a quick health check and ensure everything is running smoothly.
10:45 am – As fate would have it, a quick check reveals a troublesome script code on the website, causing a deluge of 404 errors. It’s always surprising how many unexpected technical glitches can arise on a website. I immediately jump onto Skype to message my diligent blog technician. She quickly identifies the issue and, crucially, warns me *not* to attempt any fixes myself, as I’ve been known to inadvertently complicate matters in the past! Trusting her expertise, I leave it in her capable hands. Meanwhile, everything else on the site appears to be running perfectly, and today’s scheduled post has gone live without a hitch. My VA, Kerri, has already scheduled its promotion on Twitter and Facebook, so I take a moment to share it on my Tumblr page and Instagram Stories, broadening its reach.
11:00 am – I have an important scheduled call with Pinterest. I am a proud member of Pinterest’s Creator Collective, an exclusive and highly valuable group of content creators who collaborate closely with Pinterest itself. Am I excited about being a part of this? Beyond belief! The call is incredibly productive and successful, concluding with excited exchanges about their upcoming conference next week.
11:30 am – I dive back into the seemingly endless stream of emails, tackling new messages and following up on previous communications.
12:30 pm – Time to head to the kitchen, my creative sanctuary. I grab a quick, energizing snack before immersing myself in preparing a recipe slated for next month’s content: a delectable Vegan Pulled Pork sandwich, paired with some turnip fries that I’ve heard make an excellent low-carb fry alternative. The Vegan Pulled Pork sandwich comes together flawlessly and tastes absolutely phenomenal, so I proceed with the styling and photography. However, the turnip fries prove to be a *total* disaster. Not only do they burn, but their flavor is utterly unlike fries; they taste exactly like roasted turnips. I contemplate whether to try again or simply abandon the idea for now. Throughout this process, I’m actively sharing step-by-step updates on Instagram Stories, quickly responding to reader questions while ingredients simmer, and meticulously detailing the recipe notes.
3:00 pm – Lunchtime! As a reward, and a much-needed mental break, I allow myself to watch a full episode of *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* while savoring the delicious vegan pulled pork sandwich.
3:30 pm – A quick one-minute meditation helps me re-center and refocus for the afternoon’s work. I then make a few essential work calls, including an unsuccessful attempt to secure a button for the conference where I’ll be speaking on Saturday. I then reply to a few more emails – reinforcing the notion that the email void is indeed endless.
4:00 pm – It’s dedicated blog post writing time! I sit down to craft a post that’s due next week. Mid-flow, I receive a direct message (DM) from a reader who encountered a mistake in one of my recipes and is seeking a solution. I promptly message her back with troubleshooting advice before returning to my writing. After completing the draft, I meticulously review it to ensure it meets my rigorous SEO standards, insert the beautiful long-form Pinterest pin graphic designed by my team, and finally schedule the blog post for publication. While blog posts typically take around two hours to complete, this particular one required a full four hours of focused effort.
6:00 pm – By this point, fatigue often sets in, and I know I need a quick booster to recharge. This might involve a brief 15-minute power nap or a short mindfulness break to clear my head and regain focus.
6:15 pm – I check Facebook, a platform that often requires moderation. I delete about a *dozen* anti-vegan comments, maintaining a positive and inclusive community space, and then respond to readers who have questions about the recipes.
6:30 pm – My designer, Norel, sends over some fresh images, and I open the email immediately – it always sparks such immense excitement! I absolutely *love* her work. Inspired by the new visuals, an idea strikes, and Gav and I have a quick impromptu meeting. We adjust some content ideas for June, and he diligently reviews my latest blog post for any errors (there are always a few, a constant reminder of the human element!). We then decide to briefly touch upon a couple of other business-related topics, such as reviewing analytics, before realizing that a deeper dive will require a separate, dedicated meeting tomorrow.
7:30 pm – I have a late-night meeting, typically conducted via Skype or a phone call. The late hour is usually due to accommodating significant time zone differences with collaborators. The meeting goes exceptionally well, allowing me to make concrete plans for the upcoming days and integrate new strategies into my workflow.
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Gav and I are *finally* in the arduous process of converting all our existing recipes from an old plugin format to the beautifully designed, built-in format that my designer Katelyn created and my developer Brandi brought to life. With hundreds of recipes, this has been an ongoing, meticulous, and often monotonous task, consuming hours of our time daily for the past two months. It feels like a new form of torture at times, but the end result will be so worth it. Update: All our recipes are now successfully migrated to the new built-in format!
9:00 pm – I take a moment to share a new photo on Instagram. Gav now primarily handles writing all the captions, after which I engage by replying to comments, adding relevant hashtags, and managing the remainder of our Instagram presence. I briefly debate whether this particular photo, featuring a vibrant Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa, will perform well. Gav assures me it definitely will. He’s 100% correct – it ends up being our most popular photo for the entire month!
9:15 pm – Dinner time. I *know* this is quite late for a meal, but it’s often the reality of our demanding schedule. We enjoy some delicious leftovers from the fridge, and I find myself eyeing Gavin’s Vegan Pulled Pork sandwich, wishing I hadn’t devoured mine so quickly earlier! He generously makes some plantains for both of us, and all feels well in the world.
9:45 pm – 11:00 pm – I grudgingly continue with the recipe conversions, counting down the minutes until this monumental task is completed forever. Update: All our recipes are now successfully migrated to the new built-in format!
11:00 pm – 1:00 am – I dedicate this time to editing more photos for my designer, uploading them so she can continue her work, and responding to about five more emails that have accumulated. I then check our Google Analytics to review the blog’s performance throughout the day, gaining insights into traffic and engagement. Finally, I complete the editing of a video that I had been working on earlier, adding the finishing touches.
1:30 am – 2:00 am – Bedtime! This is when my workday finally concludes, and I can unwind for a few hours before the cycle begins anew.
Option B: The Day of Unexpected Challenges
While Option A illustrates a highly productive day, Option B is a perfect example of a day where *nothing* on your meticulously planned to-do list actually happens due to the constant need to “put out fires.” Of course, it’s rarely the *entire* day, but it typically signifies that an unexpected, often disastrous, event has occurred, requiring all planned activities to be immediately diverted to address the emergency. This could be anything from a critical website crash to an urgent brand crisis or unforeseen technical difficulties that demand immediate attention, reminding me that flexibility and quick problem-solving are just as crucial as careful planning in this career.
In conclusion, being a full-time food blogger is an incredibly rewarding and dynamic career. Some days are long and intensely packed, like the example above, while others might be slightly shorter, offering a bit more breathing room. The workflow is constant and abundant, a direct result of the immense hard work I’ve poured into this venture, and continue to invest every single day. Honestly, there are moments when I question “why” I push so hard, yet I am profoundly grateful that my “problems” stem from having almost too much fulfilling work, rather than too little. I hope this detailed account has helped to broaden your understanding and perspective. The next time you hear someone identify as a full-time blogger, I hope you’ll automatically assume they are working just as diligently, if not harder, than you might be in your own profession. After all, we are all striving to do our absolute best here.
I sincerely hope this post has clarified any lingering confusion, satisfied your curiosity, and offered valuable inspiration to anyone interested in the realities of a full-time blogger’s daily life. If there’s anything I didn’t cover that you’d like to know more about, please don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments section below!
