A while back I received an email from Megan, an undergrad who is writing her senior thesis on food blogs and the Slow Food movement. She asked me to fill out a short survey and I thought I’d post my responses here.
If you’re also a food blogger, share your answers in the comments.
If you're a food blog reader, tell us in the comments what is the primary reason you read food related blogs?
1. Please describe the primary content of your blog.
“Politically Incorrect” Health & Nutrition information.
2. Why did you choose to start a food blog?
To have one spot to share concise information on various health & nutrition topics.
3. What appeals to you about blogging as a medium?
The power to reach so many with the truth about Real Food, and to connect with a like-minded community of people who are as eager as I am to keep learning on this journey.
4. How does the concept of “sustainability” factor into your blog?
So much so that I could be making a LOT more money each month if I allowed ANY ads to run on my site, but instead I take the hit so that I'm only promoting what I believe in: companies who also believe in sustainable, local (when possible), REAL food practices. (Read about when I said Bye bye to Google ads.)
5. What is your understanding of “Slow Food”? Do you consider yourself to be part of the Slow Food movement?
Absolutely. The only fast food we eat is what we make at home from my “fast food” meals list (with the exception of an occasional take-out pizza). Real Food is worth the time and effort so that you know what you're feeding your family.
6. Which of these aspects of food blogging are important to YOU, and most central to YOUR blog? Please rate the following on a scale from 1-5:
Not important (1)
Somewhat important (2)
Moderately important (3)
Very important (4)
Most important (5)
– Keeping a personal journal 1
– Outlet for creative expression 1
– An archive for recipes and/or photos 3
-Interacting with readers via comments 3
– Interacting with other food bloggers 3
– Feeling like part of an online community 3
– Highlighting positive things about the local community (restaurants, markets, etc.) 4
– Informing and educating readers about food-related topics 5
– Promoting ethical values in our food system 5
– Advocating for political change 4 (for food issues)
– Updating friends and family 1
– Sharing recipes with readers 3
– Sharing stories with readers 4
– Sharing pictures with readers 1
– Supplementing other food media endeavors (books, newspaper columns, etc.) 2
– Promoting career 2
– Seeking financial gain 4 (This started out as a “2”, but now that it's my full time job, it's become a “4”!)
– Fun 3
7. Please elaborate on the statement(s) that you rated as “most important.”
Getting the truth out in a way that is A. Easy-to-understand, B. Doable, and C. Easy to find, always has been and always will be #1 for me. 🙂
- Top ten list: what do other kitchen kop readers like?
- A peek at my big-batch cooking day/kitchen marathon
Kyle says
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but you run a great website Kelly. Keep it up!
It’s so hard for me to live a poor, busy, college student’s life and eat healthy. To almost anyone, my diet looks healthy, but I know there’s a lot of things that I need to change.
KitchenKop says
Hi Kyle!
Well, you’re in a big club then, because we all have things we still need to work on in our diet. (Like myself and all the cake batter I ate this afternoon…)
Just keep plugging away at it and growing in your knowledge, too. That will help you in your journey. 🙂
Take care!
Kel
D. says
I don’t have a blog (no time for that – barely have time to comment most of the time!) but I do read a few. Don’t know why. Half the time I don’t agree with what’s written, or I get ticked off by folks who are determined that it’s their way or no way.
I just got started reading them when I was searching for a couple of recipes a few years ago and I still follow a little, but not much. I was, back then, trying to transition back into eating mostly WAPF style foods and needed some insight as to why most of the recipes in the NT cookbook (by Sally Fallon) didn’t work for me – the raw milk related recipes, I should say. Every time I tried to make yogurt it came out soupy and runny. Still does, but now I’ve learned to love it. I make Greek yogurt now because I sorta did that by accident a while back (had so many jars on my counter I forgot what was what – worst part is that I actually had them marked, just grabbed the wrong jar). Foohy. I don’t stress about stuff like that I just use whatever it turns out to be. ; ->
One thing I still have trouble with, though – what to do with soured milk (a whole 1/2 gallon got away from me in that dang fridge!) and what to do with cream which has also expired in the fridge. Those should be the simplest of things, but you’d be surprised at what a person doesn’t know after years of working with stuff like this.
I like Kelly’s blog and I really can’t tell you why, exactly. I just like Kelly, I guess. Sweet girl and tries hard to help people and keep it simple (which I like). She could be my kid because that’s how my only daughter is, too. Forever the helpmate.
Keep up the nice work, Kelly. You’re a gem.
KitchenKop says
Geesh, Deb, you big sweetie!
Here’s a way to thank you, have you seen this post? https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2010/01/what-to-do-with-raw-milk-before-it-sours-we-need-your-ideas.html
Hope that helps! 🙂
Kel
D. says
Yeah, I saw that post (and even commented a couple of times). But I’m kinda looking for things that don’t require being used immediately. I mean, if my raw milk is already soured, keeping it in the fridge for a day or two longer isn’t going to hurt anything, right? I usually make yogurt or kefir, but sometimes I try to put off making it for a couple of days if I already have more than I can use on hand. I know a lot of ways to use soured milk or cream immediately, but I’m looking for things to make which will keep a little longer.
I think I’ve found part of the answer in making more cottage cheese. That keeps for a long time once it’s made. I also made some ricotta and some mozzarella, recently. Turned out pretty well. I wish I could make my own Gruyere. We use that in our homemade onion soup, along with croutons. Just like in the fancy restaurants!
D. says
Oh. I forgot to say thanks, Kelly, for posting that link. I’d forgotten about that post and thought I had it saved to my favorites, but I guess I didn’t. I saved it now, though. Thanks!
Sue says
I read food blogs because I want to be healthy and I believe the SAD is killing us. I have found so much information, encouragement and motivation from reading the many real food blogs, especially yours. There have been recipes, preparation techniques, and recommended books. My life will never be the same.
kara says
I read food blogs for many reasons. To find new recipes and recipe ideas, to learn more about traditional food preparation and storage, and to learn more about natural cleaners and medicines ( many food bloggers have info on these topics as well). I have found that I really enjoy the feeling of being part of an online community as well. In my area, I only know of a couple other people interested in these things, and while I greatly value their time, knowledge and friendships, its also nice to know I have a vast knowledge base at my disposal at online anytime! I have learned so much from food bloggers, how to ditch my shampoo and still have pretty and clean hair, alternatives to conventional medicines, along with a huge amount of knowledge on food! Thank you so much Kelly, and all my other favorite food bloggers for all the time and research that goes into your blogs!
Kathy (aka Mrs Dull) says
I’ve enjoyed reading your posts over the past couple of years Kelly! I decided to delurk 😉 and join the conversation by starting my own blog over the holidays. I’ve learned to care a lot about food from a nutrition perspective over the years by working to improve my families diet. As I’ve gotten older that concern has transferred a bit to concern about the loss of knowledge about food … where it comes from, how to prepare it, what exactly is a square diet. Each of us has a food heritage that can help inform healthy food choices. I hope I can help in some small way to encourage people to look consider that heritage in making dietary choices.
KitchenKop says
Hugs to all of you for such sweet comments today. I’m so grateful for your online friendship and for being such faithful readers. 🙂
Kel
leigh says
I actually got hooked onto this blog when I was getting updates from catholicmom.com. I bought Nourishing Traditions 2 years ago when I was pregnant w/ my last child and I was intrigued by a fellow mommy-to-be who mentioned this book as the recipe source for her homemade baby formula. The book collected dust until just a few months ago when I began researching real food as a mode of healing for recurring infections. Still a rookie, but as helpful as books have been, I find this blog to be much more inspiring and informative the way Kelly breaks things down into practical how-tos. She makes Real Food more approachable and possible. Thank You Kelly!
karen says
I read your blog, Kel, cuz I know you’re on “top of it” and I don’t have to be: I can go to one place and find what I need.
Secondly, sometimes I get in a rut w/ my food and want to eat something different. Love that you post your suggestions here.
Thank you for working so hard on our behalf. Dig you!
Hugs.
Karen from CA
Doreen says
I read food blogs for new information. I’ve been interested in keeping a heathy lifestyle for over 35 years now. I started off with granola and brown rice in the 70’s. It is interesting to watch others my age get stuck in the prime of their dietary knowledge, primarily the low fat movement. You have to learn what things you need to drop, and what things you need to add. The traditional, real food diet makes the most sense to me.
Linda says
I am a faithful reader. The more I read your and other food bloggers the more I learn. I read you for recipes and information. I have been profoundly influenced to change the way I live from growing more of my food to sustainable living to taking charge of my and my family’s health. I have learned to get rid of the toxins in my food and in my home. I don’t think I would have ever thought about all these issues on my own. I am very grateful to have found you online. Please keep up the good hard work you do.
Cathy F. says
I read food blogs because I no longer trust the conventional “experts”– you know, the plethora of nutritionists who spout the “settled science” (an oxymoron, by the way) diet doctrines and never reach out past their college textbooks to learn anything new (like the truth) about food and diet. I discovered that food bloggers can point me to information from real experts. I have enough life experience to know there are real problems with the food we eat, and my desire is to be as healthy as I can be. Food blogs help me do that.
Naomi Williams says
Reader only.
The truth is out there, and the internet makes it virtually impossible to suppress. Sure, I have to slog through piles and piles of crapola to find it, but it IS there, unlike the versions of “nutritional information” that the government has bought from and distributed for corporate interests.
Wendy (The Local Cook) says
1. Please describe the primary content of your blog.
Seasonal cooking with local ingredients
2. Why did you choose to start a food blog?
I decided to cook through Simply in Season as a way to make myself learn more recipes that used produce from my CSA share. Then, Julie & Julia came out and I decided to blog about it.
3. What appeals to you about blogging as a medium?
I wanted to be a journalist when I grew up, plus it’s great to be able to share recipes for strange vegetables like rutabaga, kohlrabi, kale, etc.
4. How does the concept of “sustainability” factor into your blog?
A lot. Since I work for an international relief & development organization that does a lot of agriculture work, I’ve seen firsthand how our choices impact the world, the importance of “Farming God’s Way,” and as the daughter of a conventional farmer who sold the farm because he couldn’t compete with the industrialized farmers, I recognize that we need to work on our food systems here in the U.S.
5. What is your understanding of “Slow Food”? Do you consider yourself to be part of the Slow Food movement?
Slow Food focuses on local, organic, seasonal, artisanal foods. I’m on the board of our local Slow Food chapter so I definitely consider myself to be part of it.
6. Which of these aspects of food blogging are important to YOU, and most central to YOUR blog? Please rate the following on a scale from 1-5:
Not important (1)
Somewhat important (2)
Moderately important (3)
Very important (4)
Most important (5)
– Keeping a personal journal 2
– Outlet for creative expression 4
– An archive for recipes and/or photos 4
-Interacting with readers via comments 4
– Interacting with other food bloggers 3
– Feeling like part of an online community 3
– Highlighting positive things about the local community (restaurants, markets, etc.) on my local food blog this is the focus 5
– Informing and educating readers about food-related topics 3
– Promoting ethical values in our food system 5
– Advocating for political change 4 (for food issues)
– Updating friends and family 1
– Sharing recipes with readers 4
– Sharing stories with readers 4
– Sharing pictures with readers 3
– Supplementing other food media endeavors (books, newspaper columns, etc.) 1
– Promoting career 1
– Seeking financial gain 1
– Fun 5
7. Please elaborate on the statement(s) that you rated as “most important.”
I’m doing this for fun, or else I wouldn’t be doing it. I have a full time job that I love. I also feel passionately about how our individual choices affect local and global health, and it’s not really that hard to make small changes that make a big impact.
Nicole says
The reason I read food blogs is pure and simple – health. When I was suffering from anxiety and depression I was looking for answers and when I stumbled accross the idea of treating myself through diet I was hooked. Been looking for more answers and better understanding ever since. Also the blogs help me feel connected to like-minded people, coz there aint many of them local that I know. In other words the blogs make me feel more “normal”!! Plus they’re exciting and even a little daring. I have a rebellious spirit naturally so it suits me to be involved in a politically incorrect food movement!! I am really grateful for the blogs.
Brenda Scott says
Fun idea Kelly! I wrote a post about why I becamea a real food blogger back in Nov here: https://www.wellfedhomestead.com/why-i-became-a-real-food-blogger. Maybe I’ll have to write another post & answer these questions! good for you, btw, giving up google ads & sticking to ads & affiliates that you can stand by! I hope you are rewarded for that decision & get many clicks through! (that almost sounded like a fortune cookie! 😉