Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

In episode 564, Megan chats to Anjali Shah about a unique affiliate marketing strategy bloggers can use to earn additional revenue by negotiating directly with brands they truly believe in. Anjali Shah is a food writer, best-selling author, board certified health coach, nutritionist, mom of two, and an advocate for healthy, clean eating for individuals and families. Her work has garnered nationwide attention as she has been featured on Oprah.com, Women’s Health, Cooking Light, Reader’s Digest, CNN, Food Network, and more. Anjali grew up a “whole wheat” girl, but married a “white bread” kind of guy. Hoping to prove that nutritious food could in fact be delicious and desirable, she taught herself how to cook and successfully transformed her husband’s eating habits from a diet of frozen pizzas and Taco Bell to her healthy, yet flavorful recipes made with simple, wholesome ingredients. After becoming a mom, Anjali expanded her work to include strategies and techniques to combat picky eating in kids of all ages. A

In episode 563, June Dick teaches us how to make the process of self-publishing a cookbook easy and efficient and how to avoid the mistakes she made. June is the recipe developer and photographer for her food blog, Practically Homemade. Here you will find simple recipes for everyday families inspired by years of being a restaurant owner, high school culinary teacher and mom of 4. Now as an empty nester, June is still looking for shortcut ingredients and kitchen hacks to save time in the kitchen. Her life mission is to share them with you so that you can have time back in your life to enjoy the little things. In this episode, you’ll learn about what June thinks went really well during her self-publishing process, what she would do differently and how to get help from your audience to put a cookbook together. Key points discussed: - Plan ahead for a cookbook project: Think about the end product and work backwards to plan the steps, rather than jumping right into creating recipes. - Establish a consistent recipe

In this episode, we're going to talk about five steps for dealing with failure when you start something new. I love this topic because failure is a given for entrepreneurs, and starting new things is essential for our success. If we cannot handle failure properly and if we don't start new things, entrepreneurship will be unsuccessful. I've been an entrepreneur for 14 years, and I can say that most of the reason I've found success is because I've picked myself up again and again after many failures over the years. I'll share two of my biggest failures with you, so you never feel bad or stupid or worthless after failing. Failure is proof that you're trying, doing your best, and taking action. We don't learn anything when we succeed; we learn and grow when we fail. Action Plan: 1 - Face the fear of failing: Sit with your fears and understand that failure is a growth tool. 2 - Go down the outcome rabbit hole: Explore the worst-case and best-case scenarios of failure to put it in perspective. 3 - Evaluate past fai

In episode 561, Megan chats to Sophie Sadler about the strategy she implemented to rapidly grow her IG followers based on what she learned from Meta (Facebook) during multiple calls. Sophie has been baking and cooking from as early as she can remember. From helping as a child in her Oma's kitchen in Germany to starting her own cupcake catering business and working in a handful of restaurants and bakeries while attending college in the USA. 8 years ago she found her calling with her authentic German food blog dirndl kitchen. Sophie has launched two online courses this year on German baking and will publish her first German cookbook in 2025. In this episode, you’ll learn about Sophie ‘reel’ strategy including how to keep up with posting daily, overcoming creative blocks and focusing on serving your audience by being real and raw instead of wasting time perfecting content. Key points discussed: - Consistent daily posting on Instagram is key to rapid growth: You can rapidly increase your following if you post con

In episode 560, Melissa Mitri teaches us how to improve our productivity and become more successful bloggers by paying attention to our diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. Melissa Mitri is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, Weight Loss Specialist, and Expert Health Writer with over 15 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Melissa Mitri, MS, RD, is a weight loss expert, blogger, and freelance writer for health professionals and brands. Melissa blogs regularly at melissamitri.com where she shares helpful content, tips, and recipes for those looking to lose weight in a sustainable way. In this episode, you’ll learn about specific foods, beverages and habits that can improve your cognitive function and mental focus, including how to incorporate physical activity and self-care practices seamlessly into your daily life. Key points discussed: - Build healthy habits consistently: Incorporating healthy habits like diet, exercise, and self-care into your daily routine is more effective tha

We all know the feeling of waking up and dreading the day. When you feel negativity early in the morning it can ruin your productivity and sometimes human interactions. That’s why I want to share a simple morning ritual I started using by saying 5 powerful words - gratitude, wisdom, abundance, inspiration, and love. After recently feeling low and depleted, I started intentionally changing the language I use immediately after I wake up. Focusing on concepts like gratitude, love and inspiration before even getting out of bed, has helped me reframe negative thoughts and rekindle my motivation for work. If nothing else it has helped me be in a better mood the rest of the day. Try this and let me know how it turns your day around! Action Plan: When you wake up… 1 - Say the word "Gratitude" and think about the first handful of things you are immensely grateful for. 2 - Say the word "Wisdom" and envision yourself making wise decisions throughout your day. 3 - Say the word "Abundance" and think of the abundant blessi

In episode 558, Megan chats to Carrie Barnard about strategies to create a community on Facebook and how to generate genuine engagement from your followers by asking them what they want and giving it to them. Carrie is a mother to 8 amazing children. She has some biological children and has adopted through foster care. She is a huge advocate for helping others which is how Eating on a Dime was born. With over 3 Million Fans on Facebook and recipe videos with over 100 million views, Eating on a Dime has become a trusted source for easy recipes for the entire family. In this episode, you’ll learn why being flexible in your approach is essential to succeed on Facebook, what type of content is currently doing well on the platform and how to make the most of it to help drive traffic to your blog. Key points discussed: - Build community, not just traffic: Focus on serving your followers and asking what they want rather than solely growing numbers. This builds loyalty. - Ask for content ideas: Regularly ask your Fac

In episode 557, Emily Baksa teaches us how to build an engaged email list and why this is essential for our businesses, especially during volatile times. Emily is a food copywriter and content strategist who uses mealtime to make a positive impact on people and the planet. She writes crave-worthy, conversion-generating copy for food bloggers, CPG brands, chefs, farmers, and other culinary change makers to help grow their businesses. In this episode, you’ll learn practical tips for creating enticing opt-ins, email series showcasing your expertise, providing valuable, personalized content and leveraging testimonials and reader favorites. Key points discussed: - Build email series: Create ongoing email conversations around seasonal topics or your areas of expertise to keep subscribers engaged. - Highlight reader favorites: Share the most popular recipes or content from your site each month to focus on what readers enjoy rather than self-promotion. - Optimize opt-ins: Craft enticing sign-up offers that showcase v

Many of us struggle with anxiety, overthinking and stress. In this episode, I discuss 5 ways for cultivating more mindfulness and reducing stress by being in the present moment. Being happy doesn’t need to be complicated. And we actually don’t need a ton of money, beauty or possessions to feel happy. Happiness can actually be found in simply letting go of our anxiety, overthinking and distractions and really taking in our surroundings - appreciating life and people who support us. But, you’ll need to be intentional about it. Here are 5 ways in which I live in the moment, letting go of distractions and overwhelming thoughts. Action Plan: 1 - Meditate - Sit quietly for 15 minutes a day to get the mind to stop thinking (make it less or more time depending on your situation). This can change your life if you do it consistently. 2 - Get caught up in the fun parts of life - Do enjoyable activities like skydiving, hiking with friends, amusement parks that fully engage you in the moment and prevent worrying. 3- Call

In episode 555, Megan chats to Katie Jasiewicz about the ins and outs of hiring interns to help us with our blogs, covering everything from job descriptions, the hiring process and quality of work delivered. Katie Jasiewicz (jazz uh wits) is a seasoned blogger with almost 15 years of experience. She's known for her popular websites; Katie’s Cucina (a recipe blog) and Sew Woodsy (a craft/DIY blog). In 2014, she transitioned from a corporate marketing job, and turned her passion for food and crafting into a full-time career. She recently launched Easy Seafood Recipes, a niche seafood recipe website. Katie continues to share her expertise and insights from her journey spanning over a decade in the blogging world. In this episode, you’ll learn how to hire an intern either for college credits (i.e. free) or a salary, what tasks to give them, how to train them and whether it’s a viable way to outsource blogging tasks. Key points discussed: - Motivated interns can help lessen your workload: Use a diligent hiring pro

In episode 554, Sonia Khosla teaches us several mindset hacks for a happier, more successful life, including how to make small changes over time to create momentum in your business and what to do when things don’t go as planned. Sonia Khosla founded Love Incredible Recipes as a way to share her favorite vegetarian and refined sugar-free recipes. She has a passion for food and making recipes using fresh and healthier ingredients. Love Incredible Recipes aims to inspire people to make fresh vegetarian meals using wholesome ingredients as well as refined sugar-free desserts and snacks. In this episode, you’ll learn why adopting a positive outlook and focusing on serving others can help keep you motivated when things go wrong, especially as you’re starting out in blogging. Key points discussed: - Small, consistent changes can have a big impact over time: Small, consistent changes to habits and routines can lead to significant improvements in mindset and success when done regularly. - Shifting perspective helps ma

Do you ever wonder where your time goes? Do you ever feel completely drained but don’t understand why? It’s probably time to do an audit. I realised the importance of doing regular audits on my life and business a few years back. Like tracking time, energy drains and to do lists. It has made a huge difference. However, in order to make the most of your audit, you need to be prepared to make some life changes. Here are 5 audits that can change your life and practical strategies for how to implement changes to improve your health, income and relationships. Action Plan: 1 - Time audit: Complete at least a week-long time audit and note any discrepancies between perceived vs actual time spent working. 2 - Energy audit: Fill out "gives me energy" and "drains my energy" lists, then take steps to minimize your biggest drains. 3 - People audit: Evaluate your closest relationships by making a list of the 10 people you spend the most time with. Identify anyone on the list that seems to drain your energy. 4 - Calendar au

In episode 552, Megan chats to Parker Thornburg about his recent experience of buying an existing blog, how it is different to starting a new one and practical advice for succeeding as a blogger regardless of which path you choose. Parker Thornburg worked at Yahoo for 8 years in Omaha, NE. After Parker left Yahoo to enter the startup world, he told his manager of 8 years that he wanted to stay connected and possibly even own a business together someday. That day came in April 2023 when they purchased a food blog, Foodness Gracious, that had been established since 2012. They continue to work full-time jobs while spending all of their spare time trying to grow Foodness Gracious. Parker has an amazing wife of 23 years and three great children aged 18, 16 and 11. In this episode, you’ll learn about which factors you should evaluate before buying or selling an existing blog (or starting a new one), including time, energy, goals, and budget, and making sure your passion aligns with the blog’s niche and target audie

In episode 551, Lilian Boukheir teaches us how to cultivate a growth mindset in food blogging, by understanding the ups and downs of running a business and the need to focus on progress rather than perfection. The Matbakh is a Mediterranean food blog blending culture and good food. I’m a mom, engineer, psychology grad student, and food blogger. The Matbakh started as a passion project and has since grown into a monetized food blog. In this episode, you’ll learn about developing a flexible mindset instead of a rigid approach to blogging, having compassion for yourself in the face of life’s challenges and why you should keep your wins top of mind. Key points discussed: - Focus on progress, not perfection: Focus on gradual improvements rather than getting stuck in perfectionism. - Build habits for success: Create consistent habits like publishing frequently to grow your blog steadily over time.    - Celebrate small wins: Appreciate comments or minor improvements to keep yourself motivated through challenges. - M

Food blogging is an intense job. This year in particular feels extra turbulent for us food bloggers. On top of Google’s HCU, I’ve taken on some new projects (who remembers that food blogging conference in Denver?) and had to part ways with my VA who’s worked for the business for many years. So I’d like to share 5 steps I’ve been taking to get through this turbulent time. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of slowing down and focusing on things you can control when you feel overwhelmed by changes in your space. And remember, self-care and keeping a positive mindset are more important than ever during turbulent times! Action Plan: 1 - Awareness: Ask yourself, what is  the source of turbulence and what is in your control? 2 - Plan: Pull out the top 5-10 things you can do this week to minimize your distress. 3 - Delegate: Assign realistic due dates or people to each point on your list to manage the workload. 4 - Action: Do the things on your list and get accountability from others. 5 - Evaluation:

In episode 549, Megan chats to Jess Saunders about strategies for growing a big Instagram account, emphasizing the importance of consistency, experimentation, and connection with followers.  Jess Saunders co-founded Vegan Punks in 2017 in order to show that vegan food is delicious, easy to make and accessible. Prior to this, Jess was the social media lead at the world's first green energy company, is accredited by the Charted Institute of Marketing and social media agency founder. In recent times, Jess has over tripled her Instagram following to over 110,000 using a unique strategy and reel formula that she developed over a number of months. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use Instagram analytics to find content that works, effective hooks that grab attention and whether the timing of your post matters. Key points discussed: - Consistency is key to Instagram success: Post in line with your strategy every day (or on a consistent basis) even when it feels like it's not working to see big results eventually

In episode 548, Luay Ghafari teaches us strategies for growing a food blog through SEO and social media and why your audience should be your main focus. Luay is a published author, social media content creator, blogger, photographer and gardening educator. Like many other bloggers, he wears multiple hats. Luay is based in Toronto Canada and his gardening/cookbook, Seed to Table, was released July 2023. He also teaches a garden-to-table Master Class. In this episode, you’ll learn about how Luay grew his blog sessions quickly over the last 2 years, including his unique approach to SEO, building a strong social media presence and his emphasis on E-A-T.  Key points discussed - Create for your reader while following Google’s guidelines: Focus on building a loyal following through consistent content creation aimed to serve your audience instead of creating for Google. - Streamline recipes for readability and internal linking: Write recipes concisely without unnecessary photos or fluff and link related recipes to bo

Burnout. Every time it hits, I act like I’m all surprised. Like, what? How can this happen? Have you ever felt the same? As I’m currently going through a bout of burnout, I want to share 5 ways in which you can recover from it. If there is one lesson I have learned about burnout, it is: Once it happens you can’t undo what has been done. And you can’t rush your recovery. You’ll need to let it run its course. There are ways in which you can help yourself recover quicker. And this is what I’d like to share with you: practical ways to get back on track with your work and prevent burnout from happening again. Action Plan: 1 - Acknowledge when you feel burnt out and surrender yourself to recovery. 2 - Pump the brakes, slow down work, and have grace for the healing process. 3 - Prioritize daily acts of self-care to help with recovery and continue making this part of your routine. 4 - Seek support from loved ones (or professional if needed) by openly discussing feelings of burnout. 5 - Reevaluate your goals and plans

In episode 546, Megan chats to Carl Ross about the current state of SEO and why our traffic is either dropping or increasing following changes in Google’s algorithm. Carl is an engineer who spent many years in corporate technology consulting roles which gave him a unique perspective on the application of technology, processes, and getting a return on your investments. It means he’s spent literally decades helping customers make sense of technology products. In 2019, he started offering SEO services and the food blogging niche was an obvious fit. While Carl works with bloggers in many different niches, food bloggers are his bread and butter. In this episode, you’ll learn about current effective strategies to rank on Google, including what is implied by ‘helpful content’ and why you should focus on user experience and backlinks. Key points discussed: - SEO is not dead: While some sites have seen traffic declines, Google is still sending traffic to food blogs and recipe sites through search results. - Focus on c

In episode 545, Desiree Nielsen teaches us how to find our unique voice and cooking style in food blogging through self-reflection, embracing creativity and sharing vulnerability to meaningfully connect with readers. Desiree Nielsen is a registered dietitian in Vancouver Canada with over a decade of experience in plant-based nutrition and chronic digestive and inflammatory disease. She is the author of two Canadian bestselling and award-winning cookbooks, Eat More Plants and Good For Your Gut. Her latest book, Plant Magic, arrives April 2024. Her work has been featured in People, Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, KTLA, WGN Chicago, The Social, Food Network Canada and Elle Gourmet Canada in addition to hundreds of media features across North America. Desiree is also a food blogger and the host of the evidence-informed wellness podcast, The Allsorts Podcast, where she hosts a diverse roster of guests from NYT bestselling authors to leading health professionals and researchers. In this episode, you’ll learn a