Each week we profile a different Canadian Food Blogger who is part of the FBC community. This week we meet Steph, the Alberta blogger who left a successful career in the medical field to become a full time meal planning blogger!
Name: Steph Todd
Blog name and URL: Meal Plan Addict
Where were you born? Calgary, Alberta
Where are you living now? Airdrie, Alberta
Why did you start your blog?
I am an accidental blogger. I started meal planning and prepping to get organized in life. I was in many Facebook mom groups and the topic was talked about a lot. I was always getting so many questions, so I started a Facebook group (Meal Plan Addict Community) to bring people together to share recipes and tips and tricks.
I then started creating my own recipes and it was suggested that I start a blog. Knowing nothing about blogging, I got my domain and just dove in. I blogged for 2 years with nothing but an iphone.
It took me well over a year to realize what I had gotten myself into – then I was addicted and wanted to become a “legit blogger”.
How did you decide on your blog name?
When I was working in the corporate world and not even a blogger, I would bring all my meal preps to work and was jokingly called a meal plan addict. So, it just kind of happened.
What do you blog about?
Freezer meals, quick dinners, and getting organized around food.
Is your blog your business, your hobby or something in between?
For 4 years, it was a hobby, but in late 2019, I was able to leave corporate life and it is now my full time job and main stream of income.
What post on your blog most encapsulates you and why?
I would say my Pickle recipe category!
As a blogger we are told to write for our audience, do our SEO research and produce content for our readers. But, this part of the blog was started just for me to create and write about my pickle obsession.
I didn’t really think the recipes would get a lot of traffic or attention, but sure enough, my love of pickles became part of my brand. Every day I get tagged by readers in anything pickle they see on the internet and these posts really helped me connect with my audience in a way I didn’t even plan.
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
This Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup is my own personal favourite recipe on the blog and I think it should be a reader favourite too!
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
When I posted this Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna, I thought it would be too “off brand” but it quickly became the most popular post on the blog. Sometimes, deviating just a bit from what you think is on brand can pay off! I think that it ended up being so popular because it appeals to audiences that are not my typical readers.
What’s your biggest challenge as a blogger?
Learning what to outsource. There is too much to do for one person, and I am learning to let things go to more talented people!
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a blogger?
Building genuine friendships and relationships with other bloggers is really important. I have learned more from more experienced bloggers than I could ever learn on a you tube video or webinar.
Collaboration over competition. Always.
What has been your biggest success as a blogger so far?
Never in a million years did I think my hobby could be my full time job. I would say my biggest success so far has been growing my blog from hobby, to jobby, to job!
Share a couple of your favourite food blogs to read. Why do you like them? (include URLs).
Rosalynn Daniels - I met her when she was speaking at Tastemakers Conference and she has such positive energy that comes out in her photography and blog posts.
Olive and Artisan - Karlee at O&A is a breath of fresh air every single day. She is hilarious, honest, and an extremely talented creator.
Favourite food - care to share a recipe or a restaurant destination?
Funny enough, my favorite food is barbecue. None of which I create or talk about on the blog! I once stood in line for 5 hours at the famous Franklin BBQ in Austin Texas just to eat a rib!
What are you working on next for your blog?
Digital products is my next step. I had such amazing success with selling my Instant Pot cook time magnet that is now in every State, Province and Territory in North America – but physical product distribution and management is a lot of work.
Next up, high quality, valuable digital products !
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your “About Me” page?
I used to burn water. Through my 20’s I was hopeless in the kitchen. I was “too busy” to cook. I was intensely focused on building my career – working long hours and hustling hard everyday.
I have an Bachelors Honors degree in Neuroscience and a Masters in Biomedical Technology. I spent 12 years of my career as a Project Manager building hospitals and bringing novel medical technology to Canada!
What makes your blog unique?
Is it bad that I cannot for the life of me articulate an answer to this!
How do you cultivate a sense of community around your blog?
My community was cultivated in a Facebook group and now more so on Instagram.
In fact, I had a facebook community before I had a blog! It was my group that asked for a website! So, I googled “ what is a food blog” and it all just snowballed from there!
Connect with Steph and Meal Plan Addict on Social Media:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
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