feeling inspired to write a cookbook/start a recipe blog vs doubts

[Judy2]

hi there:)

so i'm still in the process of figuring out what i should do with myself, and this has been quite stressful tbh.

while i'm trying to decide on further university programmes etc. i may want to sign up for, i figured that one thing i could do now, without a degree, is to write a cookbook or even start a recipe blog.

in general, i really enjoy cooking and baking, i enjoy creating new recipes or watching health and nutrition-related content on YouTube.

while i have been thinking for a while that i could also start making my own content, i have a number of concerns in this regard.

as i have a pretty intense eating disorder history and have been experiencing more immediate symptoms again in the past few months, not only may the aspect of thinking about recipes etc. be triggering - so may the whole body image aspect, "putting myself out there", being vulnerable etc.  i am not fond of the whole self-presentation thing, this idea of needing to "sell yourself" online, and i estimate it would be a huge, huge trigger for me to think about how i am being perceived all day every day.

some of you may know that it was a huge fuss for me to have a profile picture with my face on here....and i doubt i'd be comfortable showing my body or even just my face on a blog post or on the cover/inside of my hypothetical cookbook. 

in general, my vision would be to combine recipes with some kind of framework that communicates more gentle nutrition tips, as i am aware that while many people on this planet need to lose weight and the aggressive approach of certain fitness coaches online may yield great results for some people, it can also aggravate mental symptoms in others as nutrition is not just scientific and objective - it's also subjective, emotional, and psychological. so i'd like my recipes to be framed by that kind of compassionate approach and include tips on how to have a healthy relationship with food etc. (which i don't have yet).

 

anyway, i don't know if i can realistically do this with the current body image and disordered eating challenges at hand that i am facing in my personal life. i also assume it might be quite embarrassing to try this kind of thing, if people who know me find out about it.

i'm also not sure to what extent this kind of domain presupposes i'd have to start making videos for YouTube/Instagram, if i'd want my cookbook or blog to be successful.

by the way, i also do not have the slightest idea how to start a blog in the first place - if anybody knows, fire away:)

[UnbornTao]

By all means, go ahead and start one! It sounds like it is something you really want to do, so why overthink it?

It's relatively easy to set up a blog using tools like WordPress, and it will help expand your comfort zone, even if you take small steps each day.

It depends on how you want to go about it. I'd get a domain name via Namecheap, host it on DreamHost or a similar hosting site, install WordPress, choose a template you like, and post your first video on YouTube. Get it out there as soon as possible, knowing that your first videos aren't going to be technically excellent. Nobody's are at the beginning. Over time, your skills will improve, and the very act of learning as you go is worth it.

Edited yesterday at 05:20 PM by UnbornTao

[Judy2]

@UnbornTao

would i make money with that kind of blog?

can i make YT videos without showing my face in them?

or maybe in that case it's easier to start with instagram + a blog, if i want to avoid showing my face?

Edited yesterday at 03:22 PM by Judy2

[UnbornTao]

2 minutes ago, Judy2 said:

@UnbornTao

would i make money with that kind of blog?

can i make YT videos without showing my face in them?

or maybe in that case it's easier to start with instagram + a blog, if i want to avoid showing my face?

As far as I know, there are popular "faceless" cooking channels, some of which are likely profitable. 

It depends on your purpose and goals. Since you said you enjoy cooking, what do you have to lose? You can start casually, just sharing your passion, and once you start developing an audience, you could begin thinking like an entrepreneur or businesswoman who wants to monetize it.

You could use an AI voice, or better yet, your own voiceovers to guide viewers through the recipes and other content.

Regarding the money aspect, I personally don't know. It's not a guarantee, but it's definitely doable. You're probably already familiar with a few channels, Instagram accounts, and people who make money in this industry in one way or another. Doable doesn't mean easy, but it is definitely possible.

It doesn't have to be complicated at the beginning. If you want, you can just create an Instagram account now, pick a recipe, and post a video about it. Step by step. Learn as you go. 

[CARDOZZO]

No worries about a faceless YT channel.

This subway employee makes money just recording himself making sandwiches.

They call it POV channel.

 

Edited 17 hours ago by CARDOZZO

[Joshe]

15 hours ago, UnbornTao said:

I'd get a domain name via Namecheap

Cloudflare is cheaper for domain names because they don’t price gouge on renewals and they offer free whois privacy and SSL. Plus, they have free DNS and your site is way faster with their CDN, and more secure because they have free bot fight mode and lots of other stuff. It’s crazy what you get for $10/yr. 

@Judy2, some of the best cooking channels I’ve ever seen are faceless. It’s like ASMR cooking. Many of them have millions of subscribers. I’ll see if I can find them. 

[Leo Gura]

16 hours ago, Judy2 said:

would i make money with that kind of blog?

No.

If you want to make money you should focus on YT, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. Create content for those platforms and link back to your website/blog for sales.

A blog will not get traffic on its own. You gotta bring the traffic to it from elsewhere.

Edited 13 hours ago by Leo Gura

[Xonas Pitfall]

16 hours ago, Judy2 said:

@UnbornTao

would i make money with that kind of blog?

can i make YT videos without showing my face in them?

or maybe in that case it's easier to start with instagram + a blog, if i want to avoid showing my face?

This is absolutely possible. I just think it needs a more business-focused approach.

First, you need to define the “avatar”, the exact person this book or recipe collection is for. Who are they? For example:

• People trying to overcome a specific health condition
• Busy moms who want high-protein meals with very few ingredients
• Beginners who want simple, structured meal plans

You could also expand beyond just the book. An online course or community could work really well, with digital recipe products hosted on platforms like Skool https://www.skool.com/ or Whop https://whop.com/. Or you could focus purely on digital products and sell through platforms like Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ or Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/. Publishing through Amazon Kindle is another solid option.

The key is to really clarify the value and need your book is solving. What specific problem are you helping with? Once that is clear, you can double down on content, especially on YouTube, and learn how to capture attention effectively.

Creators like Alex Hormozi https://www.youtube.com/@AlexHormozi, Dan Koe https://www.youtube.com/@DanKoeTalks, and William Brown https://www.youtube.com/@willia_mbrown share awesome insights on business principles, personal branding, and product-market fit.

You are building a one-person business or personal brand. That means you need to think about exposure, audience building, content strategy, and creating a product that truly fits the market. The more valuable content you create for your ideal customer, the more exposure you gain. And the better your product solves their problem, the stronger your results will be. Marketing will likely drive a large portion of your sales, sometimes even more than the product itself, although the product quality still matters deeply.

You can absolutely do it! 

A strong first move would be to find people on social media who are already doing what you plan to do. Strategic imitation in the beginning can accelerate growth significantly. Maybe these?

https://www.youtube.com/@ChefJackOvens/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@EthanChlebowski

If you go slightly more “mainstream” but position it clearly, something like a “women’s guide to high-protein meal prep”, you could stand out. Surprisingly, there’s still less targeted content on YouTube in that niche than you’d expect, especially content that feels aesthetic, practical, and beginner-friendly at the same time. You can study what is already performing well in similar niches and replicate their most popular video formats, titles, and hooks to get momentum in the beginning.

You do not need to show your face, but if you choose to stay faceless then the visuals, editing, and overall cooking shots need to be engaging and satisfying enough to hold attention. If there is no personality on camera, the pacing, clarity, and presentation become the main hook. So I’d say that if you’re not relying on face or personality-driven content, then investing in a solid camera and good audio becomes really important.

[Judy2]

38 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

A blog will not get traffic on its own. You gotta bring the traffic to it from elsewhere.

yes i'm aware of that. but once i get the traffic there, is it just people visiting the website that brings in money or do i also have to sell something?

 

my dad's colleague sells cookbooks on amazon and i can ask him for advice.

[Judy2]

do i need to get a camera and a microphone? that's kind of intimidating to me.

do i have to make some subscriptions to programmes or applications i can use for cutting videos, formatting blog/cookbook pages etc.?

[Judy2]

28 minutes ago, Xonas Pitfall said:

This is absolutely possible. I just think it needs a more business-focused approach.

First, you need to define the “avatar”, the exact person this book or recipe collection is for. Who are they? For example:

• People trying to overcome a specific health condition
• Busy moms who want high-protein meals with very few ingredients
• Beginners who want simple, structured meal plans

You could also expand beyond just the book. An online course or community could work really well, with digital recipe products hosted on platforms like Skool https://www.skool.com/ or Whop https://whop.com/. Or you could focus purely on digital products and sell through platforms like Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ or Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/. Publishing through Amazon Kindle is another solid option.

The key is to really clarify the value and need your book is solving. What specific problem are you helping with? Once that is clear, you can double down on content, especially on YouTube, and learn how to capture attention effectively.

Creators like Alex Hormozi https://www.youtube.com/@AlexHormozi, Dan Koe https://www.youtube.com/@DanKoeTalks, and William Brown https://www.youtube.com/@willia_mbrown share awesome insights on business principles, personal branding, and product-market fit.

You are building a one-person business or personal brand. That means you need to think about exposure, audience building, content strategy, and creating a product that truly fits the market. The more valuable content you create for your ideal customer, the more exposure you gain. And the better your product solves their problem, the stronger your results will be. Marketing will likely drive a large portion of your sales, sometimes even more than the product itself, although the product quality still matters deeply.

You can absolutely do it! 

A strong first move would be to find people on social media who are already doing what you plan to do. Strategic imitation in the beginning can accelerate growth significantly. Maybe these?

https://www.youtube.com/@ChefJackOvens/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@EthanChlebowski

If you go slightly more “mainstream” but position it clearly, something like a “women’s guide to high-protein meal prep”, you could stand out. Surprisingly, there’s still less targeted content on YouTube in that niche than you’d expect, especially content that feels aesthetic, practical, and beginner-friendly at the same time. 

if i had to answer spontaneously, i'd say my "niche" would be to unite insights on gentle/positive nutrition and mental health in a holistic way.

it's kind of weird but viewers seem to like it when people narrate something that seems a little off topic during these videos, so it could work.

i'm still worried about the emotional strain it may put om me though, bit maybe i can just try one step at a time.

i may also invest in a 6 month programme to become a certified nutritionist in the next few months....so maybe that can be combined nicely. but i still need to find out if that certification is legit and worth the money. or i'll just do it and stop overthinking.

it still doesn't sit right with me to do all that marketing though. i think that could be triggering as hell.

Edited 12 hours ago by Judy2

[Joseph Maynor]

What kind of food do you like?  I cook myself.  

[Leo Gura]

26 minutes ago, Judy2 said:

is it just people visiting the website that brings in money or do i also have to sell something?

You have to sell something. It doesn't have to be your own product, you can sell someone else's products through affiliate links.

[LastThursday]

@Judy2 not to glamourise eating disorders, but someone having a cooking channel with an ED could be inspiring to lots of people in the same position. A USP of sorts, the human interest angle could work in your favour.

You absolutely don't have to show your face or use your voice, plenty of YT channels without either, for example.

1 hour ago, Judy2 said:

i'm still worried about the emotional strain it may put om me though, bit maybe i can just try one step at a time.

Just be conscious from the outset and throughout that it may get emotional. Sometimes staring at pain directly in the face is the best way to overcome it. Go with your instincts.

[Judy2]

13 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

@Judy2 not to glamourise eating disorders, but someone having a cooking channel with an ED could be inspiring to lots of people in the same position. A USP of sorts, the human interest angle could work in your favour.

yes i get that.

 

maybe i can save the videos for later though, and begin by working on a book/e-book/recipe blog and sharing pictures on instagram. start with the easy part as that'll be messy enough to figure out in the beginning anyway. can't do it all at once.

[UnbornTao]

10 hours ago, Joshe said:

Cloudflare is cheaper for domain names because they don’t price gouge on renewals and they offer free whois privacy and SSL. Plus, they have free DNS and your site is way faster with their CDN, and more secure because they have free bot fight mode and lots of other stuff. It’s crazy what you get for $10/yr. 

Even better, then. I'll have to look into that.

@Judy2 There's also the option of Substack, which coincidentally just added recipe embeds in beta version.

Adding this channel as an example:

 

Edited 2 hours ago by UnbornTao

[CARDOZZO]

I literally know people who have their own websites using only Notion as infrastructure/front-end.

You can publish your notes as a web page.

[Judy2]

7 minutes ago, CARDOZZO said:

I literally know people who have their own websites using only Notion as infrastructure/front-end.

You can publish your notes as a web page.

yeah i'm working on that as a first step:) already reached out to a friend and my above-mentioned dad's colleague to ask alll the questions.

[Joshe]

Check out these channels to get a sense for what would go into production of cooking videos without narration:

https://www.youtube.com/@cookingeveryday

https://www.youtube.com/@cookrate-meatdelish2320

https://www.youtube.com/@michaelandthekitchen.subsc2619

There are tons of successful channels like this. If I were you, I'd find as many as I could and study their production and marketing techniques. I recall seeing one that would was selling their own custom designed cookware at the end of the video, and it was pretty cool. That's just one way you could make money. I definitely wouldn't be trying to sell other people's products though, because you won't make a lot of money that route without a ton of viewers. 

You'll have a very hard time getting eyeballs if all you do is a blog and sharing images. You'd need to strategically grind out high quality videos.

I would mostly focus on Youtube and social media and I'd link to the full recipe on your blog, which gives you the opportunity to capture email addresses. 

If I were going to do this, I'd get several cameras and mics strategically set up around my cooking area and start experimenting with that early on. Ideally, I'd want my kitchen to be a like a studio that I didn't have to disassemble after every video. 

You might want to figure out which angles are best for stuff like cracking eggs, whisking, how you add spices, etc. Basically, flesh out the style and common patterns early so you're not always analyzing every little detail. 

It's a big project, but it would be interesting.