Jessica in the Kitchen

Frequently Asked Questions

Hey There! I’ve put together a list of questions that I’ve been asked over and over by readers and people I know in real life and which are also one of the first set of questions new people tend to ask me when they find out that I’m a healthy vegetarian food blogger. I hope that these questions and my responses help you in your own personal journey! If you have additional questions, please feel free to email me at ask@jessicainthekitchen.com !

Why did you start food blogging?

The first time I baked from scratch was at 11 pm one night several years ago when I made chocolate cupcakes. It was an awesome and life altering experience just creating something enjoyable and edible without pre-manufactured ingredients. From there I began to explore cooking and baking every single day and grew to fall completely in love with it, and after being asked by some friends and family members for recipes, I decided to start a food blog to share them. It grew from a hobby I loved into a business that I am incredibly passionate about. My goal today is still to make amazing, well-tested recipes for everyone to try. See my about me page for more information about Jessica in the Kitchen’s purpose.

What did you do before food blogging?

I had a baking business from 2010 to 2013 named Jessiker Bakes where I provided personalised cakes and treats for clients. It was a great success but I realised that I enjoyed creating new and unique creations and happily transitioned into food blogging. I’m also a practicing attorney-at-law.

How do you make money blogging?

Jessica in the Kitchen gets income from ads, affiliate links and sponsored posts. You will always see a disclaimer when there is a sponsored post and I have provided a disclaimer on my sidebar. All opinions provided are always my own and I only work with companies who I believe fit my own personal convictions as well as Jessica in the Kitchen’s readers perfectly. Read my How To Start a Food Blog post to find out more.

I’m trying to eat healthier. What are your tips for eating healthier?

Firstly, I suggested making small changes to your daily diet. Drink more water, at least 8 glasses although I aim to drink half my body weight in fluid ounces. Try to cut out soda if you drink it completely or if you have soda twice a day, cut it down to once and gradually continue until you stop consuming it. Add more veggies and fruits to your diet at every single meal and aim to get fresh ingredients. If it’s a fruit at breakfast, kale at lunch and bell peppers at dinner, that’s a great start. Being mindful of your meals helps a lot so try to avoid the vending machine at work if you work in an office and bring a snack instead so you can hold yourself accountable. Speaking of accountable, I removed ALL unhealthy snacks from the house because if it isn’t there, I can’t eat it! That helps a lot so you aren’t setting yourself up for disappointment. I would also start exercising since I find that when I start my day with exercise, I don’t want to eat anything that would make all that hard work go to waste. I am an enormous yoga fan and I also love doing HIIT workouts. You can see my Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget for more advice. I’ll be coming out with a complete guide for this since it is a wildly popular question that I get.

What do you eat in a regular day?

I get asked this question SO much, but it’s such a fun question! I usually eat about 5 small meals a day, and on the days I’m staying up late I usually have tea and an extra meal. Usually, I have different variations of oatmeal, avocado toast, or a smoothie bowl  for breakfast, for lunch it’s usually a buddha bowl of some sort, and for dinner I like to switch it up a lot: vegan pizza, I make LOTS of veggie burgers  or a classic pasta dish. For snacks I usually have a fruit, or will roast a veggie. I also tend to drink several cups of green tea a day. This is a new habit I started and after day one, I realised that tea is amazing for making you feel not only upbeat but completely zen through a busy day. I usually share what I’m eating on Snapchat: jessinkitchen and Instagram every day, twice a day so be sure to follow me to stay in the know!

What’s your background in food?

I’m 100% self-taught/mom & grandmother taught! Baking and catering for 3 years certainly helped me with time management so I tend to know before starting a meal how long it will take for a reader to make. I’ve read several books, received lessons from chefs, done several food tours and watched endless amounts of documentaries on food and I definitely apply this knowledge to the kitchen daily.

What’s your favourite recipe/type of recipe to make?

This is such a difficult question because isn’t all food just amazing? I do have a love for breakfast foods, and if I had to choose one meal I would have breakfast at every meal for the rest of my life. I particularly love waffles and pancakes and I definitely do not make them enough.

Do you have a cookbook?

I do offer a FREE cookbook to my email subscribers! You can sign up here to receive it:  Subscribe I would love to come out with an eCookbook soon so be on the lookout!

What kind of camera do you use to make your food photography photos?

I shoot with a Canon 7D Mark II and also a Canon T3i with a variety of lens including a  24-70 2.8L II USM Lens100mm macro lens and a 50mm f/1.8 and f/1.4 lens.

Can I use your pictures/recipes on my blog/site?

Sure, as long as a link back is provided and/or proper crediting is given. I do NOT allow complete publication of my recipes unless permission is specifically sought so be sure to email me at ask@jessicainthekitchen.com.