How To Start a Nutrition Blog in 11 Easy Steps

Thinking about diving into the world of nutrition blogging? You’re onto something deliciously profitable.

With the ever-growing focus on health, dieting, and well-being, there’s never been a better time to turn your food smarts into a revenue-generating blog.

Here at Authority Hacker, we’ve mentored over 15,000 students on their journey to creating lucrative blogs — many of which are thriving in the nutrition niche.

We also have over a decade of experience earning money from our blogging endeavors. Here’s a small taste of the affiliate commissions we’ve collected:

To help you build your own successful nutrition blog, we’ve packed our years of blogging expertise into this step-by-step guide.

Why Start a Nutrition Blog

There are many great reasons to start a nutrition blog.

Most important is the niche’s earning potential. Nutrition blogs can earn money by selling meal plans, displaying ads, and recommending supplements, recipe books, and other items.

In fact, our affiliate marketing statistics show that the average food & nutrition blog earns $3,015 per month.

To add to this, the demand for nutrition content is high in a world where 52% of people follow a specific diet.

Case in point: Half of Americans say they try to eat healthy. There’s also more interest in the hundreds of different diet types, from Atkins to Paleo to carb cycling.

Nutrition blogging also lets you share your food knowledge and connect with health enthusiasts.

Examples of Successful Nutrition Blogs

For inspiration, check out these examples of successful nutrition blogs:

Eat This, Not That!

The self-proclaimed “leading authority in food, nutrition, and health,” Eat This, Not That! is a nutrition blog that covers recipes, weight loss tactics, and food selection tips. The content is fact-checked by board-certified specialists.

Visit the site

Love and Lemons

Love and Lemons is a go-to source for learning how to use fruits and veggies to create delicious, health-conscious recipes.

Visit the site

Precision Nutrition

Precision Nutrition writes content primarily for fitness and nutrition experts. It shares tips on helping clients and gives tips for losing weight and boosting athletic performance with food.

Visit the site

How To Start a Nutrition Blog in 10 Steps

Let’s cover the 10 steps needed to launch your nutrition blog.

1 Narrow Down Your Nutrition Niche

The nutrition niche is quite broad. While you can technically publish content about a wide array of nutrition topics, zeroing in on a sub-niche is the best option.

If someone is looking for advice on avoiding sugar, they’d prefer a blog that only covers sugar-free foods. A generalist nutrition blog that covers a wide variety of topics — but doesn’t go into depth on any of them — will seem less trustworthy.

Here are a few example nutrition sub-niches to get your creative juices flowing:

• 5-Ingredient Recipes: Share quick-and-easy meals for those on a budget
• Keto Diet: Share recipes, tips, and calculators to live a keto lifestyle
• Dieting for Weight Loss: Advice for losing weight healthily and safely
• Sports Nutrition: Explain the supplements and macros that athletes need
• Intermittent Fasting: Tips and tricks for following an intermittent fasting schedule

You’ll have to balance what interests you and its potential to rank and earn money. If nobody is searching for the topic, you won’t see many visitors — or make much money.

That’s why you must find a sub-niche with two key features: traffic and earning potential.

Here’s the process for finding a profitable sub-niche:

Make a list of other blogs in each niche. Blog aggregator tools like Feedspot will list top-performing blogs. You can also use Google search and the “Organic Competitors” feature on Ahrefs to build your list.

Analyze traffic levels. Traffic is one of the best indicators of a successful blog. With your list of similar sites, start a free trial with SE Ranking. Plug each site into the Competitive Research module to see their organic traffic.

Compare niches using Google Trends. You can also enter your top sub-niche choices into Google Trends to compare their traffic potential.

If you’re still in need of inspiration, watch our video on choosing a niche:

Don’t get too caught up in selecting the perfect niche. Take a few days to consider it, but then decide and move on. It’s better to choose something and keep moving than to get stuck in constant analysis.

2 Choose a Blogging Platform

Now that you’ve selected a blog topic, it’s time to choose a platform.

A blogging platform is a service that lets you create, manage, and publish content online.

Many bloggers use popular platforms like Medium and Blogger. While these are beginner-friendly and free, they have major downsides:

• It’s hard to make money.
• The platforms decide what you can blog about.
• You have little control over your blog’s design and functionality, which poses issues for branding and how users experience your site.

I recommend starting a website over using a pre-existing platform, as it has some compelling benefits:

• You have complete control of your site’s design and what you publish.
• Nobody can delete your website’s content or shut it down.
• It’s easier to monetize with display ads and affiliate products.
• You can leverage social media and search engine optimization to drive organic traffic.
• You can build an email list to diversify your traffic, which protects you from Google algorithm changes.

I recommend using WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com) to build your site.

WordPress.org is a self-hosting platform and 100% free. It also has more avenues for monetization, gives you total control over customization, and has many plugins and themes to choose from.

Of course, it’s not the only choice. If you want to compare WordPress.org to similar platforms, check out our article on the best blogging platforms for earning money.

3 Choose Your Domain Name

Next, you’ll decide on a domain name.

A domain name is an address that allows users to find your site. Domain names have two parts: the domain name (i.e., authorityhacker) and a domain name extension — .com, .net, .org, etc.

Your domain name is a reader’s first interaction with your brand. So, you want to choose a name that’s memorable and matches your niche.

Keep the following in mind when choosing a domain name:

• Create a .com domain. .com domains provide trust, credibility, and familiarity. You can consider some .com alternatives if you have a great name with an unavailable .com.
• Make it relevant. Choose a creative name related to your niche. For example, a plant-based food blogger may use “plantbasedpalate.com” or “veggiecravings.com.” 
• The fewer words, the better. Cap your domain name at three words. Avoid hyphens and numbers.
• Avoid trademark and copyright issues. Use a trademark search tool to ensure you aren’t using trademarked phrases.
• Choose a broad name. Give yourself room to expand to other nutrition topics.

You can also use AI domain generators like Brandsnap. This tool can help you brainstorm creative and available domain names.

Once you’ve selected a name, it’s time to claim it. The easiest and cheapest way is through Namecheap, which costs ~$10 per year

4 Buy Web Hosting

With your domain name chosen, you can select a blog hosting provider.

A web host is a service that provides the infrastructure needed to store, manage, and make your blog’s content accessible.

Many bloggers choose Bluehost for hosting because it’s cheap. However, I recommend SiteGround. You get a much faster and more reliable service for a slightly higher price.

Here’s how to get hosting through SiteGround:

Step 1: Visit Siteground’s WordPress hosting page.

Step 2: Select the cheapest option — the “StartUp” plan. This plan is the simplest and most beginner-friendly.

Step 3: Choose the “I already have a Domain” option and enter your domain.

Step 4: Enter your account and client information.

Step 5: Select a package length. You can secure a better deal with the 12-month duration. Note that the discounted rate ends after your first year.

Step 6: Since this is a new blog, you can skip any “Extra Services” for now.

Step 7: Point your domain toward Siteground by changing your DNS settings.

Congratulations! You just secured hosting for your blog.

5 Choose a Theme for Your Nutrition Blog

Your theme is how you’ll bring your blog to life visually.

Themes are pre-designed blog frameworks. Many themes come with pre-made templates that you can customize. You can also change design elements like widgets, colors, and buttons.        

Think of your theme as a visual representation of your brand. A crisp and simplistic theme would mesh with a vegetarian food blog. And a biohacking blog would benefit from a futuristic theme.

I recommend choosing a theme that’s free with an optional premium upgrade.

Free themes without an upgrade option will work early on. However, they also lack the features you’ll need as your blog expands. You’ll eventually need to upgrade to a premium theme, which could mean a complex theme change later.

My favorite themes are Astra, Kadence, and GeneratePress. All three are easy to use and have many pre-made designs.

After downloading your theme, you’ll need to upload it to your site.

Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Go to your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: In the left sidebar, select “Appearances” and then “Themes.”

Step 3: Click the “Add New” button.

Step 4: Enter your theme in the search bar and click “Activate.”

With your theme installed, you can begin building and designing your blog.

6 Decide on Design & Branding

Branding is all about first impressions. It’s how users remember your website. It also creates consistency across your online handles and makes your brand more credible.

There are two key branding components: a color palette and a logo.

You should choose a color scheme that fits the topic of your blog. For example, use fresh, vibrant colors for a weight loss blog. Shades of green would be an easy choice for a vegan blog.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert in color theory to choose a harmonious palette! You can use Coolors — one of the best color palette generators online.

Select the “Start the generator!” button to create a mix of colors that mesh well. Then, tweak the shades to your liking.

Next, you’ll create a logo.

Your logo will tell your brand’s story. A distinct, memorable logo is easy to recognize, even without your brand name.

My favorite logo creator tool is Canva. Just type “nutrition logo” in the Canva search bar. It’ll pull up thousands of logo designs to choose from.

Experiment with templates until you find one that matches your brand’s voice. Don’t forget to edit it to add your site’s name and colors!

7 Create Essential Pages

Next, you’ll begin building your site’s framework. Every blog needs these four essential pages.

Homepage

The homepage is the main entry point on your site. This is where readers will learn about your brand and find the content they’re looking for.

About Page

This is where you’ll connect with your readers on a personal level. Here, you’ll go into more detail about your blog’s inspiration. You can talk about your nutrition experience, your favorite recipes, or your site’s mission.

Contact Page

This is where readers can learn how to get in touch. This page should include an email address, social media links, and a contact form.

Privacy Policy + Terms and Conditions.

These pages will cover you legally by outlining the information you’ll collect from users and how people can use your site. You can generate them for free on PrivacyPolicies.com.

To create a new WordPress page, select “Pages” in the left sidebar. Then, click “Add New.”

8 Start Creating Content

The housekeeping tasks are out of the way. Now, you’re ready to begin writing!

If you want to drive traffic to your blog, creating keyword-focused content is your best bet. This strategy involves writing content about phrases that users search for on Google.

Because people are searching for these phrases, there’s already an established audience.

A well-written post on these topics will rank on search engines and generate organic traffic. More traffic potential also means more monetization opportunities.

The best keywords to target will be low competition with decent monthly search volume.

The more traffic a keyword gets, the more sites compete to rank for it. A new blog will have difficulty ranking for high-traffic keywords, as the biggest names in the niche have already written about it.

By choosing keywords hitting these points, you have a better chance of ranking. It also confirms enough interest in the topic to rank quickly and see traffic.

Ahrefs is one of the best SEO tools for finding keywords.

Just open the Ahrefs Keyword Explorer. Then, enter a “seed keyword” to create a list of relevant keywords.

If you plug “intermittent fasting” into Ahrefs, for example, you’ll come up with these terms:

Keyword	Search Volume	Keyword Difficulty
Can you drink smoothies while intermittent fasting	150	0
Best toothpaste for intermittent fasting	30	0
Does butter break intermittent fasting	30	0
Best books about intermittent fasting	30	0
Intermittent fasting on vacation	20	0

We already have a few potential article ideas from this list:

• 7 Best Toothpaste Brands for Intermittent Fasting
• Intermittent Fasting on Vacation: The Ultimate Guide
• 10 Best Books About Intermittent Fasting

You’ll use this strategy to come up with your first ten blog posts. Once you have ten ready, you can begin writing your first blog post!

Here are eight tips to guide you when writing SEO-optimized, educational posts:

• Create a logical flow of information. Content should match the keyword’s search intent and begin with the most important information. Structure each post as an upside-down pyramid.
• Add anecdotes and evidence. Readers want to know that you’re telling the truth. Share real-world stories to add context, such as how much weight you lost with a diet.
• Use supplemental visuals. Add images of meals, step-by-step recipe videos, or tables with nutritional content.
• Be clear and concise. Avoid being too wordy. Try to rephrase complex topics into layman’s terms.
• Cite and refer to reputable niche sources. Back claims with links to trusted sources, like the CDC or NIH.
• Speak directly to your audience. Connect with readers’ pain points. Use the first person (“I,” “me,” “mine”), and speak to them like they’re a friend or neighbor.
• Add disclaimers where appropriate. Add disclaimers encouraging readers to talk to their doctor before significantly changing their diet.
• Recommend alternatives. Consider allergies, limited equipment, or medical issues.

My golden rule? Be as helpful and detailed as possible without veering off into the weeds.  

9 Optimize Content for YMYL and EEAT

Many topics within the nutrition space are YMYL — “Your Money or Your Life.” This means that the concepts you cover could impact a reader’s health. Google’s quality rater guidelines state that they hold posts about those topics to a higher standard.

YMYL can be traced back to Google’s 2018 Medic Update, which hit sites that promoted alternative health ideas or didn’t have authors with proper credentials. Two examples of sites that lost traffic are Dr. Axe and WellnessMama.

To stay on Google’s good side, you must consider whether a keyword is YMYL. Here are some examples of each type:

Non-YMYL keywords:

• Best fruits for smoothies
• How to make a banana milkshake
• Vegetable salad recipes

YMYL keywords:

• Weight loss for diabetes patients
• Nutritional supplements for heart health
• Effects of gluten on autoimmune diseases

If you’re writing a YMYL post or focusing on a YMYL niche, these tips can help you cover your bases:

• Publish evidence-based posts and back up your claims with citations from Google Scholar and other reputable sources.
• Hire someone with the proper medical credentials to write or review your content. Ensure you list them on your website as an author or reviewer.
• Follow proper EEAT Guidelines. EEAT is an acronym that stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust. Google uses these metrics to determine how trustworthy your site is.

Watch our video to learn more about optimizing your blog for EEAT:

If you’re new to nutrition blogging, I recommend starting with non-YMYL topics, as YMYL keywords are typically harder to rank for.

10 Promote Your Nutrition Blog

Most users will hear about your blog through search engines. However, it’ll take a while to rank on Google. To kickstart things, you should promote your blog through other avenues.

Here are some promotional methods to expand your reach:

• Create content on a visual social media platform. The nutrition niche has plenty of visual potential. Share recipes on Pinterest, create YouTube videos, or post pictures on Instagram.
• Launch nutrition challenges. Encourage readers to join challenges, such as a “30 days of clean eating” challenge. Ask them to share their results or feedback on social media.
• Share testimonials and success stories. If you sell products, ask readers to send in before-and-after photos or leave reviews. Share these publically to inspire others.
• Attend a local health fair. Many towns host health fairs. Ask to set up a booth and offer freebies like recipes or a free workshop.
• Send out a weekly newsletter. Provide email subscribers with a weekly healthy eating tip, recipe, or app recommendation.

Remember to be thoughtful in your promotional strategies. Don’t spam low-quality content just to get your name in front of people. Prioritize giving helpful advice and making genuinely good content.

11 Monetize Your Nutrition Blog

You’ve worked hard to get to this point. Now, it’s time to earn some money from your hard work!

Here are three effective ways to monetize a nutrition blog:

Affiliate Marketing

Promote supplements, courses, and other nutrition products from brands you love. You’ll earn a commission when users follow your link and buy something.

Why It’s Great: You recommend good products and earn money on each referred sale.

Where to Start: Check out our guide to getting started with affiliate marketing and view our list of the best nutrition affiliate programs.

Display Ads

Join an advertising network to display ads on your site. Every time a user interacts with an ad on your blog, you’ll earn money.

Why It’s Great: You can earn money just by driving traffic to your website.

Where to Start: Ezoic is a good option for beginners. It doesn’t earn as much as other providers like Mediavine and Raptive, but they don’t have a minimum traffic threshold to join.

Selling Your Own Products

Products can range from custom diet plans to cookbooks. You can also offer nutritional counseling, workshops, or seminars.

Why It’s Great: You earn even more revenue per product sold. It also provides readers with products that benefit them.

Where to Start: Consider the types of products your readers will need.

Summing Up

From selecting a sub-niche to monetizing your blog, we’ve covered the necessary steps to set you on the path to nutrition blog success. But this is just the beginning of building a great blog.

Blogging, affiliate marketing, and SEO are fields that are constantly evolving. Even if you’ve been in the game for a while, there’s always something new to learn to stay ahead of the curve.

That’s precisely why we’ve developed a free training designed to supercharge your blog growth. This training reveals seven game-changing strategies that could amplify your blog’s trajectory by as much as 83%.

So, if you’re committed to turning your nutrition blog into a profitable venture, this is your next logical step.

Join the free training now.