How I Grew My Food Blog: Interview with Lindsay from Pinch of Yum

A few months ago I discovered the food blog Pinch of Yum and wondered why I hadn’t found it sooner. Lindsay’s blog features beautiful food photography and approachable, healthy recipes. Recently she shared a Garlic Parmesan Chicken Lasagna Bake that perfectly illustrates her style: comforting, well-styled, and recipe-driven.

Pinch of Yum

I’m currently working on another post about food photography, and Lindsay’s images come up repeatedly as examples. Her photographs are consistently polished and inspiring. She has even published an ebook called Tasty Food Photography that shares her techniques — something I’m eager to read next. (A small note to family: that would make a great birthday present.)

Beyond recipes and photos, I discovered an “Income” section on the blog where Lindsay’s husband, Bjork, posts monthly breakdowns of the blog’s revenue, traffic, and strategies. Seeing transparent reports from a successful food blog was incredibly useful. I learned about advertising, analytics, and what tactics were producing results. Those insights encouraged me to experiment on my own site, and several changes have paid off.

Even better, Bjork launched Food Blogger Pro, a resource and community aimed at helping food bloggers grow their sites. The service covers practical topics like ads, traffic, analytics, and design. It’s a valuable resource for anyone serious about building an online food brand.

I appreciate bloggers who share knowledge and invest time helping others. Lindsay kindly answered a few of my questions about how Pinch of Yum grew and how they run their blog. Here’s a summary of what she shared.

Why did you decide to start a food blog?

Lindsay started sharing recipes on Facebook but didn’t want to keep posting the same content to friends’ feeds, so she created a blog. She admits feeling unsure at first, but Bjork encouraged her, saying no special expertise was required to begin. That support helped her take the leap.

What photography equipment is essential? Any lighting tips for low-light situations?

For Lindsay, a good background is essential; she uses reclaimed wood boards from a market table picked up in the Philippines. She also relies on artificial light when natural light isn’t available, using a Lowell EGO Digital Imaging Lamp during winter or busy times. Those tools help keep her images consistent year-round.

Was there a single post that sparked growth for Pinch of Yum?

One early post, Healthy Sweet Potato Skins, was picked up and pinned by a highly followed Pinterest user. That exposure produced a noticeable spike in traffic and helped the blog reach new audiences. While not an instant overnight success, that moment acted as a catalyst for future growth.

How do you handle growth plateaus?

Traffic often rises, plateaus for a while, then jumps to a new level. Lindsay recommends making content available on multiple platforms to find new readers. Expanding into different channels and consistently reaching fresh audiences helps shorten plateaus and sustain growth.

How do you and Bjork divide responsibilities as the blog grew?

Bjork began helping with the business side about a year and a half into the blog. As the site started to generate comparable income to their day jobs, they committed more time. Lindsay focuses on recipe development, photography, writing, social media, and product creation, working roughly 30–40 hours per week. Bjork manages ads, affiliate programs, and technical maintenance. They divide tasks based on strengths, which allows them to collaborate effectively.

What single piece of advice would you give new food bloggers?

Do it for the love of it. You shouldn’t start with expectations of instant fame or riches. Be bold, creative, and enjoy the process. If you love the work and are willing to put in the effort, monetization and growth can follow. Even if they don’t, you’ll have spent time doing something meaningful and enjoyable — a worthwhile outcome in itself.