Welcome back to Set Up Your Food Blog series! In the last post, you stepped inside your WordPress dashboard for the first time — like walking into a brand‑new kitchen with empty counters and endless possibilities.
Now it’s time to decorate your space.
If you haven’t chosen a hosting plan yet, this is your first step. Hosting platform is where your food blog will live. I personally use Bluehost, read more on why I recommend it to other food bloggers.
👉 Start your blog with Bluehost here
Once you do the paperwork to pick a plan that suits you, the following steps simply walks you through a super easy setup with WordPress.
This stage is all about:
- adjusting your WordPress settings
- installing your first theme
- choosing a design that matches your cooking style
- making your blog feel like you
Think of this as choosing your kitchen layout and décor before you start cooking. Nothing complicated. Just simple, beginner‑friendly steps.
📣 Please note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Think of it as a tiny thank‑you for sharing my favorite culinary finds. Your support truly means a lot.
Step 1: Update Your Basic WordPress Settings
Before you decorate anything, let’s make sure your foundation is set up properly. Inside your WordPress dashboard, go to: Settings → General
Here’s what to update:
- Site Title
This is your blog name — the one you chose in the last post. - Tagline
A short description of what your blog is about. Example: Easy Italian‑inspired Baking. - Time Zone
Set it to your local time so your posts publish correctly. - Admin Email
Make sure it’s one you check often.
Step 2: Set Your Permalinks (Important for SEO!)
This one tiny step helps search engines understand your content better.
Inside WordPress dashboard, go to: Settings → Permalinks → Post name
It gives you clean, SEO‑friendly URLs like: yourblog.com/recipe-name
Instead of: yourblog.com/?p=123
Step 3: Install Your First Theme
A theme is a pre‑designed template that gives your blog structure and style. It controls how your blog looks — the layout, colors, fonts, and overall vibe.
Here’s what matters the most when looking for a food blog theme:
✔ Mobile‑Friendly – Most readers browse recipes on their phones while cooking.
✔ Clean Layout – Avoid clutter. Choose a theme that makes your recipes easy to read.
✔ Recipe Plugin Compatibility – Make sure it works well with plugins like WP Recipe Maker or Tasty Recipes.
✔ Customization Options – You want flexibility without needing code.
✔ Fast Loading – Speed matters — for SEO and for hungry readers.
Here are a few beginner‑friendly themes that work well for a food blog:
| Theme | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Ashe | Clean, elegant, easy to customize |
| Foodica Lite | Designed for food blogs with recipe card support |
| Kale | Minimalist, mobile‑friendly |
| Neve | Fast, flexible, beginner‑friendly |
| Bento | Highly customizable with drag‑and‑drop options |
To look for themes, go to your dashboard: Appearance → Themes → Add New
Search using keywords like:
- “food blog”
- “recipe”
- “minimal”
- “clean”
Click Preview to see how it looks.
Click Install → Activate when you find one you love.
💡 Don’t overthink this. You can always change your theme or upgrade to a premium theme later.
Step 4: Customize Your Theme
Now the fun part — decorating your online space. This is where your personality starts to shine.
You’re not building anything from scratch — you’re just choosing what feels right to match your vibe.
To start customizing, go to your WP dashboard: Appearance → Customize
Here’s what you can adjust:
- logo, colors, and fonts
- homepage layout and menu
- header image and sidebar widgets
Want More Design Control?
If you want to go beyond basic customization, try:
- Elementor — drag‑and‑drop design
- Kadence Blocks — lightweight and flexible
- Beaver Builder — great for beginners
These tools let you design your blog like a pro — without touching code.
Look at you — you’ve gone from logging into WordPress to customizing your blog’s look and feel. This is where your creativity meets your cooking style.
Your blog is slowly becoming a space that reflects your culture, flavors, voice, and your story
And you’re doing it without tech overwhelm.
What’s Next in the Series?
Now that your settings and theme are ready, it’s time to add the tools that make your blog functional.
👉 Next up: The Essential Plugins Every Food Blog Needs (Recipe cards, SEO tools, speed boosters — all beginner‑friendly.)
👉 Previous post: Your First Steps Inside WordPress
When I was setting up my own food blog, I struggled to keep my real kitchen running too. Between testing recipes, writing, and learning, it felt like I was juggling two kitchens at once.
That’s exactly why I created a DIY Meal Planner — to help stay organized while building a blog without burning out. It’s simple, printable, and perfect to keep both kitchens alive.
👉 Grab your DIY Meal Planner here (It’s Free)
👉 Start your blog with Bluehost here
