Writer’s Guidelines
Are you an Academy of Culinary Nutrition graduate with something awesome, inspiring, delicious, thought provoking, or interesting to share? We’re ready and waiting!
These are our writer’s guidelines so you understand what we’re looking for and how we can work together.
About the ACN Blog
Our blog posts cover food, cooking and culinary nutrition as it relates to our health. Posts always have a food-first approach (ie featuring foods for specific conditions, culinary skills, meal prep, dietary strategies – all the things you learned in the CNE program!). Lifestyle and other holistic options can be included if relevant but shouldn’t be the main focus of the post.
Generally speaking, blog content you submit to us must be:
- Focused: Keep in mind what you’re saying and why you’re saying it. What do you want your readers to do/try/know?
- Original posts not published elsewhere.
- Referenced, if appropriate – all facts, figures and health claims should be credibly sourced.
- Yours to share!
- Not purely promotional. (Your awesomeness will promote you. Your post can’t be directly selling a product or service.)
As with assignments in the Culinary Nutrition Expert Program, we expect submitted posts to be complete. We will handle the formatting, but it is your responsibility to submit content that has been spellchecked, proofread and edited to a professional standard.
We will work with you if we have questions, if an extra section is needed to round out your post, or provide feedback if additional edits are needed, but posts should be most of the way there.
Blog post submissions are unpaid.
Types of ACN Blog Posts
These are the categories of posts we accept. Take some time to review our blog post categories and the examples below to ensure your idea is a fit before pitching.
1. Original Recipe Posts *MOST IN DEMAND
Recipe posts on the ACN blog are about 400-500 words. There isn’t a set-in-stone formula, but recipe blog posts may include some (or all) of the following:
- information about the culinary nutrition benefits of the ingredients in the recipe (with any links to research/sources)
- any relevant cooking or culinary tips/tricks that are handy to complete the recipe
- what the recipe tastes like and why it’s so yummy!
- storytelling about why you created the recipe
- extra benefits for readers to know about (easy to make, great for lunchboxes, portable, etc.)
- batch prep, storage, ingredient swaps, make-ahead tips, if applicable
Examples
- Garlic Artichoke Dip
- Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Creamy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Noodles
- Healthy Baked Fish and Chips
- Gluten-Free Orange Cake
- Chocolate Almond Oat Bars
- Sweet Potato Brussels Sprouts Salad
Not all of these posts are exactly the same, but in general they give readers information about why that recipe is good for them and why they should consider making it, and creates some excitement about how tasty they are.
2. ‘Best Foods For’ Posts
A post featuring 8-15 best foods that help address a specific health topic or concern. Note: think about adapting your client information package for this kind of post.
Word Count: 1000-1500 words
Examples
- 14 Best Foods for Digestion
- 16 Mood Boosting Foods
- 8 Best Foods for Migraines
- 15 Best Foods for Resilience
- 11 Foods For Better Sleep
3. ‘Ways to Use’ a Specific Ingredient Posts
A post showcasing ways to use a specific ingredient and recipes to try. These posts will also usually explain what an ingredient is and tips for finding/choosing it.
Word Count: 1000-1500 words
Examples
- 20 Ways to Use Ghee in Recipes
- 12 Ways to Use Cabbage
- 12 Ways to Use Miso
- 10 Awesome Uses for Cauliflower Rice
4. Food Guides
These posts are detailed guides to a specific ingredient/food category, including what it is, culinary nutrition benefits and how to use it in recipes.
Word Count: 1000-1500 words
Examples
- Guide to Dark Leafy Greens + How to Use Them
- Culinary Nutrition Chocolate Guide
- Culinary Nutrition Guide to Honey
- Culinary Nutrition Guide to Root Vegetables
5. ‘How To’ Posts
A range of posts that include guidance or advice on culinary skills, choosing products, ingredients, health tips and cooking techniques.
Word Count: 1000-1500 words
Examples
- How to Make Nut and Seed Butter
- How to Cook a Whole Chicken – And Use All Of It
- How to Stick to a Gluten-Free Diet
- How to Eat More Veggies
- How to Brew and Flavour Kombucha
- Baking and Cooking With Tea, Plus Tea Infused Recipes
What we’re looking for right now!
Right now, we’re very interested in original recipes. These help us highlight your work, capture recipe searches and showcase what students learn in the Culinary Nutrition Expert Program. For those of you who are affiliates, this is great content to share with your custom affiliate link.
We also accept posts in the other categories mentioned above if it’s a topic we haven’t covered yet, or if you have a unique culinary skill or knowledge base to teach.
How to Pitch Us a Blog Post Idea
Please pitch your blog post idea directly to Sondi using the following steps.
- Review the blog post sections above and the examples.
- Take a look at the ACN blog to see if we already have a post that covers your idea. If you’re going to pitch on something we’ve already covered, consider another angle and how your post will be different than what we already have, or drill down and get more specific on something we have covered generally.
- Email sondi@culinarynutrition.com with the following details:
- the section you would like to write for
- in a couple of sentences, provide specific details about what your post/recipe will cover
- your proposed deadline of when your post will be complete
Note: If your idea is tied to a specific event/holiday, be sure to pitch us in advance (at least 4 months before the specific event/holiday). For example, don’t reach out to us in December about writing a holiday dessert post. Also, keep the seasons in mind – don’t suggest a pumpkin spice recipe in April.
If you have any questions about this process, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sondi for more details. We look forward to hearing from you!