Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Fahrenkrug. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I had an idea and vision before having children of working from home while raising kids. Prior to getting married I had health issues and was told I can not have kids, and I don’t take the words “I can’t” very well. So I sought holistic healing which included cleaning out my body from harmful chemicals like fake sugars and gluten, which both have effects on hormones. After we got married and the holistic approach were able to conceive naturally. And that was the start of Delightful Mom Food, an online resource for easy healthy gluten-free recipes that are family friendly. I wanted to share all the great healthy recipes like avocado banana oat muffins and blender veggie infused muffins I was making with others!

Everyday I hustled. I researched how to start a blog and did the steps from an ebook I purchased for $20. Then at 4:30am and during my baby’s naps I would work every single day writing content and testing recipes. My income was -$200 for the first few years but I knew it could become a full time job. I had a dream and a vision and a lifestyle I felt deep in my bones exists.

I would write blog posts, take photos, write down goals and milestones to accomplish, and eventually took a side job to be able to purchase a Canon 6D camera which helped take my photos to the next level. I shared on Pinterest, Instagram and anywhere I could. I never stopped even through the ups and downs of blogging. I work with Casey Markee of Media Wyse and have him do website audits to help keep my site on track to grow.

A few years into blogging – with my income in the red – I had been approached by a publishing company. Today I get to help families all over with their health journey and now have 3 cookbooks on Amazon and a blog that makes a full time income.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

So people as me alot “What do you do”? It took a while to figure out how to explain it, but I help families enjoy healthy mealtime again with foods that support wellness and weight loss. Everyone deserves to live a healthy happy life and I do it through food that make you feel good (and with less bloating). Because eating healthy (and gluten-free) should still mean you can eat the good stuff!

I am also a certified health and nutrition life coach and digital online creator. My social media presence is evolving from recipes to now adding an sharing all my favorite products and fashion finds that are affordable. I love every moment of it all! You can find great deals and my favorite finds in my Amazon shop and LTK stores and social media @delightfulmomfood.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

In the world of blogging I think many people are afraid to get started with lack of funding, fear of failure, overwhelm, and the know-how to even do it. My suggestion is to look at someone who does what you want to do and follow their lead.

Luckily as a food blogger there was not too much overhead to get started, but if I had more capital I could have fast-tracked success much quicker. I started my blog with only a few hundred dollars for the website, hosting, and a camera. I just had a click camera in the beginning then a RebelT3i, and eventually upgraded to a Canon 6D. Every penny I made for years I just put back into my business.

I didn’t take a pay check or pay myself anything until I could which was only about $200 when I finally could get out of the red. But I usually wanted to put that $200 right back into my business and buy equipment and photography essentials.

My first check went to a nicer camera because with food, you want great photos. Later I started working for a local magazine and taking food photos for restaurants to save for a better camera. I purchased a Canon 6D for $3000 on a no-interest for a year credit card. Every paycheck went to paying it off that year – and I did. To this day, any extra money goes to bettering my business and myself through audits, equipment, and educating myself in my field. Always invest in yourself and it can start small and grow as you grow.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Twice I watched my yearly income drop in half overnight. And that sucks and is hurtful. But only if you let it destroy you then it will – or you can use it as fuel to get to the next level of your success.

Once in 2018 it happened and again in 2022 from changes in Google. I felt like a failure for my hard work and realized we just need to pivot. Both times I did a website audit to get back on track and I really wanted to start my Amazon store and social media growth and was not sure how. This “pivot” forced me to do that and more opportunities started flowing in from other sources. When I found resilience and a got back to my “never give up” attitude I found the path out of the storms.

It blew my mind how much fun I enjoy being a digital creator along with recipe developer and blogger and hearing reader responses. I have always been a person built on resilience and I think it is just my parents upbringing teaching me to never ever give up. It is so important as a business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://delightfulmomfood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delightfulmomfood/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delightfulmomfood/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Delightful_mom
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@delightfulmomfood
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/delightfulmomfood/ https://www.amazon.com/shop/delightfulmomfood

Image Credits
Danielle Fahrenkrug