My People – Caroline Doucet – East Coast Bloggers Series

Caroline Doucet, of Saint John, New Brunswick, is the first blogger I am featuring in the “My People – East Coast Bloggers” series. Tune in weekly to learn about more bloggers from our region!

Caroline, a registered dietitian, started her blog Unsweetened Caroline in June of 2016. Unsweetened Caroline is a health food blog that focuses on fruit-sweetened treats and easy vegetarian recipes.

Let’s get to know a little more about Caroline!

Where are you from? ​I was born and raised in Moncton, but moved in Saint John in 2016 for my dietetic internship. I’ve been in Saint John since then, working at the hospital as a registered dietitian.

Why did you start a blog?

I stopped eating added sugar in September 2014 as I was struggling with severe cravings. When I stopped eating sugar, I found it difficult to find sugar-free recipes that didn’t involve artificial sweeteners, maple syrup, honey or other sweeteners. To me, that wasn’t free of added sugar. That’s when I started experiencing with my own fruit-sweetened treats.

Before starting my blog, I started sharing my food photography and a few recipes on Instagram. My page quickly grew and I knew I wanted to do more.

I always loved cooking and as a dietitian, I love to promote healthy recipes. Starting a blog was a perfect way for me to share my passion for nutrition, while helping others who are struggling with sugar cravings or others who are trying to limit their sugar intake.

 What is the most rewarding part about being a blogger?

The most rewarding thing to me is sharing my passion with others. Nothing makes me happier than when someone tells me they tried one of my recipes and loved it. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or boring and I find it rewarding to help others lead a healthier lifestyle.

What is it toughest part about being a blogger?

Finding the time. If you’re like me and you have a full-time job, you’ll probably be stuck blogging in the evenings and weekends. That means you need to be motivated, dedicated and passionate!

If you could promote one place within Atlantic Canada, as a destination for someone looking to travel here, where would you recommend they visit?

Fundy National Park! I hiked every single trail in that park and I can’t get enough. There’s something for everyone, from easy to difficult. If you want a challenge, I highly recommend the Fundy Footpath. This 41km backpacking trail is the most challenging, yet rewarding trail you can hike in Atlantic Canada. The trail follows the coast and you’ll get to camp on the beach, hike in the woods, cross rivers, etc. It’s breathtaking!

 If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their blog this month, what would it be?

Quality over quantity. In food blogging, photography is important and the quality of your images makes a big difference. Do your research and practice! It takes time, but trust me, you’ll be rewarded. Also, make sure to test your recipes several times. When your recipes are good and dependable, people will keep coming for more. That may mean you’ll post only once a week or once every two weeks, but it’s better than sharing something people won’t enjoy! Good content is important!