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Recipe Category Documentation

Menu Location: Settings > Content & Marketing > Recipe Category

Access Level: Manager and above

Last Updated: 2026-03-01

Overview

The Recipe Category page allows you to create, manage, and organize the category structure used to classify recipes on your website. Well-organized categories help customers browse and discover recipes based on meal type, cuisine, dietary preferences, cooking method, and seasonality.

Primary Functions:

  • Create and edit recipe categories
  • Organize categories hierarchically (parent/child relationships)
  • Assign display order for category browsing
  • Set category images and descriptions
  • Enable/disable categories for seasonal rotation
  • Track recipe count per category
  • Customize category URLs for SEO

Page Layout

Header Section

  • Add New Category button: Creates new category
  • Search Bar: Find categories by name
  • View Toggle: Tree view (hierarchical) or List view (flat)
  • Sort Options: Alphabetical, by recipe count, by display order

Category List

Displays all categories with columns:

  • Category Name (clickable to edit)
  • Parent Category (if subcategory)
  • Recipe Count - Number of recipes assigned
  • Status - Active or Inactive
  • Display Order - Position in navigation
  • Actions - Edit, Delete, View Recipes buttons

Category Editor (when editing)

  • Basic Information section
  • Parent Category selector (for creating subcategories)
  • Display Settings section
  • SEO Settings section
  • Category Image uploader
  • Save/Delete buttons

Creating Categories

Basic Category Creation

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New Category" button
  2. Enter category name (e.g., "Dinner Recipes")
  3. (Optional) Select parent category if creating subcategory
  4. Write category description (1-2 sentences)
  5. Upload category image (optional but recommended)
  6. Set display order number
  7. Choose status (Active or Inactive)
  8. Click "Save Category"

Required Fields:

  • Category Name (must be unique)
  • Status (Active/Inactive)

Category Naming Best Practices

Good Category Names:

  • Clear and descriptive: "Breakfast Recipes"
  • Customer-friendly language: "Quick Weeknight Dinners"
  • SEO-optimized: "Gluten-Free Recipes"
  • Specific but not too narrow: "Italian Recipes" not "Spaghetti Carbonara Recipes"

Avoid:

  • Vague names: "Miscellaneous", "Other"
  • Overly long names: "Quick and Easy Recipes for Busy Weeknight Dinners Under 30 Minutes"
  • Duplicate names: Check existing categories first
  • Internal jargon: Use customer-facing language

Category Hierarchy

Parent and Child Categories

Purpose of Hierarchy:

  • Organize related categories together
  • Create browsable category navigation
  • Allow broad and specific filtering
  • Improve user experience

Common Hierarchy Examples:

Meal Type Structure:

  • Breakfast Recipes (parent)
  • Eggs & Omelets (child)
  • Pancakes & Waffles (child)
  • Breakfast Breads (child)
  • Smoothies & Bowls (child)

Cuisine Structure:

  • International Recipes (parent)
  • Italian Recipes (child)
  • Mexican Recipes (child)
  • Asian Recipes (child)
  • Mediterranean Recipes (child)

Dietary Structure:

  • Special Diets (parent)
  • Vegetarian Recipes (child)
  • Vegan Recipes (child)
  • Gluten-Free Recipes (child)
  • Paleo Recipes (child)

Creating Subcategories

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New Category"
  2. Enter category name
  3. In "Parent Category" dropdown, select parent
  4. Complete other fields
  5. Save
  6. Subcategory appears nested under parent in tree view

Hierarchy Tips:

  • Limit to 2 levels deep (parent and child only)
  • Don't create too many subcategories (5-8 per parent ideal)
  • Ensure subcategories are mutually exclusive when possible
  • Consider customer browsing patterns

Display Order & Organization

Setting Display Order

Purpose: Control the sequence categories appear in navigation menus and browsing pages.

How It Works:

  • Each category has a display order number
  • Lower numbers appear first (1, 2, 3...)
  • Categories without order number appear last
  • Applies within same hierarchy level

Example Display Order:

  1. Breakfast Recipes (order: 10)
  2. Lunch Recipes (order: 20)
  3. Dinner Recipes (order: 30)
  4. Desserts (order: 40)
  5. Snacks & Appetizers (order: 50)

Ordering Strategy:

  • Use increments of 10 to allow easy insertion later
  • Order by importance or popularity
  • Group related categories together
  • Consider customer journey (breakfast to dinner)

Reordering Categories

Drag and Drop Method:

  1. Switch to Tree View
  2. Click and hold category name
  3. Drag to new position
  4. Release to drop
  5. Order numbers update automatically

Manual Method:

  1. Edit category
  2. Change "Display Order" number
  3. Save
  4. Refresh page to see new order

Category Images & Descriptions

Category Images

Image Purpose:

  • Visual appeal in category browsing
  • Help customers quickly identify category type
  • Improve engagement and click-through
  • Brand consistency across recipe section

Image Requirements:

  • Recommended size: 800x600px (4:3 ratio)
  • File format: JPG or PNG
  • File size: Under 1MB
  • Content: Representative dish from category or lifestyle image

Uploading Category Image:

  1. Edit category
  2. Scroll to "Category Image" section
  3. Click "Upload Image" button
  4. Select file from computer
  5. Add alt text describing the image
  6. Save

Image Best Practices:

  • Use high-quality, professional photos
  • Consistent style across all categories
  • Images should represent category theme
  • Optimize file sizes for fast loading

Category Descriptions

Purpose:

  • Help customers understand category content
  • Improve SEO (search engines index descriptions)
  • Set expectations for recipes in category
  • Provide context and inspiration

Writing Good Descriptions:

  • Keep to 1-3 sentences (50-150 characters)
  • Include key search terms naturally
  • Describe types of recipes in category
  • Mention key characteristics (quick, healthy, seasonal)

Examples:

Good: "Quick and delicious breakfast recipes to start your day right. From hearty omelets to fresh smoothie bowls, find your perfect morning meal in under 30 minutes."

Too Vague: "Recipes for breakfast."

Too Long: "This category contains all of our breakfast recipes including eggs, pancakes, waffles, French toast, breakfast burritos, smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, and everything else you might want to eat for breakfast whether it's a weekday or weekend morning."

Category Status Management

Active Status

Active categories:

  • Visible on website navigation
  • Appear in recipe browsing
  • Included in search filters
  • Recipes can be assigned to category

Use for:

  • Categories with published recipes
  • Year-round recipe types
  • Currently promoted categories

Inactive Status

Inactive categories:

  • Hidden from website navigation
  • Not shown in browsing
  • Not available in search filters
  • Recipes remain assigned but don't display in category

Use for:

  • Seasonal categories in off-season
  • Categories being reorganized
  • Categories with no recipes yet
  • Discontinued category types

Note: Inactivating a category doesn't delete recipes or remove category assignments. It just hides the category from customers.

Seasonal Category Rotation

Strategy for Seasonal Content:

Winter (Dec-Feb):

  • Activate: Winter Recipes, Holiday Baking, Warm Soups, Comfort Food
  • Deactivate: Summer Grilling, Cold Salads, Refreshing Drinks

Spring (Mar-May):

  • Activate: Spring Recipes, Fresh Salads, Easter Recipes
  • Deactivate: Winter Soups, Holiday Baking

Summer (Jun-Aug):

  • Activate: Summer Recipes, Grilling, Cold Salads, Refreshing Drinks
  • Deactivate: Winter Soups, Comfort Food

Fall (Sep-Nov):

  • Activate: Fall Recipes, Thanksgiving, Harvest Recipes
  • Deactivate: Summer Grilling, Refreshing Drinks

Tip: Schedule category status changes in advance to automate seasonal rotation.

SEO Settings for Categories

Category URL Slug

Purpose: The URL slug is the web address for the category page.

Example:

  • Category Name: "Quick Weeknight Dinners"
  • URL Slug: quick-weeknight-dinners
  • Full URL: yoursite.com/recipes/quick-weeknight-dinners

Slug Best Practices:

  • Lowercase letters only
  • Use hyphens, not spaces or underscores
  • Keep short but descriptive
  • Include primary keyword
  • Once published, don't change (breaks bookmarks and links)

Auto-Generation: System automatically creates slug from category name if left blank.

Meta Title

Purpose: Appears in search engine results and browser tab.

Guidelines:

  • Maximum 60 characters
  • Include primary keyword
  • Front-load important words
  • Add brand name at end if space allows

Example: "Quick Weeknight Dinner Recipes | FarmBox"

Auto-fills from category name if left blank

Meta Description

Purpose: Appears in search results below title. Influences click-through rate.

Guidelines:

  • Maximum 160 characters
  • Compelling summary of category content
  • Include keywords naturally
  • Call to action (Browse, Discover, Find)

Example: "Discover 50+ quick and delicious weeknight dinner recipes ready in 30 minutes or less. Farm-fresh ingredients, easy instructions, perfect for busy families."

Category Keywords

Focus Keywords: Primary search terms you want category to rank for.

Example for "Vegetarian Recipes":

  • Primary: vegetarian recipes
  • Secondary: plant-based meals, meatless dinners
  • Related: healthy vegetarian, easy vegetarian

Keyword Tips:

  • Research what customers actually search for
  • Use Google Trends or keyword tools
  • Include keywords in description naturally
  • Don't keyword stuff (hurts SEO)

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Create New Seasonal Category

Goal: Add "Summer Grilling Recipes" category for grilling season

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New Category"
  2. Enter name: "Summer Grilling Recipes"
  3. Write description: "Fire up the grill with these delicious summer recipes featuring fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and bold flavors."
  4. Upload grilling-themed image
  5. Select parent: "Seasonal Recipes"
  6. Set display order: 30
  7. Status: Active
  8. URL slug: summer-grilling-recipes
  9. Meta title: "Summer Grilling Recipes | Outdoor Cooking"
  10. Meta description: "Transform your backyard BBQ with 40+ summer grilling recipes. Fresh farm ingredients, easy techniques, crowd-pleasing flavors."
  11. Save category
  12. Assign relevant recipes to new category

Tip: Create matching email campaign featuring recipes in new category

Use Case 2: Reorganize Category Structure

Goal: Improve category organization based on customer feedback

Current Structure Problems:

  • Too many top-level categories (overwhelming)
  • Some categories have too few recipes
  • Customer confusion about where to find recipes

Reorganization Steps:

  1. Review current categories and recipe counts
  2. Identify underused categories (fewer than 5 recipes)
  3. Plan new hierarchy on paper first
  4. Create new parent categories as needed
  5. Move recipes from old to new categories
  6. Update subcategory parent assignments
  7. Deactivate old categories
  8. Test navigation from customer perspective
  9. Update any marketing materials referencing old categories
  10. Monitor analytics to measure improvement

Example Reorganization:

Before:

  • Breakfast (8 recipes)
  • Eggs (3 recipes)
  • Pancakes (2 recipes)
  • Lunch (6 recipes)
  • Sandwiches (4 recipes)
  • Salads (12 recipes)

After:

  • Breakfast Recipes (parent, 13 recipes total)
  • Eggs & Omelets (child, 3 recipes)
  • Pancakes & Waffles (child, 2 recipes)
  • Other Breakfast (child, 8 recipes)
  • Lunch Recipes (parent, 22 recipes total)
  • Sandwiches & Wraps (child, 4 recipes)
  • Fresh Salads (child, 12 recipes)
  • Soups & Sides (child, 6 recipes)

Use Case 3: Create Dietary Restriction Categories

Goal: Make it easy for customers to find recipes matching their dietary needs

Categories to Create:

  1. Special Diets (parent category)
  2. Vegetarian Recipes (child)
  3. Vegan Recipes (child)
  4. Gluten-Free Recipes (child)
  5. Dairy-Free Recipes (child)
  6. Paleo Recipes (child)
  7. Keto/Low-Carb Recipes (child)

Implementation Steps:

  1. Create "Special Diets" parent category
  2. Create each dietary restriction as child category
  3. Write descriptive descriptions including benefits
  4. Add appropriate keywords for SEO
  5. Upload representative images for each
  6. Set logical display order (most popular first)
  7. Tag existing recipes with appropriate dietary categories
  8. Promote new categories in newsletter
  9. Add dietary filter to recipe search
  10. Monitor usage to identify most-requested diets

Tip: Recipes can belong to multiple dietary categories (e.g., Vegan AND Gluten-Free)

Use Case 4: Rotate Seasonal Categories

Goal: Hide summer categories as fall approaches, activate fall categories

End of Summer Checklist:

  1. Filter categories by "Summer" tag
  2. Change status to "Inactive" for:
    • Summer Grilling Recipes
    • Cold Summer Salads
    • Refreshing Summer Drinks
    • Summer Berry Desserts
  3. Filter categories by "Fall" tag
  4. Change status to "Active" for:
    • Fall Harvest Recipes
    • Warm Comfort Foods
    • Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Apple & Pumpkin Recipes
  5. Update homepage featured category to fall category
  6. Create "Welcome Fall" recipe collection
  7. Send email highlighting activated fall categories
  8. Monitor most popular fall recipes for homepage feature

Automation Option: Set scheduled status changes so categories automatically activate/deactivate on specific dates.

Use Case 5: Merge Duplicate or Overlapping Categories

Goal: Consolidate similar categories to reduce confusion

Scenario:

  • "Chicken Recipes" (23 recipes)
  • "Chicken Dinners" (18 recipes)
  • "Easy Chicken" (12 recipes)

Too much overlap confuses customers

Consolidation Steps:

  1. Decide on primary category name: "Chicken Recipes"
  2. Review all recipes in the 3 categories
  3. Assign all recipes to "Chicken Recipes" category
  4. Update "Chicken Recipes" description to be comprehensive
  5. Add subcategories if needed:
    • Quick Chicken (under 30 min)
    • Grilled Chicken
    • Baked Chicken
    • Chicken Soups & Stews
  6. Delete or archive old duplicate categories
  7. Update any links or promotions
  8. Set up 301 redirects from old category URLs to new one

Result: Cleaner navigation, all chicken recipes in one place, better user experience

Troubleshooting

Category Not Appearing on Website

Symptoms:

  • Category shows as Active in admin but not visible to customers

Check:

  1. Verify status is "Active" not "Inactive"
  2. Ensure category has at least one published recipe assigned
  3. Check if parent category (if subcategory) is also Active
  4. Clear website cache
  5. Verify category isn't excluded in theme settings
  6. Check if category display is enabled in website settings

Common Causes:

  • No published recipes in category (system hides empty categories)
  • Parent category is Inactive
  • Website cache not cleared
  • Category marked as "Admin Only"

Recipes Not Showing in Category

Symptoms:

  • Category page shows no recipes even though recipes are assigned

Solutions:

  1. Edit recipes and verify category is checked
  2. Ensure recipes are Published (not Draft)
  3. Check if recipes are dated (publish date in future)
  4. Clear website cache
  5. Verify recipes aren't filtered out by other criteria
  6. Check database integrity (admin access required)

Testing:

  • View recipe in admin - does it show category assigned?
  • View recipe on website - does category link work?
  • View category in admin - does recipe count match?

Category URL Not Working (404 Error)

Symptoms:

  • Clicking category link shows "Page Not Found"

Check:

  1. Verify URL slug doesn't have spaces or special characters
  2. Check for duplicate URL slugs
  3. Ensure category is Active
  4. Clear URL rewrite cache
  5. Verify .htaccess rules are correct (Kiva admin)
  6. Check if category URL structure changed

If Recently Changed Slug:

  • Set up 301 redirect from old URL to new URL
  • Update any marketing materials with old link
  • Update internal links in other recipes

Category Image Not Displaying

Symptoms:

  • Image shows in admin but broken on website
  • Slow loading or missing image

Solutions:

  1. Verify image file size under 1MB
  2. Check image format (JPG or PNG only)
  3. Re-upload image
  4. Clear CDN cache
  5. Verify image URL is correct
  6. Check file permissions on server

Image Optimization:

  • Use image compression tools before upload
  • Ensure dimensions are reasonable (800x600px recommended)
  • Convert HEIC or other formats to JPG
  • Recipes - Create and manage individual recipes
  • Recipe Tags - Additional tagging system beyond categories
  • Media Library - Upload and manage category images
  • Email Templates - Feature categories in newsletters
  • Front Page - Display featured categories on homepage

Typical Workflow:

  1. Recipe Categories � Create category structure
  2. Media Library � Upload category images
  3. Recipes � Create recipes and assign to categories
  4. Recipe Categories � Adjust display order and organization
  5. Front Page � Feature categories on homepage
  6. Email Templates � Promote categories in campaigns

Permissions & Access

Required Access Level: Manager or higher

Access Level Capabilities:

  • Manager: Create, edit, activate/deactivate categories
  • Administrator: All Manager + delete categories, reorganize structure
  • Kiva Admin: All features + advanced SEO, bulk operations

Restricted Features:

  • Delete Category: Requires Administrator (must reassign recipes first)
  • SEO Settings: Available to Manager, advanced options require Admin
  • Bulk Operations: Administrator or Kiva Admin

Best Practices

Category Planning

  1. Start with broad categories before creating subcategories
  2. Limit top-level categories to 6-10 for easy navigation
  3. Think like a customer not an internal team member
  4. Use data to inform structure - what are customers searching for?
  5. Plan for growth - structure should scale as recipe library grows

Organization

  1. Keep hierarchy shallow - maximum 2 levels (parent/child)
  2. Ensure categories are distinct - minimize overlap
  3. Balance category sizes - avoid 1 huge category and many tiny ones
  4. Use consistent naming across similar categories
  5. Regular audits - review and refine quarterly

SEO & Discoverability

  1. Research keywords before naming categories
  2. Write unique meta descriptions for each category
  3. Optimize category images with descriptive alt text
  4. Create clear URL slugs that reflect category content
  5. Internal linking - link between related categories in descriptions

User Experience

  1. Clear naming - customers should immediately understand category
  2. Intuitive organization - categories where customers expect them
  3. Consistent images - similar style across all categories
  4. Mobile-friendly - test category navigation on phones
  5. Search integration - categories should work well with site search

Seasonal Management

  1. Plan seasonal rotation in advance
  2. Deactivate (don't delete) off-season categories
  3. Reuse categories year after year (preserve content)
  4. Update images seasonally to keep fresh
  5. Promote seasonal categories in marketing

Things to Avoid

  • ❌ Too many categories (overwhelming customers)
  • ❌ Categories with only 1-2 recipes (appears incomplete)
  • ❌ Overly specific categories (too narrow)
  • ❌ Inconsistent naming conventions
  • ❌ Deleting categories (archive instead to preserve structure)
  • ❌ Ignoring SEO optimization (missed traffic opportunity)
  • ❌ Setting and forgetting (requires ongoing management)

Quick Reference Card

Task Action/Location
Create new category Click "Add New Category" button
Edit existing category Click category name in list
Create subcategory New category > Select parent from dropdown
Upload category image Edit category > "Upload Image" button
Reorder categories Drag category in tree view OR set display order number
Activate category Edit category > Status: Active > Save
Deactivate category Edit category > Status: Inactive > Save
View recipes in category Click recipe count number in category list
Delete category Edit category > "Delete" (must reassign recipes first)
Set SEO settings Edit category > SEO Settings section
Create hierarchy New category > Parent Category dropdown > Select parent

FAQs

How many categories should I have?

Start with 8-12 top-level categories covering broad topics. Add subcategories as needed to organize large categories. Too many categories overwhelms customers; too few makes browsing difficult.

Can a recipe belong to multiple categories?

Yes! Recipes should be assigned to all relevant categories. For example, "Grilled Vegetable Skewers" could be in Summer Recipes, Vegetarian, Grilling, and Side Dishes.

What happens to recipes when I delete a category?

You must reassign recipes to a different category before deleting. System prevents deletion if recipes are still assigned. Consider archiving instead of deleting.

Should I use categories or tags?

Both! Categories provide main navigation structure (visible in menus). Tags add granular filtering (search facets). Categories are broader, tags are specific.

How often should I update categories?

Review quarterly for accuracy. Update seasonally to activate/deactivate seasonal categories. Add new categories as content grows, but avoid constant reorganization (confuses customers).

Can customers see inactive categories?

No, inactive categories are completely hidden from customers. Recipes remain assigned but category doesn't appear in navigation, browsing, or search filters.

What's the difference between parent and child categories?

Parent categories are top-level (main navigation). Child categories (subcategories) appear nested under parents. Example: "Breakfast" (parent) contains "Eggs & Omelets" (child).

Should I include recipe count in category name?

No, the system automatically displays recipe counts. Keep category names clean and timeless. Recipe counts update automatically as recipes are added/removed.

How do I handle categories with no recipes?

Either add recipes to the category or mark it as Inactive until you have content. Don't show empty categories to customers (looks unfinished).

Can I import categories from another system?

Contact Kiva Logic support for bulk category import. For small numbers, manual creation is quickest. Plan structure before creating to avoid reorganization later.

End of Documentation

For additional help, contact your system administrator or Kiva Logic support.