As the holiday season approaches, excitement is in the air with festive traditions, delicious treats, and the joy of giving. But for those with food allergies, the season can come with added stress and caution. From navigating ingredient lists to avoiding potential allergens at gatherings, enjoying the holidays can feel…
Creating allergen-free recipes can be both exciting and challenging, especially when trying to make indulgent treats that everyone can enjoy. We want to share with you three delicious and creative allergen-free desserts perfect for November. These recipes are free from the top 14 allergens: so everyone can enjoy delicious desserts…
Halloween is a time of fun costumes, spooky decorations, and of course, delicious treats. But for families dealing with food allergies, the holiday can be a bit scary in more ways than one. The good news is that with a little preparation, you can ensure that Halloween remains fun, festive,…
As the summer holidays wind down, the excitement and anticipation of going back to school start to build. For families managing food allergies, this time of year also brings a unique set of challenges and concerns. Ensuring a safe and positive school experience for children with food allergies requires careful…
As the air turns crisper and leaves start to paint the landscape with vibrant hues, September not only heralds the arrival of autumn but also marks an important campaign in the world of sustainability and conscious consumerism – Organic September. This month-long celebration of all things organic aims to shed…
The time is coming for our weekends to be full of Summer BBQ's and spending time with your friends and family. However, It can be a bit challenging if you or someone in your family has food allergies or you have food allergies yourself, but with a little planning and…
We talked about travelling by air in our last blog when you suffer from food allergies, but what about other means of transport? What do you have to think about when you’re travelling by road or train? Whether you are travelling in the UK or abroad, always ask for recommendations…
Travelling with food allergies can be a nightmare, however you make your journey. But flying can be far worse, as there is no rule that airlines have to consider their customers with food allergies. Over the years we have been continuing to campaign to raise awareness of the risks that…
Boarding an airplane often signifies embarking on a journey, whether for business or pleasure. However, for individuals with food allergies, it can also mean navigating a potential minefield of allergens. The prevalence of "may contain" labels on airline snacks poses a significant threat to the safety and well-being of passengers…
Although Allergy Awareness Week has come to an end, it's crucial to recognise that the efforts to raise awareness about allergies should not be confined to just one week. Allergy awareness remains a vital aspect in today's society and especially in school life. Schools play a pivotal role in educating…
Allergy Awareness Week is just around the corner (22nd-28th April). We are so happy to say that our Allergy Awareness Assemblies are back for another year! Last year we managed to educate over 135,000 children across the UK and we want to continue to increase this number this year and…
Our founder Julianne Ponan MBE, was invited to speak at TEDX Swansea back in December to share her incredible story living with multiple allergies. In her TEDx talk, Julianne shares her extraordinary journey, highlighting the importance of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination. As the CEO of Creative Nature, a…
Where can you buy Creative Nature Baking Mixes? Creative Nature Banana Bread Sainsburys - Sainsbury's online Grocery Shopping and Fresh Food Delivery (sainsburys.co.uk) Tesco - Results for “creative nature” - Tesco Groceries Asda - Search Results for Creative Nature - ASDA Groceries Ocado - Creative Nature | Ocado Amazon -…
In a world filled with uncertainties, battling allergies can add an extra layer of stress to our daily lives. However, imagine a life where you can breathe easy, savour delicious snacks without fear, and work or relax without the constant worry of allergy attacks. Welcome to the transformative journey of…
At Creative Nature our mission is to improve the lives of those living with allergies and intolerances. We want to do all we can to make this happen and will be donating 15p from every baking mix purchase in Sainsbury's to The Natasha's Allergy Research Foundation from the 16th October…
Halloween is a thrilling and magical time for kids, filled with costumes, spooky decorations, and, of course, delicious treats. However, for parents of children with allergies, it can also be a season of heightened concern. Ensuring that your child with allergies has a safe and enjoyable Halloween experience requires some…
As the air turns crisper and leaves start to paint the landscape with vibrant hues, September not only heralds the arrival of autumn but also marks an important campaign in the world of sustainability and conscious consumerism – Organic September. This month-long celebration of all things organic aims to shed…
As the school bells chime and children excitedly enter the world of education again at the beginning of September, it's important to remember that some of these young learners may be dealing with allergies. Allergies can be particularly daunting when going back to school, for several reasons. Will my friends…
Airline travel has opened up new horizons for global exploration, yet the journey for those with allergies often comes with hurdles that dampen the excitement. Despite notable strides, there's a pressing need for a more comprehensive approach to ensure safe and inclusive air travel for individuals with allergies. The Current…
Travelling with allergies can be a nightmare, however you make your journey. But flying can be far worse, as there is no rule that airlines have to consider their customers with allergies. We have launched a social media campaign to bring attention to the difficulties people with allergies face when…
Now is the time we’re all getting ready for our summer holidays – if you are travelling by plane, have you checked about food safety for your journey? For those who have food allergies, flying is never straightforward, and planning is really important to feel safe and supported on your…
Don’t Forget It’s Father’s Day Soon! Father’s Day always falls on the 3rd Sunday of the month, so this year that’s Sunday June 18th Unlike Mother’s Day where the US celebrate at a different time of the year, we follow them for the celebration of fathers or those who have…
As the Coronation approaches, there’s no doubt it will be the big story of the next week across the media, and there will be many celebrations up and down the UK and overseas too. We’re sure most of you know that it’s the first Coronation we have had in the…
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we have been thinking about the old saying: ‘the way to a man’s/woman’s heart is through their stomach.’ It seems that for many people it is true, therefore, cooking for the one you love is a great way to show that love. Food has an important…
We are thrilled to be the only food brand invited to take part in a massive campaign, championing British manufacturers. The ‘Made in the UK Sold to the World’ project by the Department of International Trade will see us featured on billboards, TV, radio and print! Alongside a small group…
At Creative Nature, we’re so excited about this year’s Children In Need campaign! So much so that we’re going to be doing a MASSIVE giveaway over on our Instagram feed to help raise valuable funds to support children in the UK. If you follow us there – just click here…
We were thrilled to be filmed and interviewed for a Panorama documentary, which was transmitted last week – do look it up on IPlayer here. The documentary followed several companies, of varying sizes, to see how they were coping, six months after Brexit. One was a Scottish fishing company…
It is almost a year on from the killing of George Floyd d in the US, which ignited the protests against racism around the world. Recently the police officer who killed him sent to prison for life. Who started it? The international human rights campaign actually began in 2013…
It’s nearly Easter and we are still (sort of) locked down! This may be our second Easter in lockdown yet here at Creative Nature we’re not down hearted. Easter traditionally, is the beginning of Spring, a time of hope, growth and the birth of young animals. Let’s hope that this…
Do you celebrate St Patrick’s Day? It is on 17th March and was originally a Christian feast day, celebrating the life of St. Patrick, who spread Christianity to Ireland. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and the national apostle. Today it is a day of revelry and a…
International Women's Day takes place on the 8th March. Did you know that the theme for this year’s The International Women’s Day is, #ChooseToChallenge ? The organisers believe that “a challenged world is an alert world.” As individuals we are all responsible, daily, for our own thoughts and actions. It’s…
By the end of this summer, new allergen regulations are expected to be in force, called Natasha’s Law. As a challenger free-from snack brand, we welcome and embrace this change – and we urge the food & drink sector to do the same. The new legislation has been named Natasha’s…
For months, behind the scenes, our CEO Julianne Ponan has been talking to the country’s leading organisation around anaphylaxis about becoming an ambassador and today is the official announcement! From sitting at the allergy table and wishing she didn’t have allergies to becoming Ambassador of the biggest campaigning body for…
Do you own a Christmas jumper? Do you wear it on National Christmas Jumper day, (which is December 11th this year)? If you don’t, what other fun Christmas clobber do you wear? For example, do you own any of these types of things? Santa or elf hats? Reindeer antlers? Christmas themed…
Our CEO, Julianne, has today been named as the UK Ambassador for The Teal App, an app designed to save the lives of those who live with anaphylaxis. The Teal App launches today in the UK and it is for those living with life-threatening allergies and their loved ones. It…
In this blog we are going to be discussing dairy allergies and lactose intolerance! Often, people use these terms interchangeably, but this is not the case! What is a dairy allergy? How is it different to lactose intolerances? What does it mean to have either of these? Read on and…
Gluten is vastly used in the food industry nowadays, it can be hard to get away from it especially when you know you're intolerant or allergic to it. Everyone's roughly aware of Gluten's whereabouts - breads, bakes and biscuits (they're the obvious ones). What fewer people know is that gluten…
Creative Nature Case Study: @dairyfreenoah Introduction: My name is Deborah, Mama to Noah who is allergic to dairy, soya and egg. We have both been free-from since Noah was 3 months old, when we discovered his allergies, as he reacted through my milk. Noah was incredibly poorly, with stomach…
June is the first, real month of summer, even though for the last few weeks unusually, we’ve had lovely weather. June is the time when our gardens begin to come fully into bloom. Normally, it’s a popular month for weddings, and a time to enjoy getting out in the sunshine…
This week is not only Coeliac Disease Awareness Week, it’s also Food Allergy Awareness Week. Both of these conditions are common areas of discussion for us at Creative Nature and also for some of our customers. For more on Food Allergy Awareness Week please look at our CEO Julianne’s…
When our freedom is suddenly curtailed and we are used to going to work each day, interacting with others, we take for granted the fact we can go and do what we like when we like. In our new situation of social distancing, and staying at home to keep…
Our diet also impacts on our health. Whilst we are having to stay at home, it is much easier to sit around for longer, or watch the TV, watch films, and become more sedentary than when we are going to work, and getting out and about as normal. However,…
Many people walk as part of their exercise regularly. However, now it is something that is recommended we all do once a day, during lockdown to keep us healthy and fit, both mentally and physically. An American report in 2018 concluded that walking is associated with improved mental and…
Following the government’s latest restrictions, here at Creative Nature, we are working from home where we can. We feel it’s our social responsibility to do the right thing, to set an example even though that’s a huge ask for a food business which offers products. Products need to be…
The Coronavirus is not something that any of us imagined, have planned for and has thrown up a variety of situations that are completely unexpected. We are suddenly finding ourselves in a very different situation to anything many of us have seen before. Life in the 21st century is fast…
We will soon be celebrating Easter, which although an important time in the Christian calendar, is also a time to be fully welcoming Spring and the joys of nature; daffodils, narcissi, tulips, and of course those cute lambs. This year it is going to be a very different Easter to…
The arrival of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has brought with it many problems, including shortage of certain foods in our supermarkets, due to panic buying. In turn this can mean some food banks, who are the main lifeline for many families and the elderly, find themselves in a situation where they…
“Allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe. Up to 20% of patients with allergies struggle daily with the fear of a possible asthma attack, anaphylactic shock, or even death from an allergic reaction.” EAACI 2016 As spring approaches tree pollens start to circulate in the air and…
How endometriosis has affected our CEO Julianne: I have always had problems with my stomach, having had severe pancreatitis when I was just nine. Then when my first period started, I had really painful stomach cramps. These cramps got progressively worse during my teens. I thought I was just…
This week (March 2 to 8) is officially Endometriosis Week and, in fact, the whole month is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Our CEO Julianne has this condition – more on that next week. What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is the name given to a condition where cells like the ones in…
Spending time with the family is precious, so having activities planned ensures you get the most from your weekends. You probably already have to ferry the children to the several activities they attend at weekends, such as sports, dance or drama groups, however do try to plan for physical activities…
Preparing your own meals is an important part of creating a healthy eating routine. The speed which our lifestyles seem to dictate, means that often meals are eaten ‘on the hoof’ and we end up eating at irregular times and snacking on foods that are neither particularly healthy nor nutritious.…
The word is appearing all over the place on social media and in the news. Schools are even incorporating it into their curriculum for students. The latter seem to link it to coping with stress of exams, making career choices and dealing with difficult social issues which often arise in…
A healthy diet can make a significant difference to how quickly you recover from depression or anxiety. In fact, eating healthily seems to be just as important for maintaining your mental health as it is for preventing physical health problems. Research suggests exercise may be as effective as antidepressants at reducing the symptoms of depression…
Spending time with family and friends is more important than we might think. Research has shown the quality and quantity of individuals' social relationships has been linked not only to mental health but also to both morbidity and mortality. The research concluded the influence of social relationships on the…
January is often considered to be the month with the highest levels of depression following Christmas and the New Year. Is this a myth or is it true? It certainly can feel like a ‘flat’ month after the festive period. Psychiatry and Population Professor at University of Manchester, Nav Kapur,…
As the year is ending and I am reflecting on my successes this year for me personally, and for my business, I’m now planning ahead for 2020. My family helped to give me a good understanding of the importance of goal setting through an annual tradition; each New Year we…
As many of us know, Christmas time is all about celebrations, gatherings, and indulging in delicious food, but people such as Julianne, the founder of Creative Nature, really struggle at this time of year due to life threatening allergies. We have been in contact with 2 allergy sufferers to hear…
As mentioned in our previous blog, Christmas is a time for luxurious food, but what about healthy indulgence? How can we cater for everyone, including those with serious allergies and IBS? It seems that the worlds population is becoming more allergic to food, and the rise in allergies in…
Christmas is a time to indulge; at least that is what we tell ourselves, as we munch our way through chocolate laden Advent calendars, boxes of chocolates, crisps, shortbread, Stollen, mince pies - far to much food than is good for us! And still to come, the traditional Christmas…
Advent is, for many people of faith, a time to prepare for the commemoration of the birth of Jesus. For the less religious of the population, it’s a time for shopping and preparing for the festivities. A time for buying gifts, food and drink in preparation for Christmas Day…
It’s true. November seems to be full of chocolate – there’s a festival in Exeter and there are many in America from the North West Chocolate Festival to the Winter Chocolate Festival. And of course the shops are full of it, all gearing up for the food fest treat…
Black Friday is just a week away - are you gearing up to shop manically for bargains on Black Friday ready for Christmas or are you planning your strategy for online shopping on Cyber Monday? This year Black Friday is on 29th November with Cyber Monday following on on…
Did you know that being a vegan isn’t what it used to be? It’s not all about having a bland range of foods you can eat which all taste like cardboard or in fact, are utterly tasteless – we’re far more creative than that now. Have you even looked…
This week was meant to be Green GB Week. A government initiative to encourage businesses and industry to embrace greener practices. It’s something we support. We are happy to put up a little green flag to say ‘here, here, here’. However it’s now been delayed until early 2020 because it’s…
By Julianne Ponan, CEO of Creative Nature Just over a week ago I was contacted by the BBC and informed that I was going to be back in the Dragons’ Den again – much to my surprise. This doesn’t mean I’ve physically stepped into that environment, it means…
September is often a time of transition as families – and indeed most of us – get back to a normal routine after a summer break. Even if we’ve only had a week or two away ourselves, we all notice how much quieter the roads seem, how it can…
Acceptance – accepting that you have food allergies is a big step to leading a positive life. It sounds obvious, however if you have grown up like me from a very young age being ‘different’ you can kick against this and take risks as you get older because you cannot…
Have you ever seen anyone go into anaphylactic shock? Would you know what to do and how to react? For me, the ignorance of others is my worst nightmare and my central fear around being a severely allergic person. I worry that I could have a reaction and be…
There’s actually not too much known about the relationship between mental health and wellbeing and having allergies. For me, it’s obvious – there must be a link. When you have to plan and consider many aspects of your life in ways that others do not, this can have a…
Allergies have a huge impact when you are thinking of going on holiday overseas. In fact, for many parents of allergic children and allergic adults, it can feel much easier to just stay at home. However in doing so we deny ourselves experiences enjoyed by others. I’ve lived in…
Allergies are expensive – having anaphylaxis is even more expensive. The parent of a child with food allergies will find that the cost of caring for an allergic child is thousands of pounds more expensive than for a child without any allergies. Studies have been done at different times…
When you have food allergies like me – travelling and eating food on the go can be a nightmare. We are still not at the stage in the UK for people like me – with severe anaphylaxis brought on by allergies to all nuts, sesame and lot more –…
We love meeting you all! Shows are such a great way for us to meet and chat with you, whilst you get the opportunity to try out our awesome products before you buy (at incredible show offers!) We’ve recently done two large shows up in Birmingham, letting us venture out…
What’s better than buying your favourite Creative Nature snack bar? Buying as a multipack and saving money!! We’ve just launched our award-winning, super popular Raw Cacao and Salted Caramel Protein bars in multipack versions! These are exclusive to Asda and can be found in almost 200 Asda stores across the…
Today’s blog is a bit of an update from our amazing team day and a discussion into why team days are so important. Let’s start with Creative Nature. We aim to do at least three major team days in the year. A MAJOR team day is where we go out…
We’re right in the middle of exam season and whilst some of you might be able to sail through test papers without a care in the world (unfortunately this wasn’t any of us!), the majority will panic at the mere thought of sitting still for hours on end. Even if…
A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system triggers an abnormal response to food. Symptoms of allergic reactions to specific food can range from anything like tingling of the lips, sneezing, nasal congestion or even to something as dangerous as anaphylaxis. Having to deal with allergies is hard enough as…
Goji Berries A 2008 Chinese study compared the results of participants who consumed goji berry juice daily for 14 days to those who didn’t. People who drank goji berry juice reported an increase in: energy athletic performance quality of sleep ability to focus calmness overall well-being The same group also reported…
As you may know, we have some amazing Brand Ambassadors working with us at Creative Nature! We have a Q&A already live on our blog with Tsuki, which you can read here and a Q&A with Will here! However, we don't know about you, but we absolutely love videos here…
This year we are planning many exciting shows and fairs we will be taking part in to ensure we meet as many of you as possible and get to interact with our customers! We have a few fun shows coming up and the one that you can see us at…
‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ so why do some of us refuse to take this statement on board? Treat it as a passion or an art form and you won’t live to see another day where you aren’t eating breakfast! There is always a secret pleasure…
If you are the type of person to opt for the quick route in life – your daily dose of vitamins must also tie into that attitude, surely? We are going to focus on 2 of our very own Super foods which also come in the form of capsules/tablets. First, we…
It’s that time of year again when people are grabbing their tents and camping out in the queues for Wimbledon Tennis, the deck chairs, bean bags and fake grass have been placed in front of the big screens all around London, the all-white outfits are finally being worn. Wimbledon Tennis…
Knowing the right things to eat after a workout can be complicated and you may think it will take hours of meal prepping to find the right meal for you. However we have five helpful tips to get you started! It is very important to include Carbohydrates & protein –…
With the general elections coming up, we should all take some time out of our busy days to see what party suits us best. If you're interested in what parties our superfoods are voting for, get those glasses out and carry on reading! Spirulina has decided to represent The…
We recently put together a list of 54 skills, quintessential skills that we could all agree every human should have, including wilderness and survival skills. However, in this day and age, there are another set of skills we should acquire in addition to basic survival skills. Don’t underestimate the importance of…
Monday - Slow Cooker Spicy Sweet Potato & Bean Soup Ingredients: 1 medium sweet potato 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, diced 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2" pieces 1 can of beans of your choice 1 cup vegetable juice, optional tomato juice 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth…
'Be Bold For Change' was the phrase on the minds of women and supporters worldwide this International Women's Day, Wednesday, 8th March. #BeBoldForChange is a slogan meant to rouse supporters of gender equality to take action and begin to establish a fair society, one of which parity between genders is…
What is Spirulina? Spirulina is the world's first superfood, and one of the most nutrient-rich foods on Earth. Spirulina has between 55 and 70% protein (more than beef, chicken, and soybeans), 8 essential and 10 non-essential amino acids, as well as high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), beta-carotene, linoleic acid, arachidonic…
Food pictures have well and truly taken over Instagram, we’re all guilty of taking the odd picture when we’re presented with a plate of well-presented food, so much so that there are around 208million posts on #food. This week we’ve compiled some of our favourite recipes from Instagram for you!…
In 2016 we saw the meteoric rise of ‘The Green Smoothie’, many of us ate more Kale and Avocados than we ever thought we could, but what will you be adding to your smoothie this year? Here’s a list of our top superfoods to add to your recipes in 2017!…
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? For most of us the first thing we have to do is switch off our alarm, well some of us have to hit snooze a couple of times, but you do deserve that extra 5 minutes.…
If you pop the hashtag #cleaneating into Instagram there are currently more than 27.7million posts, with images of everything from colourful salads, flat stomachs, green smoothies and everything in-between. When I searched the term the other day, this is what I was presented with. They’re all pretty glamourous looking pictures…
Let’s be honest, for many of us there is nothing more tempting than that bar of chocolate. Am I right? It’s on discount, positioned by the tills, it’s practically screaming at you to pick it up, you’ve just battled the masses while doing your weekly shop, so you deserve a…
Bored with the same old banana or strawberry smoothie? Mix up your blender routine with something new. Try these five delicious super-nutrients you may have overlooked. Green tea That innocent-looking green tea that accompanies your Chinese takeout is one of the healthiest beverages you can drink. It has a fresh,…
Vegan Pistachio Chia Pudding Chia seeds and pistachios are a part of the ultimate protein dream! Not to mention all the important antioxidants and vitamins that go along with it. Be sure to check out the yummy recipe below and try using our Creative Nature Chia Seeds! http://www.thejoyfulhearth.com/2015/09/pistachio-chia-pudding/ Greek Yogurt &…
Smoothie Bowls Smoothie Bowls seem to be the new craze lately! Understandably so as these bowls offer a healthy breakfast option full of energy for those who have a bit of extra time in the morning. Add a twist to your usual morning smoothie by making a bit extra to…
HIMALAYAN SALT INHALER (SALT THERAPY) The salt is utilised to address respiratory problems and improve one’s overall health. Many people over the years have visited European salt mines (of Himalayan salt) to breathe in the salt-rich air. When the salty air is inhaled, it travels through the whole respiratory system.…
Barley Grass and Chlorella are both superfoods which can both provide health benefits to many. The superfoods, which can be taken as supplements, pills or in juice form, like most products, have some side effects to their use. Through weighing up these advantages and disadvantages, I have found that the…