For those living with food allergies, navigating a supermarket can feel like walking through a minefield. Food labels are meant to guide us, but the often vague and confusing "may contain" statements can make grocery shopping even more daunting. These warnings, while intended to help consumers, can sometimes be more…
The holiday season is a time for giving, sharing, and spreading joy. However, for those with allergies, it can also be a time of concern. Finding suitable gifts and stocking fillers that are allergy-friendly can be a challenge, but it's essential to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festive season…
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…
Picnic season is coming up so here are our best gluten, dairy and nut free recipes. 9 ideas for planning for an allergy safe picnic If you know someone who is attending your picnic and they have allergies: Ask about the allergies. What foods are unsafe? Check about precautions to…
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…
Activities and Gluten free dessert recipes for the August Bank Holiday: The Bank Holiday will be here next week and, if you are not actually away, away – you might be wondering what to do to make the most of this time off. Also if you have children, keeping them…
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…
Food allergies are a significant and growing concern, affecting over 2 million people in the UK alone. Yet, despite the widespread prevalence and potential severity of these allergies, there is a persistent misconception that they are not a serious issue. This misunderstanding can lead to dangerous consequences, as illustrated by…
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…
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…
Allergy Awareness Week is on its way and we’ve got a very special ‘ask’ this year. Do you know any headteachers or senior teachers who would welcome us into their school to deliver a session on awareness around allergies? If so we’d love to hear from you. This awareness week…
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…
ALL of us at Creative Nature are excited to share with you the amazing news that our founder and CEO Julianne has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List – the first honours to be awarded during the reign of King Charles III. Julianne Ponan Announcement MBE…
There are several different food ingredients that you can use as a replacement for egg, these are just a few that we love to use at Creative Nature This time of year we see several celebrations where food is part of the festivities: Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas. All occasions…
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…
Put simply - Cacao Powder is one of the most complex foods on Earth. It is thought that the word ‘chocolate’ has evolved from the Aztec word, ‘xocoatl’, which is the name of a bitter drink brewed from cacao beans (and sometimes mixed with chilli), the edible part of the…
It's Afternoon Tea Week and we have made loads of allergy-friendly alternatives to classic afternoon tea recipes, which we know you’ll enjoy. Afternoon tea is a great British tradition, particularly in the summer, providing a great time to catch up with friends over a cup of tea and delicious cakes…
As we are approaching World Allergy Awareness week, we wanted to give you some of our baking tips for free from cakes that taste delicious. World Allergy Awareness Week this year runs between June 13 to June 19 and is an annual event to raise the awareness of allergic diseases…
WE’RE SO EXCITED – OUR CEO HAS BECOME THE FIRST EVER AMBASSADOR FOR THE GLOBAL CHARITY MEDICALERT! We are extremely proud to announce that our CEO, Julianne has been invited to be the first EVER ambassador for MedicAlert. MedicAlert was created in the 1950s and is now 66 years old.…
St Patrick’s Day is coming up this week (Thursday March 17) and, for some, the world will turn rather green! There's a lot of interesting things to note about St Patrick's Day and we'll be getting to them in a bit. But, here at Creative Nature, we know that this…
International Women’s Day was recognised by the United Nations in 1975 during its International Women’s Year, however, International Women’s Day has actually been around since the early 1900s. The event has grown out of protests against poor working conditions for women as fa back as 1908, when, a15,000 female workers…
World Book Day, held on March 3rd, is a celebratory day to promote reading for pleasure. This year, the theme, a message for all children is, ‘you are a reader’. In 2019 the National Literacy Trust found that 383,755 children don’t have a book of their own, which is shocking…
Latest news from Creative Nature Surrey free-from food company, Creative Nature, has recruited a new staff member to help the company with digital marketing and administration. Caitlyn Ward (23) from Walton-on-Thames, is settling into her new role. “It can be quite fast-paced, but in a fun, challenging way instead of…
A common gift for Valentine’s Day is flowers – and there’s a whole hidden language of love in flowers too. The red rose is the one most of us know however it’s more complex than that! In 2018, 40% of people asked simply bought their loved ones a card for…
Has someone surprised you recently by being kind? Have you surprised someone else with kindness? Let's be kind. Random Acts of Kindness Day is coming up on February 17th. At the moment, maybe even more than normally, kindness is a trait that we can all welcome. Both in terms of…
It has become more common over the last few years to hear people say they are gluten free when talking about food. Some people choose to be, they feel there are health benefits to gluten free diets, while others don't have a choice. They may be forced to eat a…
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…
Here at Creative Nature, we thought we would celebrate this World Pasta Day by sharing some amazing superfood recipes, these are all gluten free, dairy free and nut free. Make sure to check them out. We know that pasta can be a struggle for those with allergies and intolerances and…
As you may know from reading our previous blogs, we support Natasha’s Law, which is about to come into effect in October. This UK Food Information Amendment, known as Natasha’s Law will require food businesses to provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on foods pre-packaged for direct sale on…
Avocados seem to be a little like marmite, you either love them, or hate them, thinking they are either delicious or they are horrible and slimy. For those of you who don’t know what guacamole is, it is an avocado-based dip that has its origins with Aztec people. Already used…
Here are few tips for those living with allergies. The Anaphylaxis Campaign have identified that 16- 24-year olds are a high-risk group when it comes to managing their allergies, and this includes university students. For many students, going to university is the first time they leave home, and the…
In a few weeks’ time it is Working Parents Day (September 16) which is there to celebrate those parents who work hard all year to provide for their families. During the 20th century, women in Britain faced a complete change in their lives as more and more of them worked,…
Organic September is the month to ‘go organic’. It’s a campaign set up by British Corner Shop and the Soil Association – and here at Creative Nature we have a strong relationship with both of those organisations. During the month, people are encouraged to eat, drink and use organic…
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…
Summer is here, so time for holidays, camping, hotels, or self-catering, and time for days out exploring your local area. Time to have fun in the sun! Staycation - when you choose to holiday at home rather than travel abroad. Of course, this year, many of us don’t have…
Christmas in July is a term that has popped up in terms of marketing for the last few years. In reality however, it started 84 years ago in 1933 at a girls’ camp in North Carolina. It was the idea of the co-founder of the Keystone Camp, who was very…
Have you ever asked yourself this – or did you just think it was a spelling mistake? Cacao vs Cocoa, which should you use? Many people think cacao is the same as cocoa - yet it is more complex than that. Most of us love chocolate, that’s not in question…
The UEFA European Football Championship, commonly known as the UEFA European Championship and informally as the Euros, is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), determining the continental champion of Europe. The event is…
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…
We should all be aware of how much sugar we consume. Sugar Awareness week is in May, so why not get ahead of the game and start thinking about how much sugar you eat now! Sugar is very calorie-dense and it’s very easy to consume a lot of it, sometimes…
Did you know that it’s National Tea Day this month (April 21), a whole day to celebrate drinking tea. A really British institution. It makes the perfect day to plan an afternoon tea, for yourself or with friends. Tea is part of British society. We drink tea while we work;…
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…
What is your favourite flavoured cake? In the UK, during 2020, the cake appearing in most searches online was ‘chocolate cake’. In some research to find UK’s favourite flavoured cake, chocolate cake came second to lemon drizzle. In the US, chocolate cake is the most popular, which makes it unsurprising…
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…
Are you lactose intolerant? Did you know that January 11th is National Milk Day, a day to celebrate the first time milk was delivered to homes inside sterilized glass bottles, in 1878. In 1970 almost 99% of milk was delivered to peoples’ doors. By 2014 doorstep delivery was at less…
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…
Do you eat too much sugar in your diet? Do you know anyone who suffers from diabetes? Type 1? Type 2? Or classed as pre-diabetic? On Saturday 14th November it was World Diabetes Day, to raise awareness of the condition. Diabetes UK have guidance explaining how we can…
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…
One of our greatest supporters at Creative Nature is Rosie Brandreth, who was a finalist in the Great British Bake Off in 2019. You may have also seen Rosie on Instagram where she currently has more than 300K followers who enjoy watching her bake her amazing creations and it’s clear…
In mid-July, we introduced our two new baking products, Simply Spiced Carrot Cake Loaf Mix, and our Pancake and Waffle Mix. We’ve had some amazing feedback from our social media followers and customers, for which we’d like to thank you. Here are some of their words: Pancake and…
Hello, I am Lindiwe Lewis, 28. You can call me Lindi. I was born in London, England but grew up in Geneva, Switzerland and Monterey, California. I have had anaphylaxis since I was 10 months old. I am allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas, lentils, beans, peas, kiwi, pineapple,…
What’s your favourite ice cream? We’ve taken a small poll in the office, and our top three flavours are: Vanilla Cookie Dough Mint Choc-Chip Why are we talking about this? Well, July is National Ice Cream Month! Also in the US, National Vanilla Ice Cream Day is on July…
Guess what we’ve been doing during lock-down? We’ve created some new products! We’d like to introduce you to our brand new... Carrot Cake Mix and Pancake & Waffle Mix. These are both very popular foods, however for people with allergies and other dietary requirements, it’s very hard to find…
Did you know July 17th is World Emoji Day. A few years ago that would have meant absolutely nothing to anybody. Now emoji are widely recognised as a way to use an image to express emotion almost as a new type of evolving language. Did you know that…
Hi, Thalina here! So a little bit about myself: I’m 16 y/o, I have an extensive list of allergies, do enjoy a bit of bish bash on the tennis court and also founded Allergies In Bold - more on that later ;). I am also a proud ambassador for the…
Moving out of lockdown brings new pressures and challenges for any small business, especially those with offices, warehouses or factories – like Creative Nature. Dealing with ambient food products, we have had to think very carefully about how we are going to work in this new world we now…
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 was World Milk Day; a day to celebrate and raise the awareness of dairy’s part in healthy diets. (June 1) According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, in the UK we are drinking 50% less milk than we were in 1974. Many people are moving away…
We are now in our seventh week of lockdown. For many people this has been a very stressful time. This is the first time since the war we have had any sort of embargo on our movements and the way we live. The biggest part of this for…
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…