Are you ready to try a vegan diet? Have you ever thought about becoming a vegan? Well, this month could be the perfect time to try a vegan diet, even if it’s for a short time. In the UK, January now also becomes Veganuary. The idea was launched in 2014,…
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…
Have you started baking again during the latest lockdown, or have you continued on from earlier in the year? Following this second lockdown, a recent study found that almost two -thirds of parents said they have continued to cook and bake with their children since the first national lockdown. The…
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…
Did you know that the turn of the month marked World Vegan Day? This year the focus of The Vegan Society’s campaign is to think about how to support vegans in crisis during the challenges we are all facing at this time. With many people living with shrinking budgets, their…
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…
Here at Creative Nature, we are busy preparing to decorate our Halloween pumpkins, ready for a Teal Halloween. What is a ‘Teal Halloween’ we hear you ask?...it’s a celebration of Halloween with a clear message – ‘we’re allergy friendly!’ Our recent blog explains about the Teal Project https://www.creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk/a-personal-challenge-when-it-comes-to-halloween/…
Did you know that during lockdown, 70% of families with children under five have said their children have been snacking more than usual. In fact most of us have been eating more as we were stuck at home for several months with limited options around the activities we undertake.…
National 'Just Because' day, on the 27th of August, is a time you need no reason to do anything. You could alternatively think of it as, just because you can’t do something, doesn’t mean you have to miss out! This is an important concept for us at Creative Nature as…
This week it’s World Photo Day (August 19) and this is a day to inspire positive change across the world. Here at Creative Nature that really works for us! We are all about positive change when it comes to free-from food choices, understanding around allergies and anaphylaxis – and enjoyment…
Our best chocolatey products and why we love them! Do you enjoy eating chocolate? If your answer to that question is ‘yes’, then the 7th July is the day when you can eat as much chocolate as you like. It’s World Chocolate Day. This is a day to celebrate all…
Here at Creative Nature, we’re very proud of our small business and have worked hard as a team to sustain it – and at the beginning of Covid 19 we were very scared and worried about how things would pan out for us – and for others. To date,…
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…
Have you had to celebrate your birthday during lockdown? Well, I’m about to, as it is my birthday this week, and I’m wondering how much of a celebration it will actually be. I might get some cards. I may even get a present from Matt, but only if he…
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…
It’s Mothering Sunday or Mothers’ Day this weekend in case you’d forgotten! (March 22) In the UK, Mothering Sunday or Mothers’ Day is on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday, and therefore like Easter, it is a moveable feast. However, it usually falls in…
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…
Whether you have a birthday this month – or you throw a Halloween Party or both – there will probably be chocolate involved. Recently in America, a tweet about the worst ‘candy’ Halloween treat which had to ‘go forever’ went viral with brands coming in for some colourful comments.…
We’ve already shared with you the challenges which can be faced by people with allergies when it comes to occasions like Halloween. These challenges are especially poignant for parents and guardians of small children who may not fully understand the dietary restrictions they face. Then comes the different layer…
Halloween, for some people, is an exciting moment to celebrate as the autumn nights draw in. Many people, often families, can be seen wandering the streets, all dressed up and ready to ‘trick or treat’ carrying lanterns, parents hovering in the background. For those who are older, they…
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…
Creative Nature has some exciting news– we are about to launch a new look to take our brand forward into 2020! Any business owner of any business type will know changing the branding and ‘look’ of a product or service is a really BIG DEAL. In the food…
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 –…
Many parents, grandparents and guardians take a deep breath as the summer holidays approach. They all know that at some point, children will get bored and restless and more so if the UK weather is poor and the rain make it impossible to get out and about. Food and cooking…
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…
You may be wondering what Spirulina (pronounced spi-rah-lina) actually is and what it does for our bodies. The answer to that seems to be an ongoing list as it’s perhaps the world’s healthiest food! In technical terms, Spirulina is a deep green aquatic plant and nutritious dietary supplement. The superfood…
These truffles are the perfect morning and afternoon snack or the perfect indulgent topping for your yogurt or decadent ice cream! Ingredients: 1 cup almond flour 1 cup coconut flour 2 T maca powder 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/4 cup creative nature cacao nibs 1/4 tsp…
Wasting no time putting her degree in Business Management and Finance into action, Julianne brought the company back into profit within 18 months, raising the brands profile and launching new product lines all with only two members of staff. In the last year, Julianne has taken Creative Nature from strength…
Today, in supermarkets, you can purchase an array of gluten-free baking mixes -- for cookies, for cakes, for breads -- pretty much anything that you can bake under the sun. However, Creative Nature Superfoods has several gluten free baking mixes, and we are excited to share other ways that users…
Creative Nature’s hemp powder is a popular and rich source of Omega 9, 6 and 3. It provides an easily digestible and rich plant protein option to whey protein. Creative Nature’s hemp powder is among the plant kingdom’s highly balanced, complete, and concentrated sources of EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids) and…
This delicious chocolate orange and cashew bar (note: there are nuts and allergens for some in this recipe) is DELICIOUS. Ready to rock your taste buds? Ingredients: Base Layer: 12 medjool dates 1/2 cup raw pecans Zest of 1 orange Middle Layer: 2 cups of cashew butter 1 1/2 tsp…
Snacks: probably the main reason for everyone everywhere giving up on their healthy diets - just what are you supposed to snack on?! I'm on a mission to cut out as much refined sugar from my diet as I can and have come up with a selection of healthy snacks…
It’s no secret that chocolate is the world’s favourite sweet treat but if you are trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle or reduce food intolerances then you know the chocolate’s got to go right? Well not quite, those dairy milk bars and chocolate Oreos are soo last year and raw…
This delicious recipe caught the Creative Nature Superfoods team's attention immediately with the gorgeous cookies and beautiful images. We know you will enjoy it as much as we have! Ingredients: 1.5 cups ground almonds 1 tsp baking powder 1.5 tbsp cacao powder (I used Creative nature) 1/4 cup cacao nibs …
[caption id="attachment_3020" align="alignleft" width="300"] Processed with VSCO with a6 preset[/caption] For so many years I hated bananas. Detested them even. I really never thought I’d be able to eat them—to me they were the equivalent of kryptonite to superman. Amongst the disgust, I did have one exception to the no…
My name is Andrew Pink and I’m 20 years old. In December 2015 at the age of just 19 I became the U25 UK coach of the Year. I was then appointed to be Head Coach of the GB cycling team for the Invictus Games. The team and I travelled…
The thought of eating out daunts many of us that have a food allergy or intolerance. It can turn what should be a pleasurable experience into a stressful one. But fear not, because it doesn’t have to be this way. See below for the top tips when eating out with…
I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand waste! There are so many different ways to use foods these days that I see it as a personal failure on my part! Well, these cookies were inspired by that very concern – you see, I had a lone banana in…
Veganism is a cruelty free lifestyle which seeks to exclude all animal products in the form of food, clothing or for any other purpose. A plant based diet is proven to be one of the healthiest to follow, providing it is done correctly. Many people have a negative impression that…
This blueberry smoothie is super simple to make but packed with goodness to leave you feeling fantastic. Blueberries and goji berries are bursting with antioxidants, which help to prevent damage to your cells and to boost your immune system. While maca powder helps to regulate your hormones. Add some granola,…
Whether it be food, medication, outdoor or animal related, it’s estimated that 1in 5 individuals deal with some kind of allergy in their lifetime. Having an allergen plays a crucial role in your life, especially a food allergen. Currently there are eight food groups, which account for 90% of…