Growing up on a farm I've always had a passion for food and led a healthy lifestyle. I spent my teenage years baking everything under the sun, both the naughty and nutritious! My love of cooking led me to study Food and Nutrition at Sheffield Hallam University where I learnt all about the food industry as well as how our bodies respond to what we eat. 

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After Uni I worked for different food companies as well as catering for yoga days and weekend retreats. I am happiest when in the kitchen cooking with ingredients out of our garden. I love the excitement and varied flavours of vegetarian and vegan food and want to help more people discover this. 

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So why did I start my business? In August 2017, I suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This is nothing to do with diet and lifestyle but means my pancreas no longer produces insulin. I therefore have to inject myself before eating, so carbohydrates, both sugars and starches, can be converted into energy for my body to use. Currently the reason Type 1 can suddenly affect someone is unknown and at present there is no cure. 

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The diagnosis hit me pretty hard and I found work too much to cope with. After a couple of months the idea of having my own catering company became very appealing as I could work from home and keep learning how to manage my diabetes. Holly Nelstrop Catering was born which has since grown into Holly's Garden Kitchen. 

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My weekly healthy take away has always been the core of the business but I now do a lot of private catering for events. I also started selling my food at markets which proved very popular and that's when I invested in my gorgeous retro street food truck!

 

 

To make people smile whilst filling them with goodness is such a joy.