Ella Mills knew she would be deemed a ‘nepo baby' when creating Deliciously Ella
The businesswoman, known for her cookery books that promote a plant-based diet, is the great-granddaughter of Lord Alan John Sainsbury, of the Sainsbury's supermarket-owning family.
She told Good Housekeeping UK: 'I passionately wanted to do Deliciously Ella on my own. Of course, it didn't take journalists long to link the dots and I felt so bad in retrospect.
'I knew people would say I was just a nepo baby, but you don't sell 100 million products because 40 years ago Sainsbury's went public.
'At the same time, having that connection meant I had a subconscious wish to do something quite different, against the odds, as my great-grandfather had done.'
In the mid-2010s Mills was touted as a pioneer of the 'clean eating' movement, despite telling a magazine in 2016 that 'I would never use the word 'clean'.'
The concept, promoting minimally-processed foods, was controversial, with Nigella Lawson telling BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour that 'behind the notion of clean eating is an implication that any other form of eating is dirty or shameful'.
During this time, Mills received backlash for her gluten, meat and dairy-free recipes, as well as her personal wellness journey, which was associated with the clean eating movement.
She told the magazine: 'It (the backlash) was instigated more by the media than by social media.
'I don't have it as bad as some people who've been trolled, but I'm aware that a fair share of people don't like me, for sure.
'I accept that if you have a public platform and you share your opinion with the world, the world is quite right to have an opinion back.
'If I can help people to eat more plants and have a more natural diet, then that's more important than anything a troll can say about me.'
Speaking further about the wellness industry, she said: 'You have this bizarre, quite ironic dichotomy: as our collective health gets worse, the wellness industry gets bigger, noisier, more confusing and more niche.
'If you go online, people are following these extreme morning routines, achieving so much by 9am.
'My concern is that too many people think that their health is synonymous with expensive powder and wildly elaborate routines.
'Everything I suggest is evidence-based. It's not about gimmicks or fads. I changed my diet (to plant-based) and it changed my life.'
In the summer of 2011, Mills was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which is when your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down, according to the NHS website.
In her book, Deliciously Ella, published in 2015, she said that changing her diet meant 'in less than two years I was off all the medication I should have been on for life'.
Read the full interview in Good Housekeeping UK's July issue, on sale from June 29.
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Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
TV's Aldo Zilli tries all the supermarket cods – the delicious, authentic winner costs just 85p a piece
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Tesco Battered Cod Fillet Portions 4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 52% fish 9 I don't know how they make this cod so cheap Credit: Darren Fletcher THESE frozen portions are Atlantic cod, which is sustainable and a good source, so I don't know how they make it so cheap. It's an excellent price for four pieces. For those nights when you want a chippy tea, you could absolutely cook an alternative with this box on standby in the freezer. With some chunky homemade or oven chips, it's perfect for a takeaway taste. It is not quite authentic in flavour as the batter is a bit soft. But the fish tastes fresh, with a good, firm texture and it's flaking and moist. The size of each piece is generous, too. RATING: 4/5 The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu Sainsbury's Battered Cod Fillets 4 pieces, 500g, £3.39, 58% fish 9 When picking up this Sainsbury's fish, be prepared for something more like a canape Credit: Darren Fletcher ONE of the higher ratios of fish but they do not seem plentiful. 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Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Popular supermarket launches £20 dupe of £11k Birkin bags Victoria Beckham & Olivia Attwood love – it comes in 2 colours
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF your bank balance is getting in the way of your true style, don't worry. You will soon be able to replicate the iconic Birkin bag look with a new budget-friendly dupe. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Tu is launching a £20 handbag that is similar in style to the iconic Birkin bag Credit: Tu 5 Victoria Beckham is often seen carrying her pricey Birkin bag when out in public Credit: Alamy 5 The popular supermarket also has added a similar purse in cream - and it's already become a hit amongst fashionistas Credit: SAINSBURY'S Often spotted on the arm of Victoria Beckham or Olivia Attwood, Birkins have become a staple in celeb wardrobes. Even Kylie Jenner's daughter sported one when she was just learning to walk. However, at £11,000 a-piece, Birkins are not exactly a go-to buy for most people. 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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers in frenzy over new Sainsbury's dress that's big boob-friendly, fits like a dream & the colour of summer
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