Gluten Free Unwrapped

What happens when you can no longer choose your own food?

In this season finale of Gluten Free Unwrapped, Jenny welcomes back disability rights attorney Mary Vargas to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in the celiac disease community: what rights do you have when someone else is responsible for feeding you safely?

Together, they explore legal protections for people with celiac disease and food allergies in prisons, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.

Mary shares insights from landmark cases involving incarcerated individuals denied medically necessary gluten-free meals and explains what the law does and does not protect when safe food is no longer fully within your control.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What rights incarcerated individuals have under the ADA and the Constitution
• How prisons handle medically necessary diets like gluten-free diets
• What protections apply in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities
• What to do if a facility says it cannot accommodate your dietary needs
• When poor care crosses the line into disability discrimination

This powerful conversation is ultimately about dignity, equal access, and understanding your rights when your health is in someone else's hands. A must-listen episode for anyone with a food restriction.

Connect with Mary Vargas

• LinkedIn: @Mary Vargas
• Stein & Vargas LLP

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

• Instagram (@goodforyouglutenfree)
• Subscribe to her weekly newsletter
• LinkedIn
• Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox)
• Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Rights for Celiac and Food Allergies
• 19:59 Food Access in Hospitals and Nursing Homes

In this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny sits down with registered dietitian and celiac disease expert Erin Kenny, founder of The Celiac Space, to tackle one of the most confusing topics in the gluten-free world: The Gluten Challenge.

If you've already gone gluten-free but never received a definitive celiac disease diagnosis, should you start eating gluten again for testing? How much gluten is required? For how long? And is a Gluten Challenge always necessary?

Erin breaks down the latest recommendations, explains who should and shouldn't consider a Gluten Challenge, and shares practical guidance for navigating the diagnostic process.

Jenny and Erin also discuss the story of a well-known gluten-free influencer who spent years believing he had celiac disease, only to discover through genetic testing that celiac was unlikely. His experience highlights the importance of getting the right testing and understanding what a diagnosis can—and cannot—tell you.

Whether you're newly gluten-free, questioning a past diagnosis, or trying to help a loved one navigate testing, this episode will help you better understand the path to answers.

What You'll Learn:

• What a Gluten Challenge is and why it may be necessary
• Who should consider a Gluten Challenge—and who may not need one
• How much gluten is required for accurate testing
• The role of genetic testing in ruling celiac disease in or out
• What to do if you can't tolerate eating gluten again
• Common misconceptions about celiac disease diagnosis
• How to advocate for yourself during the testing process

Chapters

00:00 Understanding the Gluten Challenge

10:37 Erin's Personal Journey with Celiac Disease

20:30 The Role of Genetic Testing

22:56 Exploring Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

30:31 The Value of a Definitive Diagnosis

Connect with Erin Kenny

• The Celiac Space website
• The Celiac Space Instagram

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Instagram (@goodforyouglutenfree)

Subscribe to her weekly newsletter

LinkedIn

Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox)

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box

What rights do people with celiac disease actually have? In this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny sits down with disability rights attorney Mary Vargas to break down how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people living with celiac disease and food allergies.

Mary shares how her family’s personal experiences led her into disability rights law and walks through landmark cases involving restaurants, colleges, camps, and public spaces that helped shape protections for the gluten-free community.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How celiac disease is protected under the ADA
• What rights you have in restaurants, schools, camps, and workplaces
• The landmark cases changing gluten-free accommodations
• What “reasonable accommodations” actually look like
• Why advocacy continues to create change for the gluten-free community

This episode is an empowering conversation about inclusion, accessibility, and learning how to confidently advocate for yourself or your family while living gluten-free.

Connect with Mary Vargas

LinkedIn: @Mary Vargas

Stein & Vargas LLP

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Instagram (@goodforyouglutenfree)

Subscribe to her weekly newsletter

LinkedIn

Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox)

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Celiac Disease and Disability Rights

05:41 Legal Protections Under the ADA

09:02 Landmark Cases: JD vs. Colonial Williamsburg

14:11 Restaurant Rights and Accommodations

18:43 College Dining Rights and Responsibilities

22:39 Navigating Workplace Accommodations

37:13 When to Consider Litigation

In this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny sits down with registered dietitian and celiac specialist Jessica Lebovits to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of living gluten-free: micronutrient deficiencies.

Jessica explains why people with celiac disease are so prone to deficiencies in nutrients like iron, vitamin D, calcium, folate, and B12 — and why those deficiencies can persist even after going gluten-free. She also shares practical advice on nutrient testing, supplementation, and how to build a more nutrient-dense gluten-free diet.

Jessica also discusses the published micronutrient guidelines she co-authored for people with celiac disease and why they’re such an important tool for long-term healing and wellness.

What You'll Learn:

• Why nutrient deficiencies are common in celiac disease
• How to approach supplements without overdoing it
• The importance of a “food-first” approach to healing

Connect with Jessica Lebovits

Instagram: @gfree_rd & @bellybestieclub

LinkedIn: @Jessica Lebovits

Micronutrient Considerations for Celiac Disease published in Practical Gastroenterology: Micronutrient Considerations for Celiac Disease

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram and Facebook

Jenny on Instagram and subscribe to her newsletter.

Jenny on LinkedIn

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box

Chapters

00:00 – Why Nutrients Matter on a Gluten-Free Diet

06:00 – The Most Common Deficiencies in Celiac Disease

13:00 – What Nutrient Levels Celiacs Should Be Testing

21:30 – Food First vs. Supplements: What Actually Helps?

What happens when a childhood rooted in farming, homemade food, and simple ingredients meets the modern need for clean, portable snacks? In this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny sits down with Zora Tabin, founder of Wild Zora, to talk about her incredible journey from growing up in communist-era Czechoslovakia to building one of the most trusted clean snack brands in the gluten-free space.

Zora shares how her family’s connection to farming, whole foods, and using every part of the animal shaped the way she thinks about food today. She opens up about moving to the US and eventually launching Wild Zora from her Colorado kitchen after struggling to find truly healthy, protein-packed snacks for her family.

Jenny and Zora also dive into:

• Why clean ingredients matter more than ever
• The truth about “natural flavors”
• How Wild Zora pioneered protein-forward snacks before the trend exploded
• The realities of building a self-manufacturing food business
• Why so many gluten-free consumers rely on portable meals and snacks
• The growing interest in organ meats, freeze-dried foods, and regenerative agriculture

Whether you’re gluten-free, ingredient-conscious, or simply curious about how thoughtful food brands are built, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration.

Connect with Wild Zora

Website: wildzora.com

Instagram: @wildzorafoods

Facebook: @Wild Zora Foods

Linkedin: @Wild Zora Foods

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).

Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.

Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Zora Tabin and Wild Zora

02:01 Zora's Background and Connection to Food

04:29 Journey to the U.S. and Colorado

08:07 Inception of Wild Zora: The Business Idea

10:47 The Clean Eating Movement and Family Needs

12:44 Challenges in Sourcing Ingredients

15:39 Feedback and Growth in Farmers Markets

17:13 Transitioning to Retail and Post-COVID Strategy

20:38 Partnership with Josh and Self-Manufacturing

22:58 Building a Brand with Personal Touch

26:01 Navigating Challenges Post-COVID

29:24 Innovations in Freeze-Drying Technology

32:15 Catering to Diverse Dietary Needs

36:21 Maintaining Creative Freedom in Business

39:06 Connecting with the Community through Quality Products

Today on Gluten Free Unwrapped, we're tackling the topics that cause the most arguments, confusion, and anxiety in the celiac community. In fact, if you spend any time in gluten-free Facebook groups or on social media, you know that the rules of living with celiac disease can sometimes feel intense and contradictory.

To help us separate fact from fiction, host Jenny Finke chats with Selena DeVries, a Registered Dietitian who specializes in celiac disease and is the voice behind Celiac Made Simple on Instagram.

In this episode, Jenny and Selena discuss:

How misinformation in online forums shaped Selena's approach to celiac disease today.

Myth or Fact? Selena debunks many myths, including:

• Can you use a shared toaster?
• Is there gluten in envelopes?
• Is it safe to kiss a partner who just ate gluten?
• Are convection ovens a risk for cross-contamination?
• Do you need to worry about gluten in cosmetics?

Decoding Food Labels: Selena shares the truth behind:

• Why some products can contain wheat and still be gluten-free
• What precautionary labels like "May contain wheat" actually mean
• Are oats safe?

This is another can't-miss episode to help you live your best gluten-free life.

Connect with Selena DeVries, RD

Instagram: @celiac_made_simple

Website: selenard.com

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).

Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.

Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Celiac Confusion

03:07 Selena DeVries: A Celiac's Journey

06:02 Fact vs. Fiction: The Shared Toaster Debate

09:03 Envelope Glue: Myth Busting

12:03 Kissing After Gluten: Understanding the Risks

14:52 Convection Ovens: Debunking Cross-Contamination Myths

20:12 Understanding Gluten in Cosmetics

24:32 Decoding Food Labels for Celiac Safety

33:37 The Controversy of Oats in a Gluten-Free Diet

37:38 Navigating the Gluten-Free Journey with Confidence

We’re tackling the most debated device in the gluten-free community: Nima Sensor.

If you’ve ever stared at a restaurant meal wondering, "Is this actually safe?" you’ve probably considered buying a Nima. But let’s be honest, the brand has had a rocky history. Amid debates over accuracy, fears of false positives, and the sudden disappearance of the product (and company) last year, the celiac community's trust is low.

Earlier this year, Nima launched a comeback with new ownership and a revamp of the product. Is it better? And, can you trust it?

In this highly anticipated episode, Jenny talks with Mike Glick, the new CEO of Nima, to ask the hard questions. Mike doesn't hold back as he unpacks the controversies, explains how the technology has been rebuilt from the ground up, and shares what every celiac needs to know about testing their food.

We'll uncover the truth about:

The Big Relaunch: What’s changed, and why the new team had to rebuild the tech from scratch.

The Accuracy Debate: We tackle false positives, cross-contact, and how to interpret what the sensor is telling you.

The Mental Health Toll: Does testing your food give you peace of mind or cause more food anxiety?

The Future of Nima: What’s next and how Nima plans to win back trust.

If you’re a die-hard Nima user or a total skeptic, you cannot afford to miss this episode.

Coupon: GOODFORYOUGLUTENFREE for 15% off your purchase (affiliate).

Additional Reading: What You Need to Know About the Nima Gluten Device Before You Buy – Perspective from a Celiac & Nutrition Professional

Connect with Mike and NIMA

Website: nimanow.com

Instagram: @nimapartners

Facebook: @NIMA Partners

LinkedIn: @Mike Glick

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).

Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.

Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com

What does it really look like to live with more than one chronic condition?

In this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny Finke is joined by Lorin Smith, creator of Good Gluten Free Grub. Lorin lives with both celiac disease and type 1 diabetes, and she’s built a powerful community through her content on social media, her podcast, and gluten-free events in Utah.

We talk honestly about managing both conditions, from the daily realities of food and blood sugar management to the emotional weight of trying to feel “normal.”

We also deep dive into GLP-1 medications, and Lorin shares her personal experience with the wonder drug, including how it has impacted how she manages her celiac and diabetes symptoms, and some of the surprise side effects it's had in her overall health journey, and how she thinks it could help others struggling with chronic disorders.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The stress of managing two chronic conditions: celiac disease and type 1 diabetes
• Lorin’s experience using GLP-1 medications
• What to consider if you’re curious about GLP-1s and you have celiac or type 1 diabetes
• Her experiences building a gluten-free social media following, podcast, and local community

Connect with Lorin (Good Gluten Free Hub)

Website: goodglutenfreegrub.com

Instagram: @goodglutenfreegrub

Facebook: @Goodglutenfreegrub

LinkedIn: @Lorin Smith

The Good Gluten Free Grub Podcast

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).

Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.

Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Lorin's Story

04:03 – Celiac Diagnosis & Finding Relief

08:03 – Discovering the Gluten-Free Community

12:46 – Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

16:12 – Celiac & Type 1 Connection

22:06 – Managing Two Chronic Conditions

23:27 – Discovering GLP-1 Medications

28:11 – Life on GLP-1: Results & Impact

33:37 – Side Effects & Responsible Use

37:40 – Advice for GLP-1 & Chronic Illness

39:55 – Building a Gluten-Free Business & Community

46:45 – Rapid Fire + Final Thoughts

Today on Gluten-Free Unwrapped, Jenny Finke interviews Kristine Tran, the co-founder of NUFS, a fast-growing seed-oil-free cracker brand found at Sprouts and Whole Foods.

While the crackers are amazing, what makes this brand truly special is the story behind it.

Kristine shares how her father’s health challenges, including a diabetes diagnosis, became the catalyst for creating a product she and her co-founder/sister, Jess, felt proud to feed their own family.

In this conversation, we talk about the early pivots that shaped NUFS, including their shift from superfood bites to crackers, the realities of building and scaling a food brand, and what it’s like to run a business with your sister.

We also dig into what it takes to stand out in a crowded CPG space, why certifications like gluten-free and kosher matter, and how they think about ingredient quality, pricing, and building trust with their customers.

And of course, we talk about the fun stuff too, including how Kristine came up with the Hot Honey flavor and what might be coming next.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The personal story behind NUFS and how their father’s health inspired the brand
• Kristine’s background in finance and how it shaped a thoughtful, customer-first approach
• The evolution from superfood bites to crackers, and why they made the pivot
• What it’s really like building a business with your sibling
• How they developed a clean-label cracker that actually tastes good
• The story behind their Hot Honey flavor and what makes it so unique
• How they broke into major retailers like Sprouts and Whole Foods
• The realities of scaling a food business and growing quickly
• Why gluten-free and kosher certifications have been key to building trust
• Their perspective on pricing, ingredients, and educating consumers
• Food trends they’re watching and what’s next for NUFS

Discount

Use code LOVEME10 for a special discount at getnufs.com.

Connect with Kristine (NUFS)

Website: getnufs.com

Instagram: @getnufs

Facebook: @NUFS

LinkedIn: @Kristine Tran

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).

Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.

Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com

On this episode of Gluten-Free Unwrapped, we welcome Nicole Hunn, the mastermind behind Gluten Free on a Shoestring. Nicole is a bestselling cookbook author, prolific recipe creator, blogger, and entrepreneur.

We dive deep into Nicole’s journey - starting from her early days navigating life as a new mom with a son diagnosed with celiac disease, to leaving her career as a lawyer to start one of the most influential GF blogs in the world.

Nicole shares the inspiration behind her cookbooks, her philosophy on creating nostalgic “favorite” recipes, and the story of how she created her all-purpose GF flour blend.

In this episode, you’ll hear Nicole’s expert insights on:

• How she navigated the early days of GF cooking for her son and turned frustration into a blog and cookbook series
• Her best recipe hacks and advice for baking gluten-free with confidence (hint: flour blends matter more than you think.)
• How changes in blogging, social media, and the digital landscape are shaping the future of recipe creators
• Nicole’s personal reflections, proudest accomplishments, and her goals for the future

Connect with Nicole and Gluten-Free on a Shoestring

Website: glutenfreeonashoestring.com

Instagram: @gfshoestring

Facebook: @Gluten Free on a Shoestring

LinkedIn: @Nicole Hunn

Get her bread recipe here.

Connect with Jenny Finke (host)

Follow Love Me Gluten Free on Instagram (@lovemeglutenfree) and Facebook (@lovemeglutenfreebox).

Follow Jenny's founder content on Instagram at @goodforyouglutenfree and subscribe to her newsletter at welcome.goodforyouglutenfree.com.

Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferfinke/

Order a Love Me Gluten Free subscription box at lovemeglutenfree.com

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Nicole Hunn

3:00 – A Life-Changing Diagnosis

8:30 – The “Dark Ages” of Gluten-Free Food

13:00 – Learning to Bake from Scratch

15:00 – Building Gluten-Free on a Shoestring

18:00 – Cookbook Success & Recipe Development

22:00 – The Science of Gluten-Free Flour

28:00 – Best (and Worst) Gluten-Free Flours

34:00 – Food Restrictions, Elimination Diets & Balance

37:00 – The Reality of Blogging Today

48:00 – Raising the Standard for Gluten-Free Food

54:00 – Rapid Fire: Recipes, Favorites & Kitchen Truths

1:03:00 – Where to Find Nicole + What’s Next