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