How the Find Me Gluten-Free App Makes Gluten-Free Travel Easier—And the Story Behind It
- nwheeler01
- 24 hours ago
- 5 min read
I recently had the opportunity to interview Jason Elmore, founder of Find Me Gluten Free, a must-have app for anyone living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Jason was diagnosed with celiac disease in September 2011 at 23 years old, but his journey to diagnosis was long and frustrating. After experiencing years of unexplained stomach issues throughout high school and college, including a doctor visit during his freshman year where he was simply prescribed Pepcid, it ultimately took nine years to receive an accurate diagnosis.
His story will sound familiar to a lot of people in the celiac community. Like many of us, his symptoms weren’t taken seriously, and it took years of being sick before he finally got a diagnosis.
What inspired you to start Find Me Gluten Free?
Jason was diagnosed not long after the iPhone was released, and he had just completed his degree in Computer Science. He had already created an app for a golf range finder, but after struggling to find safe places to eat, he wanted to create something that could help others with celiac disease. A natural problem solver, Jason started thinking about how he could make things easier, not just for himself, but for the entire gluten-free community.
What was the biggest challenge you faced at the beginning?
One of the biggest challenges Jason faced early on was finding restaurants that were truly safe and accommodating for gluten-free dining. At the same time, building the app wasn’t easy, especially in a space that was mostly designed for big companies, not individuals trying to create something from scratch.
At what moment did you realize that Find Me Gluten-Free was successful?
Jason described the success of Find Me Gluten Free as more of a slow build than a single moment. One early milestone was when they partnered with “Naked Pizza,” which helped give the app more visibility. But for him, it started to feel real when he was recognized by people in public.
How has your mission evolved from when you started?
Jason explained that while the mission behind Find Me Gluten Free has stayed the same, the way they achieve it has evolved. At its core, the goal is still to help the celiac community regain a sense of spontaneity and feel confident when dining out. Over the years, the tools and approach have changed, but that mission to make eating out safer and less stressful remains the same.
What is the biggest misconception people have about your business?
Jason shared that one of the biggest misconceptions about Find Me Gluten Free is that it will solve all your problems; he stresses that it is a helpful tool, but only a tool. It’s meant to support you, guide you, and make things easier, but you still need to ask questions and advocate for yourself when dining out.
What do you wish you knew before starting?
"I was naive and young. I wish I knew more about business models. Selling ads to restaurants was almost impossible." He also wishes he had known more about what it takes to build something that’s not just viable, but sustainable over time.
What keeps you motivated?
Jason said what keeps him motivated is solving problems and improving things. He also shared that knowing the app helps people is a big part of why he keeps going. The mission behind Find Me Gluten Free is something that’s very close to his heart, and that connection to helping the celiac community is what continues to motivate him.
What could the gluten-free community do to better support small businesses?
The gluten-free community can really help small businesses by "writing reviews, spreading the word, and helping with exposure."
What do you think the gluten-free community does well?
Jason feels the gluten-free community is great at supporting each other and connecting online. Since many people with celiac don’t know others in their day-to-day lives, having that online space makes a big difference. It helps people feel understood, share experiences, and not feel so alone.
What is your favorite gluten-free product?
"That's hard...right now, Little Northern Bakehouse bread/rolls."
How do you personally decide if food is "safe" when eating out?
Jason explained that if he is with a big group, and he can't pick the place he eats beforehand. If he gets to the restaurant, they know about Celiac disease, he's read the reviews, and they are positive, he'd have a conversation with the staff and get something to eat. If he can choose, it would be a dedicated gluten-free place. He says that advocating for yourself all the time is exhausting. He also looks for restaurants with a history of taking gluten-free seriously.
Why Find Me Gluten-Free is my number one app
Personally, this app has helped me find safe, gluten-free food all over the United States, Ireland, England, and France, just to name a few places. I love that I can switch between a list view and a map to easily see what’s nearby. It clearly shows which restaurants are dedicated to gluten-free and which are more celiac-friendly, making it easier to decide where to eat.
I also rely on the reviews to see what other users recommend ordering, and I like that each listing includes a direct link to the restaurant’s website so I can quickly check hours and details. One feature I really appreciate is the alert when a place hasn’t been reviewed in a while; it’s a helpful reminder to double-check, since restaurant ownership and staff can change over time.
Using Find Me Gluten-Free for Traveling
Using the "Travel" button at the bottom of the screen allows you to plan your future trips.
Here you can find gluten-free options in airports, search for dining on cruises, explore options by country, and even discover places to eat along your route when traveling by car. These are just a few of the many ways you can use this app.
Knowing that the creator of Find Me Gluten Free has celiac disease and truly understands how challenging it can be to eat out makes me feel more confident using the app.
Conclusion
Jason’s story is a good reminder that behind something we all use is a real person dealing with the same everyday challenges. He’s easy to talk to, down-to-earth, and honest about what it’s really like living with celiac disease, the constant research before eating out, the exhaustion that comes with advocating for yourself, and how isolating it can feel at times. Even as the creator of Find Me Gluten Free, he goes through it too.
Like so many others, his diagnosis didn’t come quickly, which is why spreading awareness and speaking up is so important, even when it’s exhausting. And while celiac disease can feel isolating, the online community makes a big difference in helping people feel more connected.
I also want to personally thank Jason. Find Me Gluten Free has truly helped me build confidence after my diagnosis and get back to doing something I love...traveling. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without it.
At the end of the day, his story isn’t just about creating an app; it’s about turning a shared struggle into something that helps others feel more confident and a lot less alone. Thank you, Jason, for all the work you’ve done to make eating out a little less stressful for the celiac community.
If you’re ready to feel more confident eating out, you can sign up for a Premium subscription here, Find Me Gluten-Free, and use the code GFLIFE. This will get you $5 off. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my gluten-free travel content!