Now that we are over a month into the New Year, I think it’s appropriate to revisit some of those “New Year’s Resolutions.” Is it safe to assume that many people made “to-go-gluten free” a part of their 2012 resolution? If this is you, make sure you first know which gluten-free category you belong to. If you’re ready to make the commitment, know that I’m always ready to help!

Here are 16 simple, common swaps to get you started in the right direction:

Breakfast

1. Swap your regular oatmeal for Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Oats or Gluten-Free Oats from Trader Joe’s.
2. Swap your regular muffin for an Udi’s Gluten-Free Muffin or better yet one of these muffins.
3. Swap commercial, packaged bacon or sausage (many have gluten in them) for a homemade turkey patty (extra lean/lean turkey + pinch cumin + pinch pepper + pinch sea salt + red onion and garlic to your liking).
4. Swap regular pancakes for one of the following:

• a protein pancake (1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 3 egg whites + 1/2 c. gluten-free oats + pinch cinnamon + packet stevia) OR
• Gluten-Free, Egg-Free Pumpkin Pancake

Lunch

1. Swap the traditional salad dressing (most have gluten in them, but not all) for this gluten-free salad dressing {How-To Video}.
2. Swap your traditional bread for Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. (Side note: I’m dying to try the Millet-Chia Bread.)
3. Swap your PB&J for this one.

 
Dinner

1. Swap your regular, whole wheat pasta for: quinoa, rice noodles, corn pasta, Shirataki noodles, millet or buckwheat.
2. Swap your mac ‘n cheese for this gluten-free mac ‘n cheesy.
3. Swap your spaghetti and meatballs for these gluten-free spaghetti and Swedish meatballs.
4. Be lazy and throw it all in the slow cooker.
5. Instead of rolling up your chicken in a whole wheat tortilla wrap, try wrapping it up in lettuce.

Snacks

1. Swap your Snicker’s Marathon Bar for a Pure Bar, Larabar or KIND Bar.
2. Swap your Handi-Snacks Crackers and Cheese for gluten-free crackers and some Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle Cheese.
3. Swap a pre-packaged ho ho for a pre-packaged 100 calorie pack of raw almonds and pre-packaged Mini Babybel Sharp Original.

 
Going gluten free is scary in the beginning. I get that. I’ve lived through that. But once you get through the initial shock of the can-and-can’t haves, it becomes second nature.

I now live for gluten-free cooking and baking, finding substitutions so that I’m able to eat nearly everything I want, even if there doesn’t seem like a likely swap available. So my question for you today: What other gluten-free swap questions do you have?!