This post may contain affiliate links. read more…
Be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post!
A few years back I was diagnosed with many many food allergies. It was a complete shock to me since I had never been allergic to anything in my first 35 years of life. So now I had this new chore of finding food that I could eat and with that came hours of sitting in the grocery aisle reading labels. The everyday shopper doesn’t have to worry about the ingredients, more than likely they just go for the cheapest, prettiest label or what is on sale. We have to stop shopping this way! Since I have had the chore of looking at what is in anything I buy I’ve learned so much and it’s frightening what companies use as fillers, preservatives, anti-caking and so on.
Take taco seasoning. Here is what is in that little packet that you probably have in your cabinet:
Chili pepper, salt, maltodextrin, spice, onion powder, corn starch, yellow corn flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, yeast extract, silicon dioxide, sunflower and/or cottonseed oil, natural flavor, ethoxyquin
Silicon dioxide, do you know what that is? It’s the same thing that is in that little white packet that comes with your shoes and says “DO NOT EAT”. YES, that same packet that they don’t want you to eat from your shoes is in taco seasoning. It’s used as an anti-caking agent and increases shelf life. Most brands put it in there, even Simply Organic! See for yourself here.
Ethoxyquin is used to prevent discoloration and it’s also used as a pesticide. It’s banned in Australia and most of Europe.
Maltodextrin is an artificial sweetener usually made from GMO corn.
These items don’t help the taste, just the shelf life so why do we need them in there!
So what can you do about it? Make sure you read those ingredients if there is a word in there that you don’t know it’s probably some made-up chemical that is bad for you. Some brands that have just all spices and no fillers are Spicely Organic Taco Seasoning and Wildtree (my favorite of course!). You can also make your own.
To make your own just grab a mason jar, put in the following spices, and shake it up.
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3 tsp ground cumin
- 1 to 2 tsp sea salt (more or less to taste)
- 2 tsp black pepper
Just use 1 or 2 tablespoons with 3/4 cup of water when you cook your meat. This is spicier than the store-bought brands so just use 1 tablespoon if you don’t like spicy. Get the label I used (and for all your spices) at the bottom of this post.
If you are short on time or just don’t want to buy the spices above you can order some Wildtree Taco Seasoning here.
If your family is like mine Taco night is a favorite that we have at least once or twice a month. So please take one of the easy steps above to make this meal a little healthier and take some needed chemicals out of your diet!
Do you have a favorite Taco Seasoning recipe? Paste it in the comments.
Related Taco Recipes
NOTE: Contest has ended. Thank you to everyone for participating.
Enter below to win a Wildtree gift basket that includes:
Taco Seasoning – Made With An Authentic Blend Of Spices – Makes Perfect Tacos Every Time!
Smokey Bacon Grapeseed Oil – A guilt-free way to enjoy the smoky goodness of bacon! Use this oil to cook up eggs, sandwiches, vegetables and pasta dishes. It can also be used in soups, stews, popcorn, and pancakes. But don’t worry; no pigs were harmed in the making of this oil!
Lasagna Skillet Meal – No time to make a full lasagna? Make this delicious lasagna skillet meal instead! On the table in under 30 minutes!
Guacamole Seasoning – Wonderful Spread To Add To A Summer Sandwich! One Wonderful Layer In The Ever-Popular 7-Layer Dip. Add To Refried Beans To Make A Wonderful Side Dish For Your Mexican Cuisine. Serve With Chips And Salsa. Add To Any Mexican Cuisine Sauce For Great Enchiladas. Top Any Taco Salad For A Wonderful Rich Taste.
Download your guide for free!
Learn how everyday products could be affecting your health and how simple swaps can lead to a cleaner, safer home.
Recent Posts
Share on Social
Grab your Free Gluten Free Recipe Pack
Discover 45 easy, healthy, and tasty recipes, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, treats and smoothies!
Recent Posts
Homemade Laundry Soap with Essential Oils for Laundry
I just buy the store brand.
Hi, I make my own taco’s I just season the ground turkey ( i use that instead of beef now ) I don’t pre mix my season’s however it would be so nice to have that, i just don’t like to buy those packets, I don’t have a link I just make it up, I use cumin, fajita season or use can use salt and pepper, I use crushed red pepper, crushed oregano, I use green chili’s and tomato’s and some times I throw in tomato paste but not always, I also use garlic and onion, and bell peppers. and what ever else it may need but that is mostly it. thank you so much would love to try this.
I buy mine, usually whatever is cheapest. Don’t have any in the pantry so can’t check to see what’s in it, but I’m sure I wouldn’t like what I read.
I buy the packaged kind.
i buy mine but I don’t have a packet to read from right now
I use an organic taco packet. The Ingredients: Organic Chili Pepper, Organic Onion, Organic Maltodextrin, Sea Salt, Organic Paprika, Organic Garlic, Organic Cumin, Organic Potato Starch, Organic Cayenne, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Rice Concentrate, Citric Acid. I guess making my own would be even better!
It depends. Sometimes I make my own
I buy them fresh from our favorite Mexican restaurant…
I usually buy taco seasoning.
I buy it but I’ll start making my own. I also add white rice to my tacos.
I make my own! http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/04/turkey-taco-lettuce-wraps-3-pts.html?m=1
I buy it from the grocery store
I use that stuff to dry flowers. Omg make me wonder if this stuff is what might be bothering my grandsons tummy
I have never made my own taco seasoning nor do I buy taco seasoning. I just buy my tacos ready made but I would love to try making my own.
I look up recipes for taco seasoning and mix together the spices myself from spices bought at the grocery store.
I usually buy it but i have made my own with the same recipe you have when i run out.
Not sure I want to buy mine anymore. 🙁
I think I will start making my own.
Your image would not show for me to pin. I did however pin your page.
I think everyone should be aware of it.
I buy mine from Target. It’s their Market Pantry brand. I don’t remember what all is in there but the things I look for them to NOT have is MSG, dairy, and gluten. I was surprised when we went allergy conscious how many seasonings had wheat and dairy.
Here’s a really easy one I make sometimes:
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2011/07/homemade-homemaking-taco-seasoning.html
I make mine. It’s so easy!
4 T chili powder
2 T cumin
2 T paprika
2 T dried oregano
1 T onion powder
1 T garlic powder
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
I always make my own taco seasoning, but haven’t stuck with one recipe. Each time I need to make it, I find a new one online.
I’m in Australia and I’m always shocked to hear about the chemical sh*tstorm that you guys in the U.S. are expected to consume!! Our food standards are much stricter, but even so we still have a lot of unnecessary rubbish put into our packaged/processed foods.
My youngest is intolerant to dairy and soy, so now I just try and make everything from scratch (which can be a pain in the backside but at least I know it’s safe!).
Your taco mix sounds very similar to mine, maybe a little spicier 🙂 I know what’s for dinner tonight now!! Thanks 🙂
Hi Jen! I’m running a campaign on my blog for Just label it here at http://www.dontstopeating.com
I like the idea of making my own taco seasoning. I find it important that we know what is in our food because everyone’s health is at risk!