Ditch the GMO’s, MSG and Other Harmful Ingredients: Homemade Seasonings

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Have you read the ingredient lists on some of your favorite seasoning packets recently? Yikes! They are full of some of the most questionable, highly processed foods and flavorings that none of us wants or needs, and worse yet, absolutely aren’t necessary. From MSG to GMO’s (bioengineered ingredients), nasty seed oils and more.

We’ve got it backwards. We’ve grown so used to just picking up these “convenience” packets, we’ve completely forgotten the fact that with about five minutes of additional time, we can quickly whip up a batch (the equivalent of multiple packets) to have on hand for multiple meals.

As a bonus, these recipes make FANTASTIC gift ideas! I’ve started to love gifting useful commodities, because honestly, I LOVE receiving those types of gifts as well.

Below, I’ll also show you the ingredients in some of the more popular brands of these same products and I’ll go into detail about some of the ingredients listed. Anything bolded, I have a concern with Although I do somewhat agree with the FDA, when they note that with all of these approved ingredients, in small amounts, they’re fine. Yep, that’s probably true. The problem I have is that we aren’t consuming them in small amounts - many of them are likely in each meal and snack you have in a day. At some point, over the course of 20, 30, 40 years or more of daily consumption, it’s no longer a small amount. And what’s that doing to our bodies.

So friends, here you go, the EASIEST recipes to replace store-bought seasoning packets - another way to ditch the processed items and keep your kitchen clean!

Like the Mason Jars I'm using? Use this affiliate link to pick some up for yourself!

Homemade Ranch Seasoning

1/3 C Dry Buttermilk Powder
1 TB Garlic Powder
1 TB Onion Powder
2 tsp Dried Parsley
1 1/2 tsp Chives (Dried)
1 tsp Fine Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Dried Tarragon
Up to 1/4 tsp fresh pepper
1/4 tsp Mustard Powder

Stir to combine. Store in cool, dry location, in an air-tight container or small Mason Jar.

*Use 2 TB for a recipe that calls for 1 packet of ranch seasoning.

I bet the Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning packet in your cupboard has juuuust about the same ingredients, right? Let’s take a look (in order of most to least):

Maltodextrin: a sweetener known to cause an increase in blood sugar.
Buttermilk
Salt
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): a few reactions the FDA has been given reports on regarding the consumption of MSG include headaches, nausea, chest pain, quick heartbeats, asthma and many more. Oh, and both animals and humans have shown a toxic effect on the reproductive system.
Garlic
Onion
Lactic Acid (for a longer shelf life)
Calcium Lactate (for leavening)
Spices: They don’t have to tell you which ones. Nice. Hope you’re not allergic to them.
Citric Acid
Calcium Stearate (another thickening agent)
Artificial Flavoring: Why not tell us what this artificial flavor is? Because the FDA says they don’t have to.
Xanthan Gum: Yet another thickening agent that is “generally” safe, but also might cause gas.
Carboxymethylcellulose (cellulose gum): A thickener and emulsifier (used to stabilized processed foods). While there have been limited studies regarding human consumption, in some, it has caused loose bowel movements and reduced the good bacteria in our gut. Unfortunately, in animal studies, it’s been linked to chronic inflammatory conditions such as colitis, metabolic syndrome and colon cancer.
Guar Gum: OMG, one more thickener! Made from beans, some studies show it’s beneficial for digestion, blood sugar and weight loss. That said, it can also cause gas, diarrhea, bloating and cramps.
Natural Flavor: Natural flavor made with up to 90% unnatural ingredients, lol

Homemade Taco Seasoning

1 TB Chili Powder
1 1/2 to 2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Paprika (Smoked, if available)
1 tsp Fine Sea Salt
1 tsp Fresh Pepper
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

Stir to combine. Store in cool, dry location, in an air-tight container or small Mason Jar.

*Use 2 TB for a recipe that calls for 1 packet of taco seasoning mix.

While you can see, pronounce and have heard of each of the ingredients in my homemade taco seasoning mix, can you say the same for one of the more popular taco seasoning brands on the market? Take a look at the ingredients in a packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix:

Chilli Pepper
Corn Starch
Salt
Onion Powder
Maltodextrin (highly processed ingredient that’s said to improve taste and shelf-life, many times used to replace sugar, yet they’re still using sugar. I also think in air-sealed package, we don’t need to worry about the shelf life).
Spice: since manufacturers don’t have to list “spices,” they sometimes don’t. Who knows what this is, but my guess is MSG.
Sea Salt
Vegetable Oil: Mmmm, another seed oil. Why do we need oil in this at all? See above recipe.
Corn Flour
Silicon Dioxide: This is said to prevent clumping. It is a natural ingredient….you might know it as “sand.”
Citric Acid: Gimme ALL the NATURAL citric acid, but this probably isn’t. Cheap, processed foods are likely not using nature-based citric acid, they’re using the lab-based ones. Made from (drum roll please…) BLACK MOLD. Yummy. To be fair, they do say all of the black mold is filtered out, but many say the mycotoxins remain.
Sugar: Again, 100% unnecessary but probably need it to balance the taste of some of the other unnecessary ingredients.
Natural Flavor: Did you know a natural flavor can contain more than 100 chemicals? Guess what - those chemicals aren’t natural, but because the “flavor” is derived from something natural, on our labels, it will just say “Natural Flavor.” Seems misleading, but so do most of the ingredients in our food supply:)

Homemade Onion Soup Mix

1/2 C Dried Onion Flakes
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Celery Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Dried Parsley
1 tsp Fine Sea Salt
1 tsp Turmeric

Stir to combine. Stir in cool dry location, in air-tight container or small Mason Jar.

*Use 1/4 C mix per 2 C of beef stock/broth. Or, to replace a packet of Soup Mix, use 1/2 of this mixture for every packet the recipe calls for.

And when we compare those ingredients to the ever-popular Lipton Onion Soup Mix? Two totally different things!

Onions
Salt
Cornstarch
Onion Powder
Sugar: Why?
Soy Sauce
Caramel Color: Wow, something completely unnecessary…I can’t believe it! Worse yet, caramel color is typically made my mixing high-dextrose corn syrup with ammonium (ammonia) compounds, acids or alkalis. It’s used in chocolate-based baked goods, colas and processed meat and gravy dishes. Oh yeah. It’s also a known carcinogen
Maltodextrin: See explanation listed under the ranch recipe.
Corn Syrup Solids: Essentially dehydrated corn syrup.
Yeast Extract
High Oleic Sunflower Oil: Another unnecessary seed oil and there’s a lot of controversy about it. My take is that after extreme processing - avoid it at all costs.
Disodium Guanylate: A flavor enhancer sometimes associated with headaches, asthma and stomach issues. Usually used with products also containing MSG.
Disodium Inosinate: Another flavor enhancer usually used products containing MSG.

Homemade Sazon

1 TB Ground Coriander
1 TB Ground Cumin
1 TB Turmeric
1 TB Garlic Powder
1 TB Salt
2 tsp Oregano
1 tsp black pepper

Stir to combine. Stir in cool dry location, in air-tight container or small Mason Jar.

*Replace store-bought with equal parts of homemage.

And in Le Preferida Sazon Seasoning?

Salt
Monosodium Glutamate(MSG): See above explanations.
Garlic
Onion
Autolyzed Yeast Extract
Spices: What are they? See above.
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Paprika
Toasted Corn Germ
Silicon Dioxide: More sand.

Some of you may have no issue with any of these ingredients. Fine. Some of you may have an issue with some of the ingredients I didn’t call out. Also fine. Again, my issue is more with the rate we’re consuming these ingredients, while not being educated about the potential side effects or about the benefits of using REAL ingredients instead.

We have gotten so used to the convenience of some of our foods, and become so complacent in trusting the agencies and brands that permit them, that we have forgotten something basic: cooking.

It’s not hard, but the benefits are huge. You can start with the above easy recipes to start replacing some of the convenience foods you’re used to picking up at the grocery store. Oh, and start reading labels:)