by smalltowngirlkc

The “Healthy Dinner” Change I Didn’t See Coming… Seasoning Packets

(And the simple swap that made home-cooked meals way easier.)

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

We set a big family goal in 2025 to eat healthier. We aimed for more home-cooked meals and fewer processed foods. We wanted to move away from the “grab whatever is fastest” lifestyle. Easy goal to write down… not so easy to live out when your calendar looks like a game of Tetris.

And honestly? The first thing to go wasn’t soda or dessert.

It was seasoning packets.

You know the ones—taco seasoning, ranch mix, fajita seasoning, chili seasoning. They are the little packets you toss in the cart. You’re thinking, “It’s just seasoning.”

WRONG.

Once I actually started reading labels, I realized they can be loaded with sodium. They also contain extra ingredients I don’t really want in our everyday meals. And let’s not even talk about the cost. Buying packet after packet adds up fast.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

The Game-Changer: Making My Own Seasoning Mixes

I wanted a simple system: something I could prep once, store neatly, and grab quickly on busy nights. The problem was… my spice cabinet was a mess. Random bottles, half-used bags, labels missing—zero chance I was going to stay consistent.

That’s when I ordered these from Amazon:

Square Spice Jars with Black Bamboo Wooden Lid (Pack of 24) – with shaker inserts + 240 labels
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
👉 Amazon link: EDELHAUS SPICE BARS

And I’m not being dramatic when I say: this one purchase made my “cook at home” goal feel doable again.

Why I Loved These Spice Jars (And Why They’re Perfect for DIY Mixes)

✅ 1) They instantly made my kitchen feel organized

Square jars line up neatly and don’t waste space. When everything is uniform, it’s easier to see what you have—and actually use it.

✅ 2) Shaker inserts = quick seasoning, no mess

Whether I’m sprinkling taco seasoning into ground meat or adding a pinch of garlic powder to veggies, the shaker insert makes it fast and clean.

✅ 3) The labels are a lifesaver

This set comes with 240 labels, which is amazing because once you start making your own mixes, you’ll want to label everything (trust me). No more guessing games.

✅ 4) The bamboo lids look cute on the counter

I didn’t think I’d care about this… but I do. They’re functional and they make your spices look like you have your life together. Even if you don’t. 😂

The Busy-Family Benefit: “Grab-and-Go” Homemade Seasoning Packets

Once I got the jars set up, I started mixing my own versions of our most-used packets. Now when it’s dinner time, I can just grab a jar instead of ripping open a packet and hoping it doesn’t dump half the container into the pan.

Here are a few easy mixes I started with:

Homemade Taco Seasoning (Simple Starter Mix)

Mix together:

  • chili powder
  • cumin
  • paprika
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • oregano
  • black pepper
  • (optional) a little salt if your family needs it—mine is better with less

“Ranch-Style” Seasoning (Great on potatoes + chicken)

Mix together:

  • dried parsley
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • dill
  • black pepper
  • (optional) chives

Italian Seasoning Blend (Weeknight lifesaver)

Mix together:

  • basil
  • oregano
  • thyme
  • rosemary
  • garlic powder

Once these were made, it felt like I had my own little “seasoning packet aisle”… minus the extra ingredients and overpriced packets.

What I Didn’t Expect: Less Stress at Dinner Time

The best part wasn’t even the organization.

It was the feeling of being able to cook faster without relying on processed shortcuts.

When life gets busy (and it always does), it’s not that we don’t want to cook at home—we just need things to be easy. Having my seasonings ready to go removed one more barrier.

So if you’ve been trying to eat healthier but keep getting stuck on the busy nights, this is a simple place to start.

If You Want to Try It, Here’s What I Bought

I’m using this exact set:

🫙 Square Spice Jars with Black Bamboo Wooden Lid (Pack of 24) + shaker inserts + 240 labels
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
👉 EDELHAUS SPICE JARS

It’s one of those “small” purchases that ends up making a big difference—especially if you’re trying to cut back on processed foods without making life harder.

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