Super Healthy Taco Mix

When I first started eating gluten free, I had trouble finding a taco seasoning mix that didn't have either wheat flour or MSG, which was very frustrating to me. I made up this taco seasoning recipe, which tastes much better than packaged mixes, and with all the vegetables in there, it's much healthier than any other recipe I've tried. This recipe is gluten free and sugar free, and super healthy for you!

Recipe:

- 3 tbsp. grapeseed oil (or other oil of your choice)

- 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced

- 2 pounds of lean ground chicken, turkey, or beef

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 2 medium bell peppers, chopped

- 2 medium-large tomatoes, chopped

- 1/2 cup water

- 2 tbsp. chili powder

- 2 tsp. ground cumin

- 2 tsp. paprika

- 2 tsp. oregano

- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Coat the bottom of a large saute pan with oil. Add ground meat, garlic, onion, and peppers, and brown until cooked. While that cooks, combine chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. When meat is cooked, drain fat an add in tomatoes, spices, and water. Cook for another 10-15 minutes on medium-high heat, until tomatoes are tender and most of the liquid has simmered out. Let cool, and serve.

I usually put this mix in either a whole wheat tortilla wrap or corn taco shell and top with lettuce, salsa, and (Chobani) non-fat plain yogurt. (The yogurt is a healthier option fo people who usually like sour cream on their taco.) Be creative, and as always, check your ingredients for "junk," such as white flour ("unwhole wheat") and sugar.

For my vegetarian friends, use 1 lb. tofu and 1 lb. beans instead of the ground meat. Skip the browning the meat part of the recipe, and just saute the peppers, onion, and garlic by themselves. Add in tofu and beans and continue with recipe.