What are Masa chips and why are they different from regular tortilla chips?

Masa chips are made from nixtamalized corn — a traditional process where dried corn is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution (typically lime water). This ancient technique increases the bioavailability of nutrients like niacin, improves protein quality, and creates a richer, more complex flavor than modern corn chips. Most commercial tortilla chips skip nixtamalization entirely and use degerminated corn flour, industrial seed oils, and additives. Real masa chips have just a handful of ingredients and a noticeably better taste and texture.

What seed oils should I avoid in packaged food?

The main ones to avoid are canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed, and grapeseed oil. These are highly processed using chemical solvents like hexane, and they’re extremely high in omega-6 fatty acids. When consumed in excess — which is easy given how ubiquitous they are in packaged food — they contribute to an imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio linked to chronic inflammation. Better alternatives are avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee.

What does "clean label" mean for food products?

Clean label generally means a short, recognizable ingredient list with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or synthetic additives. There’s no regulated definition, so it’s a marketing term — which is why we do our own vetting rather than relying on the label. We look for products where every ingredient is something you could find in a kitchen, with no hidden fillers or processing aids. The shorter the ingredient list, the better.

Is organic food worth the extra cost?

It depends on the product. Organic matters most for items with the highest pesticide residue loads — the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list (strawberries, spinach, peppers, grapes, etc.) is a good guide. For pantry staples like grains, oats, and legumes, organic also reduces exposure to glyphosate, which is commonly used as a pre-harvest desiccant on conventional crops. For thick-skinned produce like avocados and pineapples, the benefit is lower. Prioritize organic for what you eat most frequently and in the largest quantities.

What's wrong with artificial food dyes?

Artificial food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 are petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals used purely for appearance. Several have been linked to hyperactivity in children, and some contain contaminants like benzidine (a known carcinogen) as byproducts of manufacturing. The EU requires warning labels on foods containing certain dyes; the US does not. They serve no nutritional purpose and are easy to avoid — none of the food products we carry contain artificial dyes.

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Grocery Guides 📖

Most packaged food is full of artificial additives, seed oils, synthetic dyes, and preservatives that have no place in a healthy diet. Everything here is chosen for real, clean ingredients — including brands like Masa, Purity Coffee, Skout Organic, Tiny Organics, Cascadian Farm, and more — so eating well doesn’t require reading a chemistry textbook.

How to Shop for Cleaner Food

Start with the Ingredient List, Not the Front Label

Front-of-package claims like “natural,” “healthy,” and “made with real ingredients” are largely unregulated marketing terms. The ingredient list is where the truth is. A short list of recognizable ingredients is almost always a better sign than a long list of additives, even if the front label looks impressive.

Watch Out for Hidden Seed Oils

Industrial seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, and cottonseed — are in the majority of packaged snacks and are highly processed with chemical solvents. They’re high in omega-6 fatty acids, which in excess contribute to systemic inflammation. We look for foods made with better fats: avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, butter, or ghee.

Organic Matters Most for the Dirty Dozen

You don’t need to buy everything organic, but it matters most for produce and ingredients with the highest pesticide residue loads. For pantry staples like grains, legumes, and oils, organic certification also reduces exposure to glyphosate residues from pre-harvest desiccation.

Browse all of our grocery and food guides for category-specific recommendations and brand breakdowns.

We look for short, recognizable ingredient lists, organic certification where it matters most, no artificial colors or flavors, no high-fructose corn syrup, and no industrial seed oils (canola, soybean, sunflower). We prioritize brands that are transparent about sourcing and processing.

Food & Beverage FAQs

Masa chips are made from nixtamalized corn — a traditional process where dried corn is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution (typically lime water). This ancient technique increases the bioavailability of nutrients like niacin, improves protein quality, and creates a richer, more complex flavor than modern corn chips. Most commercial tortilla chips skip nixtamalization entirely and use degerminated corn flour, industrial seed oils, and additives. Real masa chips have just a handful of ingredients and a noticeably better taste and texture.
The main ones to avoid are canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed, and grapeseed oil. These are highly processed using chemical solvents like hexane, and they’re extremely high in omega-6 fatty acids. When consumed in excess — which is easy given how ubiquitous they are in packaged food — they contribute to an imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio linked to chronic inflammation. Better alternatives are avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee.
Clean label generally means a short, recognizable ingredient list with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or synthetic additives. There’s no regulated definition, so it’s a marketing term — which is why we do our own vetting rather than relying on the label. We look for products where every ingredient is something you could find in a kitchen, with no hidden fillers or processing aids. The shorter the ingredient list, the better.
It depends on the product. Organic matters most for items with the highest pesticide residue loads — the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list (strawberries, spinach, peppers, grapes, etc.) is a good guide. For pantry staples like grains, oats, and legumes, organic also reduces exposure to glyphosate, which is commonly used as a pre-harvest desiccant on conventional crops. For thick-skinned produce like avocados and pineapples, the benefit is lower. Prioritize organic for what you eat most frequently and in the largest quantities.
Artificial food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 are petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals used purely for appearance. Several have been linked to hyperactivity in children, and some contain contaminants like benzidine (a known carcinogen) as byproducts of manufacturing. The EU requires warning labels on foods containing certain dyes; the US does not. They serve no nutritional purpose and are easy to avoid — none of the food products we carry contain artificial dyes.

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