Even though companies are being forced to be more transparent about the ingredients that go into our food, it doesn't stop them from using chemicals and unnecessary additives in their products.

The best way to keep track of what is in your food is to make it yourself. There are plenty of homemade alternatives to prepackaged products and they can be very easy to make with items that you may already have in your pantry.

Artificial food dye has been one of the most controversial food additive around mainly due to the alleged use of petroleum to create them. If you're an avid baker, you might want to cut back on how much of it you incorporate in your creations and look for more natural options.

Fruits, vegetables and spices are perfect for creating all-natural food coloring. You might have to make some adjustments to your recipe due to the consistency of the dye but it is definitely worth it.

Check out this video by Bigger Bolder Baking to see how you can make your own natural food dyes at home.

You can also get more detailed instructions on creating these dyes from the Leite's Culinaria website.

Let us know if you will be giving this a try!