Okay before this article begins, lets get on the same page on what 'popcorn' really is. I am not talking about the movie theatre popcorn soaking in butter or the kettle corn baked in sugar. You can always add a little bit of your seasoning of choice, but plain, stove or air popped popcorn is what we are looking for! Believe it or not, munching on popcorn is not a bad snack. Make your own air popped popcorn at home to really get the benefits out of popcorn. It can still be delicious when you get it outside of the movie theatre.
- Popcorn is a Whole Grain Food which reduces inflammation and decreases risk of heart disease.
- Popcorn is packed with Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese, and Phosphorus which you need every day.
- Popcorn contains large amounts of polyphenols which can help with blood circulation and improve digestive health.
- Popcorn is a great source of fiber which improves weight loss. 3.5 ounces of popcorn contains 15 grams of fiber; the daily intake recommended for women is 25 grams and for men 38 grams. Overall, most people are eating much less fiber than they should daily.
Fun Fact: Around 1.2 billion pounds of popcorn are consumed by Americans each year, making popcorn America's most popular snack food by volume.
Cooking:
The one thing that promotes healthy popcorn is the way it is prepared. The three best oils to use to make popcorn on the stovetop are Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, and Avocado Oil. With this being said, it is even better to air pop the kernels.
No matter how you pop it, you can add seasonings to the popcorn that are much better for you than salt and butter. Weight Watchers and Let There Be Flavor both have great low salt, healthy flavors for seasoning including white cheddar, pepper asiago, and buttery cinnamon roll, but it is just as easy to make your own seasonings at home.
Seasonings (LiveEatLearn.com):
Ranch: 1/2 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp dried chives, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper
Dorito: 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp salt
Cinnamon Sugar: 2 tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt
Gingerbread: 1.5 tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves
