Popcorn Can Be A Healthful Snack
Popcorn is a good source of fiber and relatively low in calories. However, if you want to partake in this movie-watching favorite, steer clear of microwave popcorn. Not only are most microwavable varieties loaded with artificial flavors, sodium and unhealthy fat, but they can expose you to chemicals that are added to the artificial butter flavoring and used in the lining of microwavable popcorn bags. (Newer, cleaner versions of microwave popcorn are now available, ask you local health food store.)
From a nutritional standpoint, popcorn can be healthier than other snacks. It:
- Is a 100 percent unprocessed whole grain.
- When prepared without additional oils, three cups of popped corn has 93 calories, one gram of fat, almost three grams of protein, and 3.6 grams of dietary fiber. Compare that with store-bought microwave popcorn, which typically has 192 calories and over 14 grams of fat.
- Has more polyphenols (a class of antioxidants) than some fruits and vegetables – up to 300 mg versus 160 mg per serving of fruit.
- Hulls (as annoying as they can be when they get stuck in the teeth) have a high concentration of fiber and polyphenols.
Our healthy popcorn recipe is a great alternative to store-bought microwave popcorn, which has some health concerns. And there is no comparison to movie theater popcorn, which traditionally offers up a high amount of sodium and unhealthy fats compared to our healthy popcorn preparation. Our recipe will leave your taste buds craving more, with the addition of healthful spices such as rosemary and dill. With little mess and a fast prep time, it may become your go-to snack for movie nights at home!
Rosemary Truffled Hot Air Popcorn
Instead of risking the potential hazards of microwave popcorn or paying a premium for cleaner versions, go a more natural route – air-pop kernels and then flavor them with a little tamari, nutritional yeast, rosemary, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, dried dill or a little grated Parmesan cheese (or create your own mixture of flavors). You can mist the popcorn lightly with a little purified water or toss/spray in a bit of olive oil before adding dry flavorings to help them stick. Alternatively, you can pop 1/4 cup of kernels in three tablespoons of olive oil in a three-quart saucepan on medium-high heat.
How To Make Healthier Microwave Popcorn
- ¼ Cup Popcorn Kernels
- Healthy Custom Flavor Mixture (Such as vitamin B-rich nutritional yeast, finely chopped rosemary, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or dill)
- Brown Paper Bag
- Place Kernels In Bag
- Fold Bag Over Twice
- Place In Microwave For 2 Minutes
- Add Healthy Flavorings
- Shake Popcorn To Distribute
- Enjoy Your Healthy Popcorn!