Popcorn??

seniorfaye
seniorfaye Posts: 295 Member
edited September 23 in Food and Nutrition
I used to eat ice cream at night , now my DH and I eat popcorn. I pop the corn in a pan and use canola oil. I don't salt it very much.Would this be considered a healthy snack?? I've also wondered about a hot air popcorn popper. Just wondered if the corn is good and would it be worth buying and taking up cabinet space. Just wondered??
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Replies

  • TakeOne
    TakeOne Posts: 345 Member
    I like the 100 cal bags. Great late night snack!
  • Teebowen
    Teebowen Posts: 78 Member
    I eat 1 bag of the Pop Secret Home style 1-2 times a week instead of chips... has 140 calories for the bag... and is delish!
  • BakingGranny
    BakingGranny Posts: 112 Member
    Myself I do not like hot air corn. It won't hold any salt. If you like bland corn then by all means that would be the healthiest way. Good luck:)
  • kittyloverdeb
    kittyloverdeb Posts: 1
    I had a hot air popper and hated how it tasted! It was a waste of money imho...unless you like the taste of cardboard!
  • scd78
    scd78 Posts: 77 Member
    I really like the 100 cal packs too! Simple, fast and delicious!
  • usmcpatience
    usmcpatience Posts: 168
    There isn't much nutritional value to popcorn, I don't believe, but as long as you don't smother it in butter, it's not unhealthy or high in calories. I eat popcorn as a snack all the time! I'm not a fan of butter popcorn so I either have homemade or the closest to it! My mother-in-law has an airpopper, and I love it, but simply do not have the storage space for one at my house right now! (We live in military base housing). Good luck!
  • prencesskl
    prencesskl Posts: 123
    I just had a orville redenbacher movie theater popcorn mini bag, we shared it, but the whole bag is only 170 calories
  • kaymd
    kaymd Posts: 470 Member
    I LOVE air popped popcorn the best.
  • usmcpatience
    usmcpatience Posts: 168
    I eat 1 bag of the Pop Secret Home style 1-2 times a week instead of chips... has 140 calories for the bag... and is delish!

    This is my favorite microwave kind too! It tastes so close to homemade!
  • usmcpatience
    usmcpatience Posts: 168
    I LOVE air popped popcorn the best.

    I like hot air popcorn, but, like I said before, I'm one for plain popcorn. I'll pass on the loaded butter, thank you!
  • bonnienm
    bonnienm Posts: 329 Member
    I love my air popper and use Move Over Butter on my popcorn once a week but I also love the Orville Red.... 100 calorie bags at work as a low cal and filling snack. Good for fiber and better than eating something sugary which I love and crave the most.
  • gina205
    gina205 Posts: 74 Member
    I would suggest you look it up in the food database according to what kind of popcorn you're using, how much oil and how much you're eating. Then decide if it's a good snack or not. That should give you some idea. I buy 98% fat free microwave. I love it!
  • MarceyR
    MarceyR Posts: 3
    I have one and LOVE it! I budgeted a popcorn snack into my meal last weekend. Ate a whole bowl with butter, salt and parmesan cheese. Give it a shot. As for making it on the stove, that's always good but doesn't cooking it in the oil add to the calories? I'd rather have more calories available for my toppings :). Good luck!

    Marcey
  • kathott
    kathott Posts: 72 Member
    i use the smart pop 100 calories bags ...especially at night when I am craving something bad....easy and healthy.
  • ShannonWinger
    ShannonWinger Posts: 309 Member
    I LOVE my popcorn! My MIL got me a popcorn popper for my birthday last year and I have used the heck out of that thing. I eat it almost everyday. I use canola oil and dust nutritional yeast on afterwards for a "cheesy" flavor. It is so good and makes a great, healthy snack.
  • jimmymonkey
    jimmymonkey Posts: 28
    I love popcorn too. I use the microwave light, no particular brand. Just to spice it up I shake cayenne on it when I take it out of the microwave..gives it a little kick !
  • darrenw74
    darrenw74 Posts: 86 Member
    I wouldn't call it healthy per se, but if you have the calories for it, it's not terrible. I do the exact same thing btw, a couple times per week. I even allow myself half a tbsp of melted butter.
  • seniorfaye
    seniorfaye Posts: 295 Member
    Thanks for all your responses. I don't think I'll buy the air popper. We love this popcorn and it seems like it would be more healthier since no preservatives in it.. We actually look forward to our after supper snack....
  • Somenameioi
    Somenameioi Posts: 43 Member
    I just did this for the first time yesterday- put about 1/3 cup of regular popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag, fold it over tightly a few times and put it in the microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes. Microwave popcorn! Without the crappy stuff they put on the kind you buy at the store and way cheaper! I gave it to my kids like this and they liked it- you can google homemade microwave popcorn recipes and they will give you some ideas of how to give it some flavor. Alton Brown even has a recipe on foodnetwork. Most of them say to add some kosher salt and olive oil.
  • seniorfaye
    seniorfaye Posts: 295 Member
    I have heard you can put it in a bag. Did you put any oil in the bag?
  • MeghanAM
    MeghanAM Posts: 222 Member
    I suspect that the popcorn you make yourself in the pan / air popper is healthier than the microwave popcorn, just in terms of ingredients.

    You could find out the calorie information by using the "recipe" function of MFP. You put in the ingredients that you use to make the whole amount, and then put in how many servings that makes. I bet that what you're making now isn't too bad.
  • shanpgh
    shanpgh Posts: 10 Member
    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/plain-brown-popper-recipe/index.html

    Try this recipe (I use scotch tape instead of a staple). It's like having your own microwave popcorn but you can control the taste.
  • ShannonWinger
    ShannonWinger Posts: 309 Member
    It's actually pretty healthy so long as you hold off the butter, sugar, cheese, too much salt or any other things not so good for you.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/265098-health-benefits-of-air-popped-popcorn/
  • whittrusty
    whittrusty Posts: 533 Member
    For those who think popcorn doesn't have any nutritional value, you'd be surprised to realize that 1 cup of air popped popcorn has 6 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Not bad at all for being low on calories.

    That being said, I hate air popped popcorn, like others have said, it doesn't hold the salt as well, so I don't like the flavor. But I make popcorn on the stove with 1 Tbsp of olive oil, 1/4 cup of popping corn and add a little salt (and I like some powdered butter flavoring) to taste (not too much) and it's about 300 calories for over 5 cups of popcorn. Split it with someone or save half for later, and I call that a very satisfying and pretty good for you snack!

    This is all about balance. We'd all go crazy if we went forever without our favorite foods, so you just have to make them work into your daily life!
  • ❤B☩❤
    ❤B☩❤ Posts: 634
    I love all these ideas.........
  • sunbeam11
    sunbeam11 Posts: 67
    You will save a lot of fat and calories by switching to a hot air popper. I love mine. It's more cost effective than buying microwave popcorn, more flavor options, and usually fresher and definitely tastier. You can spray it with a little canola oil spray to make your seasonings stick. The canola oil spray has almost no calories.
  • MissingMinnesota
    MissingMinnesota Posts: 7,486 Member
    Pop Weaver has a carmel glazed pop corn that is only 100 calories for a 5 cup bag. It curbs my salt and sweet tooth. I love it.
  • Jenybaby
    Jenybaby Posts: 2 Member
    Air popped is MUCH better. Unsalted you can eat 3 cups worth as a healthy snack. It has no fat! Air poppers are cheap and don't take up too much room. I love it and if you really want, a little salt won't hurt!
  • FIREfitGrl27
    FIREfitGrl27 Posts: 199
    LOVE POPCORN! I have an air pop popper and it's great. Whenever I want a tasty snack..quick...I go to the air pop and have my popcorn! I use fat free zero calories Parkay spray to replace butter and dash on the finely grounded garlic powder! Yummy yum in my tummy tum tum!
  • seniorfaye
    seniorfaye Posts: 295 Member
    I'm going to check the recipe that Alton Brown has for it. I always use canola oil to pop it in so I feel like its pretty healthy. You know you've got to have something to enjoy for a snack...
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