Popcorn - good, bad or just avoid?

sonomawinesnob1
sonomawinesnob1 Posts: 24
in Food and Nutrition
There are few things in life that I refuse to give up completely (we're talking dietary here) -- Wine and Popcorn. Perfect meal, really. But - I've heard so many different things about whether or not popcorn is a good snack. Some say it's the only "whole grain" snack and definitely allowable, and then on the flip side I read where popcorn is the worst thing out there since high fructose corn syrup.

So -- anyone know the real skinny on popcorn? Good, bad or ....?

Replies

  • HelloSweetie4
    HelloSweetie4 Posts: 1,214 Member
    Air popped popcorn is a great snack. Get yourself a popper and if you do need the butter, try out the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray. It will help you control better.
  • laceylou0702
    laceylou0702 Posts: 226 Member
    It's better than good it's GREAT! I don't eat popcorn at movie theaters or out of pre-packaged bags. I either air pop or stove top pop mine with some olive oil. I lightly butter & salt it, put a little garlic powder on it & if I'm still low on calories / protein I'll put a little shredded cheese on top it's a lower calorie snack option.
  • tripitena
    tripitena Posts: 554 Member
    It's a crunch comfort for me, you know, when I'm craving chips. I hope no one posts that it's a vile evil we must avoid or die.

    Anyway, I'm thinking air popped or the classic deep pan method can't be too bad....
  • LisaR517
    LisaR517 Posts: 80
    Or save yourself some $ and put kernels in a brown paper bag in the microwave. :) No oil and NO preservatives unlike the packaged popcorn!
    Sometimes I spray on some cooking spray to get a tiny bit of salt to stick. ;)
  • SunshineT83
    SunshineT83 Posts: 158 Member
    Popcorn itself is an excellent snack:
    Whole grain
    great fiber
    low calorie

    MICROWAVE popcorn (and movie theater) are not so awesome, they contain a lot of fat, preservatives, and other chemicals. You have no control over the salt or sugar content, etc

    If you air pop your own popcorn you can control all of these elements and keep your favorite snack

    P.S. I LOVE popcorn too, it has been an absolute fave of mine since I've had a mouth full of teeth LOL So I air pop the majorty of the time and leave the "bad stuff" for the occassional night at the movies munching.
  • SunshineT83
    SunshineT83 Posts: 158 Member
    Or save yourself some $ and put kernels in a brown paper bag in the microwave. :) No oil and NO preservatives unlike the packaged popcorn!
    Sometimes I spray on some cooking spray to get a tiny bit of salt to stick. ;)

    Great Idea ^^^^^^
  • jaxbeck
    jaxbeck Posts: 537 Member
    I agree with the airpopped, we have an air popper & it's a great healthy snack. I have a few powders I will add from time to time which are very low in cals. Best treat ever! Just stay away from microwave popcorn, that stuff is full of oils!
  • twinmom01
    twinmom01 Posts: 854 Member
    I eat a Paleo way of eating and popcorn is my big SPLURGE (since it truely doesn't fall under the Paleo realm - but rather than eating it 1-2x's a week it has become a 1-2 x's a month treat)

    Airpopped popcorn is great - low calorie, good fiber.

    I have a Presto Orville Reddenbacher microwave popper that costs under $20 and will last a long time (my first one lasted about 12 years before my husband dropped and cracked it - you do have to buy the cups to put in the bottom but you reuse them a few times - i change mine after about every 8-10 popping sessions) - http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04830-PowerPop-Microwave-Multi-Popper/dp/B00005IBXK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339433466&sr=8-2

    I would stay away from any packaged micorwave popcorn...
  • sonomawinesnob1
    sonomawinesnob1 Posts: 24
    Thanks for the input. I do have an air popper that I will bust out and start using - fabulous idea and I forgot we even had one.
  • coastiebride1120
    coastiebride1120 Posts: 51 Member
    I pop my own in a popper, on the stove and sometimes in a brown paper bag. I try and avoid processd packaged foods. Which also means only real butter, fake butter scares me more then the extra fat and calories. So I don't eat popcorn very often.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Air Popped Pop Corn is great. Avoid pre-packaged bags, butter, salt and everything else that makes it taste good.
  • brittldb78
    brittldb78 Posts: 7
    I love popcorn too. I buy the Fit & Active brand from Aldi. I don't have to add salt or butter because it is lightly buttered. It's also inexpensive.
  • Polly758
    Polly758 Posts: 623 Member
    Just add up the numbers and see how you can fit it into your calorie budget. I discovered that my friend's greasy stove-top popcorn was still only ~300 calories for a bowl bigger than my head. It threw off my fat and carb macros but again you can plan ahead for that.

    If I air-pop it, I can eat a bowl big enough to bathe in, and still have room for dessert.
  • paperstars
    paperstars Posts: 76 Member
    Or save yourself some $ and put kernels in a brown paper bag in the microwave. :) No oil and NO preservatives unlike the packaged popcorn!
    Sometimes I spray on some cooking spray to get a tiny bit of salt to stick. ;)

    Yes!! It is a little bland at first, if you're used to the buttery, salty stuff but it is so easy and inexpensive. My kids and I eat it like this all the time.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I have a Presto PowerPop microwave bowl, love it. I use 1 teaspoon of butter flavored oil when popping, and sprinkle with popcorn salt - Yum!

    Popcorn salt is much finer than regular table salt.

    For air popped corn you will need to add some sort of moisture to make the salt stick .... butter flavored sprays or the real thing (just use less). Cooking spray ... blech

Categories