{"id":1272,"date":"2023-10-23T12:35:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T12:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=1272"},"modified":"2023-10-23T12:39:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T12:39:15","slug":"is-popcorn-a-healthy-snack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=1272","title":{"rendered":"Is Popcorn a Healthy Snack?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Is Popcorn a Healthy Snack?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With so many big blockbuster hits in the movie theaters these days, it\u2019s hard not to think about popcorn!\u00a0 The question is, is it a healthy snack?\u00a0 Let\u2019s dive right into it.<\/span><\/p>

Health Benefits\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>

There are some beautiful characteristics about popcorn that makes it a great snack.\u00a0 First off, it\u2019s a low-calorie snack even when we eat a good amount of it.\u00a0 For reference, three cups of plain, air popped popcorn is less than 100 calories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Not only is it low in calories, but it is considered a whole grain that contains dietary fiber.\u00a0 Keep in mind that it is recommended by the dietary guidelines that half of all our grains eaten are whole grains, so popcorn fits the bill! We want to keep our fiber up to support our body, specifically digestion and heart health, and to keep us feeling fuller for longer periods of time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Watch out<\/i><\/b><\/p>

Now we know that air popped, plain popcorn provides health benefits, but when we start adding flavor to our popcorn is when we need to be more cautious.\u00a0 Yes, I know caramel corn, cheddar cheese, and buttery popcorns are delicious, but by adding to this power snack we increase fat, sugar, and sodium.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Here’s a nice chart that I created to compare some favorite popcorn selections.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>
\u00a0<\/td>

Act II: Movie Theater Butter Popcorn<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Smartfood: White Cheddar Popcorn<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Cracker Jack: Caramel Popcorn<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Original Skinny Pop Popcorn\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Calories\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

150 calories\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

160 calories\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

120 calories\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

150 calories<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Total Fat<\/span><\/p><\/td>

8 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

10 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

10 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Saturated Fat<\/span><\/p><\/td>

4 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

1 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Trans Fat<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Cholesterol<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

5 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Sodium<\/span><\/p><\/td>

380 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

240 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

70 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

75 mg\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Total Carbohydrates<\/span><\/p><\/td>

19 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

13 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

23 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

15 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Dietary Fiber\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

3 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

1 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

3 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Total Sugars<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

14 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

0 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Protein\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

4 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

2 g\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

As you can see, the more butter and cheese we add the higher the sodium level increases.\u00a0 When we add caramel to our popcorn, we see the sugar content spike.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As for fat, we have to remember that unsaturated fat or our healthier fats are not always included on the nutrition label.\u00a0 So don\u2019t be tricked by the 8 g of total fat that comes from the Act II: Movie Theater Butter Popcorn being less than the Skinny Pop PopCorn.\u00a0 The Original Skinny Pop Popcorn has 9 g of unsaturated fat after doing the math (10 g total fat minus 1 g saturated fat), but the Act II popcorn has 4 g of saturated fat and 4 g of unsaturated fat (to equal 8 g total fat).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Now don\u2019t think I am taking the fun out of popcorn. There are other ways to add flavor, I promise!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Spice it up<\/i><\/b><\/p>

These alternate ways to flavor popcorn are just as good as some of our favorites above.\u00a0 Here are six ways to add flavor without adding excessive amounts of fat, sugar and sodium.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>