10 Reasons to Eat Plain Air Popped Popcorn

There are so many salty, crunchy snacks that taste great.  But snacks like chips, Tostitos, cheese puffs, and Fritos have a lot of sodium and fat.  Good and Bad Fats, June 18, 2018.   

Plain air popped Popcorn is the perfect snack food!  Pre-packaged microwave and movie theater popcorn should be avoided.

Three cups of plain air popped popcorn has only 1.2 grams of fat and 3 mg of sodium. 

Pre-packaged microwave popcorn has significantly more fat and sodium as compared to air popped, and if you pop your own with oil, this has twice as many calories as air popped popcorn.  American Chemical Society

One bag of HomeStyle PopSecret Popcorn has 510 calories, 36 grams fat, 1140 mg sodium, and 510 calories.  One bag of Orville Redenbacher Ultimate Butter Popcorn has 313 calories, 30 grams fat, and 688 mg sodium.

A medium popcorn purchased at the movie theater has 1200 calories and 60 grams of fat.  Dr Axe

10 Reasons to Eat Plain Air Popped Popcorn

1. Popcorn tastes good!  It can be salty or sweet.
2. It is filling (more filling than potato chips and chocolate).  Health Line  The fiber content in popcorn makes you feel full and inhibits the release of the hunger hormone, ghrelin.  Organic Facts  
3. Popcorn has 15 grams of fiber in 100 grams.  Fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, lower rate of heart disease and cancer, and feeds billions of microorganisms in our bodies.  Fiber Is Not Just for Seniors, August 30, 2018
4. Popcorn has more iron than spinach. Readers Digest   Iron is an essential element for blood production.  Iron, September 6, 2018
5. 100 grams popcorn has 12 grams protein.  Protein is an important building block for bones muscles cartilage, skin and blood.  WebMD   Popcorn has more protein than a ribeye steak (6 grams) and a slice of whole wheat bread (3 grams).
6. Popcorn can help build and maintain healthy bones because it is a significant source of manganese.  Dr Axe
7. The type of corn used to create popcorn is not a GMO food.  
8. Popcorn is inexpensive.  For example one serving (3 TBS kernels) of Orville Redenbacher popcorn costs $0.16.  
9. Popcorn has more antioxidants than fruits  The benefits of antioxidants are very important to good health.
10. Popcorn improves digestion.

My favorite way to eat popcorn is with a little salt.  Once in a while I add a little parmesan cheese.  When I am in the mood for something sweet I put honey on top of my popcorn and eat it with a spoon.  

I also like to mix popcorn with almonds and M&M's for a satisfying trail mix.