Popcorn Nutrition

Popcorn nutrition is a concern of many who are looking for a healthy snack but have heard mixed reviews on how good it is for you. In reality, popcorn is actually quite healthy but it is the popcorn seasoning or what you put on it that can be bad for you.

When talking about popcorn nutrition, we must differentiate between air popped popcorn, microwave popcorn, flavored popcorn and movie popcorn. As we all know, movie popcorn is covered in oil - fattening greasy oil that is loaded with fat and calories. Just look at your hands after you pick up a big handful of it and you don't need me to tell you that movie popcorn is not good for you!

Air popped popcorn nutrition is the healthiest provided you use only low fat popcorn seasoning. Use just some salt (or even better a salt substitute) and pepper and now you're talking a very healthy snack. If you take the air popped corn and turn it into flavored popcorn or try to make it taste like movie popcorn, the nutritional value will suffer! Below is a low down of what 2 3 cup serving of unseasoned air popped corn has for nutritional value.

As you can see plain air popped popcorn nutrition is probably better than most snacks. But what happens when you try to make it into flavored popcorn or add butter so it tastes like movie popcorn?

Flavored popcorn is typically loaded with sugar and other high calories and high fat coatings like caramel or even chocolate. Adding butter is even worse - you have to add a lot of butter to get that movie popcorn taste and butter is all fat! So unless you are using spices for your popcorn seasoning, eating it anyway but plain really lowers the popcorn nutrition rating.

But what about microwave popcorn? Sadly, most of these are loaded with oil, which means they are full of fat and trans fats that can contribute to clogged arteries! Not to mention that the more fat, the more calories and soon your healthy snack becomes very unhealthy! Some microwave popcorns are really "light" although most do contain some oil - you should be able to tell which ones are better for you be reading the popcorn nutrition label on the side of the package.