Popcorn tops the list of healthful snacks
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:49 PM PST
By The Washington Post
Printable version
E-mail this article Once the last champagne cork has popped, most Americans will turn their attention to their New Year’s resolutions. Healthy eating and dieting consistently top the list on most resolutions.
One of the biggest challenges to healthy eating is between-meal snacking. Popcorn, a whole grain food that’s low in calories, is a great snack food that’s economical and also fun to eat. The following information is from Kernel Season’s popcorn.
One cup of popped popcorn, eaten plain, contains:
24 calories
1 gram of protein
6 grams carbohydrates
1 gram fiber
Keeping healthy snacks on hand is important for the whole family, especially with childhood obesity on the rise.
“Popcorn is one of the best snack foods around. It’s low in calories and high in fiber which makes it a healthy, nutritious choice for between-meal snacking for kids and adults,” says Elizabeth M. Ward, registered dietitian and author of The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to the New Food Pyramids.
Sprinkling popcorn with herbs or other seasonings is a fun way to add flavor without adding extra fat and calories. Children love to mix and match a variety of flavors to create their own healthy popcorn creations.
Ideas include:
• Spray popcorn with low-fat cooking oil such as Kernel Season’s Popcorn Spritzer, sprinkle with Kernel Season’s toppings such as flavors as White Cheddar, Nacho Chedder, Butter, Ranch and Kettle Corn.
• Add raisins and dried fruits for variation on trail mix.
• Sprinkle popcorn with Kernel Season’s Chocolate Marshmallow flavor to enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate.
• Consider popcorn as a healthy alternative to more fattening desserts by adding Kernel Season’s Apple Cinnamon, Caramel or Kettle Corn flavors.
Because popcorn is a good source of fiber it provides many health benefits and is often recommended by health and medical associations including The National Cancer Institute, The American Dietetic Association and The American Dental Association.
Popcorn is healthy for the wallet, too. One cup of plain popcorn costs only pennies. (For example, Kernel Season’s popcorn costs between 12-14 cents per cup).
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