Microwave Popcorn Dangers & Healthy Alternatives

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Do you ever feel like living a natural lifestyle makes it harder for you to find snack food?

It&#;s definitely a good trade, of course, switching from convenient, easy snacks to a more healthful, nutrition-oriented lifestyle, but there&#;s no denying that a lot of things get harder when we choose to eat a whole foods diet.

There are a lot of things that you just give up, or seriously cut back on. (Moderation is key!) I&#;m not saying that&#;s a problem, but I&#;m always glad when, instead of giving up a favorite food entirely, I can just change the way I eat it.

Popcorn is one of those foods that our culture has turned into a convenience food. When I was growing up, popcorn came out of a bag and out of the microwave. It was nice, too, because it doesn&#;t take any effort beyond opening the plastic bag and programming the microwave for two minutes. Some microwaves even have a popcorn button!

Reasons to Avoid Microwave Popcorn

Unfortunately, as I&#;ve gotten older and started researching more, I&#;ve realized that microwave popcorn can be a really harmful thing to eat. For one, there are very few options available for USDA Certified Organic microwave popcorn. Luckily all popcorn is non-GMO, but it is not all organic. Like all other foods, it&#;s important to purchase organic popcorn so you can avoid pesticides and herbicides. Finding organic popping corn in bulk is pretty easy, especially at natural grocery stores like Whole Foods or your local food co-op.

Back to microwave popcorn, even if you do find organic, it tends to come in two varieties: unsalted or lightly buttered. Personally, I dislike the taste of unsalted popcorn. It tastes like a bowl full of styrofoam packing peanuts; I imagine. (I&#;ve never actually tasted packing peanuts.) As for lightly buttered popcorn? Well, even though organic is often our best option as consumers, it isn&#;t a perfect stamp of approval. Lightly buttered popcorn tends to have &#;natural flavoring,&#; which you probably already know should be avoided. (This post from Food Babe helps explain why.)

If you can get past the questionable ingredients, you still have two big problems with microwave popcorn. Even the popcorn bag itself (or, more accurately, the coating of the bag) can be extremely harmful. PFOA, which keeps the popcorn from sticking to the bag, has been linked to reduced fertility and thyroid problems. (Read more here from the NRDC.) And if you want one more reason to stay away from microwave popcorn, you&#;ll have to think twice about the use of the microwave itself.

Popcorn on the Stove: A Healthier Alternative

The good news is that you can give up microwave popcorn without giving up all popcorn. Popcorn on the stove is incredibly easy to make, and it&#;s also delicious. (This recipe adapted from Simply Recipes.)

Ingredients

*Use healthy oils with a high smoke point, like expeller pressed coconut oil (find it here), or clarified butter&#;learn how to make it here (or purchase it here).

Directions

1. Get out a pot with a lid that holds at least three quarts.
2. Place your pot on high heat and pour three tablespoons of oil into the bottom. Wait a few minutes until the oil is quite hot.
3. Next, drop a test kernel into the bottom of the pan. When the kernel pops, add the rest of the popcorn quickly. Cover and remove from heat for thirty seconds.
4. Place the pot back on the stove. After a few seconds, you will hear your popcorn begin to pop. This part is actually much like microwaving popcorn in that your best bet is to use your ears. When you hear the pops become spaced out by more than a second or two, take the pot off of the stove. (Just a note here: I always think it&#;s better to take the pot off a little early than to leave it a little too long. I&#;d rather have perfect popcorn with too many kernels on the bottom than have a whole pot of burned popcorn.)
5. Pour your popcorn into a bowl and add toppings if you wish. It&#;s time to enjoy!

What about you?

Note: Matt and Betsy air pop their popcorn and add real butter and freshly grated parmesan cheese&#;it&#;s delicious! (Find air popcorn poppers here.)

How do you enjoy your popcorn? Share your tips for healthy popcorn below!

*******

Is popcorn good for you? It makes a great healthy snack! Here&#;s how to make healthy homemade microwave popcorn with just popcorn kernels and a paper lunch sack! A whole grain snack for older kids and adults and you can flavor it any way you want to!

*Originally published 3/. Updated in & *

Hi Friends!

I wanted to share this healthy microwave popcorn with you guys because it&#;s such a great snack option for older kids and adults. It&#;s important to note that popcorn is a choking hazard for younger kids, but my five-year-old and I have been enjoying it together lately. Let&#;s chat a little bit about popcorn:

Is Popcorn Healthy?

Yes! It can be. Did you know popcorn is a whole grain? It&#;s a great source of fiber and also contains several B vitamins and other nutrients like iron, magnesium and phosphorus.

Is microwave popcorn a healthy snack?

For many years now, popcorn has been one of my favorite after-dinner snacks. I typically just eat it plain, but you can easily add whatever flavors you want after it&#;s popped. If you&#;re looking for a way to use up some of your popcorn, I&#;d definitely suggest my Sweet & Spicy Popcorn Snack Mix. Or for some flavored options, try this Spicy Ranch Popcorn or make up your own seasoning combo &#; try some nutritional yeast or cinnamon with a sprinkle of sugar. 

Is microwave popcorn bad for you?

While there&#;s nothing wrong with enjoying a bag of store-bought popcorn every once and a while, I want to show you guys just how easy it is to make your own. You may be familiar with making it at home in an air popper or on the stovetop, but did you know that all you need in order to skip the pre-packaged microwave bags is a jar of popcorn kernels and a brown paper lunch sack.

Have you tried making your own popcorn?

You guys, this is so easy! Here&#;s what you do:

Print

Healthy Microwave Popcorn

Print Recipe

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Make healthy microwave popcorn with just popcorn kernels and a paper lunch sack. Makes a great whole-grain snack for older kids and adults and you can flavor it any way you want to!

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Microwave Greaseproof Popcorn paper Bag. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

• Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

Scale

1/4 cup popcorn kernals

optional toppings: melted butter or oil, salt or other seasonings

Cook Mode

Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Measure out about 1/4 c popcorn kernals
2. Pour them into a paper lunch bag
3. Fold the top over several times and place in the microwave. Use the popcorn button and listen closely. When you hear the pops slow down to a couple seconds between pops, take it out.
4. Enjoy your popcorn! Season it if you wish.

Have you tried making your own popcorn? What are you waiting for?

What is the healthiest microwave popcorn to eat?

Healthiest popcorn brands

When choosing a brand of microwave popcorn from the store, I would look at things like:

• Total fat and saturated fat &#; look for low levels of saturated fats
• Sodium level &#; look for low amounts of sodium (less than 300mg per serving)
• Avoid artificial flavorings
• Try to find bags not lined with PFAS (Quinn is known for this)

Some brands to consider: Orville Redenbacher has an option made with avocado oil. Whole Foods has a store brand that&#;s just popcorn, no oil or salt. You could add your own after popping.

Healthy Microwave Popcorn

Let&#;s chat: Do you like popcorn? Plain or seasoned? What&#;s your favorite popcorn flavor combo?

Enjoy!
&#;Lindsay&#;

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