20 July 2009
Snack Attack: Popcorn, Nature’s Crunch
If you go to the grocery store, you’ll find more chips, pretzels, and other carby (yet nutritionally empty) delights than you can shake a stick at. I try to avoid buying those because I’ve found a better alternative: POPCORN! But notthe microwavable kind that often has added trans fat or other weird stuff. I’m talking about the kind you buy in kernels and pop yourself on the stove.
I pour a little bit of canola oil (1 T or so) into a non-stick pan, add a single layer of kernels (~1/4 cup), and then turn the burner on high heat. About five minutes later, I have a bowl of delicious popcorn (wait until there are a few seconds between pops before taking the pot off the heat). I usually season my popcorn with salt, pepper, and sometimes a little bit of parmesan or nutritional yeast.
Not only is stovetop popcorn unprocessed, it also has a little bit of fiber, and is fairly low cal (about 150 calories for three cups). It’s also really satisfying… after a bowl, my snack attack has usually more than passed. Oh! Let’s not forget, it’s dirt cheap. I roughly calculated that each serving of my organic popcorn costs less than 25 cents. This is another instance where cheap meets healthy meets delicious.
