Perfect Popcorn for Awards and Super Bowl Season
Some may consider prime popcorn season to be summer—what with the vendors at fairs, baseball games and the tall, green stalks of corn popping up in the fields. But I think that now is primetime for the tasty whole-grain treat, since the Superbowl is just days away (although I’d rather just skim over this topic after the tragic end to the Packers season). Plus, movie and awards show season is in full swing, and popcorn is the quintessential screening snack.
National Popcorn day was just January 19. I’m planning to throw a belated celebration by trying out some of these delicious jazzed-up options:
- Hungry Girl’s Ultimate Movie-Viewing Snack Mix: Chocolate, peanut butter, brown sugar…basically all of the ingredients you love in a decadent dessert in a crunchy snack. (187 calories, 3.5 g fat)
- Green Lite Bites Quick Chocolate Kettle Corn: Another great option for sweet-lovers. Only three ingredients required! (106 calories, 3 g fat)
- WebMD Mediterranean Magic Popcorn: A simple, heart-healthy swap for the cheese-flavored wedge in one of those big gourmet popcorn tins. (121 calories, 6.5 g fat)
- Popcorn Board’s Glazed Lemon Poppy Seed Popcorn: The novelty of this recipe caught my eye! It’s like a citrus muffin morphed with the movie treat. (180 calories, 0 g fat)
- Belly Bytes Pizza-Flavored Popcorn: Spicy, cheesy and crispy—just like your favorite slice! (145 calories, 1 g fat)
Want to wow your pals with your popcorn IQ? Slip in one of these fun facts when you’re making small talk around the snack bowl:
- The average American eats 52 quarts of popcorn every year!
- Spend smart by making your own: Movie tubs are marked up about 900 percent (and most likely contain much more oil/butter than you’d add at home).
- One cup of air-popped corn has 31 calories.
- There are five different American cities that claim they are the “Popcorn Capital of the World.” (Marion, Ohio; North Loup, Nebraska; Ridgway, Illinois; Schaller, Iowa and Van Buren, Indiana.)
- Corn can pop as high as three feet in the air. Kernels have way better ups than I do!
What is your favorite way to enjoy popcorn?
