Popcorn Is Not Junk Food

Popcorn is for me the perfect snack, and it is actually a healthy snack. I have always enjoyed everything about popcorn, the sound when its popping, the aroma it has, and especially how it tastes. If you don’t add anything to it then you have one of the healthiest things you could ever eat. Thing is I like it with butter and salt, that cuts a little into how healthy it is. But even with the butter and salt it is still a very healthy snack. Other things people call junk food have never been a big part of anything I eat. I honestly can’t remember the last time I bought a bag of chips and the last time I had a chocolate bar or soft drink was about 6 months ago. Those kinds of snacks have just never been something we keep in the house. Popcorn on the other hand is always in the cupboard. Over the years I have made popcorn in just about everyway possible. Started with the pot on the stove, the electric popper that had a stirrer built in. The stirrer style my mother and sister had, and theirs worked great, mine was not so good. Next was the air popper which worked great, especially for the years I had the kids make popcorn strings for the Christmas tree. Then along came the microwave popcorn bags and we did that for awhile. Those I found had a chemical after taste and all the additives aren’t great either. What I found worked the best on the stove was one of my woks, it didn’t need much oil and had lots of room to make enough for a large bowl. That large bowl was fine but by the next day it didn’t taste good. Making a small amount with the wok didn’t work well, so basically I stopped making popcorn often. Then I tripped across making popcorn in the microwave in a bowl with a plate on top. I had to try it and was surprised that it actually worked. It is simple, and you can make a small amount that is just enough for a snack. The best part is it’s extremely healthy, 1/4 teaspoon oil, 1/4 cup popcorn, 5 minutes on high, add a little melted butter and salt. You end up with the perfect snack when you need a little something in the afternoon or evening. So now I am back to having my favourite snack, but it is that often. The reason why it isn’t often is my cooking. Most of the time I have made it lately it been in the afternoon, not much for lunch so about 3 I need a snack. Lately that’s about once every other week, and really that’s about all you should be having a snack. Still like my celery and a piece of cheese most times, but it is nice to have popcorn now and then.