Not only tasty, but also healthy: this is how you can enjoy popcorn without loading up on calories

An integral part of almost any type of entertainment – and certainly with children – includes food. Before, after and during. Watching a movie together at the cinema or at home is a fun, spontaneous and suitable family pastime all year round. Especially when the weather is cold and less comfortable for a walk or spending time in playgrounds. Popcorn is the snack most associated with watching a movie, at almost any age.

On the occasion of International Popcorn Day, which fell on January 19, we examined the place of this popular snack in our entertainment culture and its effect on our eating habits.

Does size matter?

A study conducted about two decades ago at Cornell University in New York – very interesting and more relevant than ever – examined what has a greater effect on the consumption of popcorn outside the home: the size of the cup/”bucket” in which the popcorn is served or the taste of the popcorn. It was found that moviegoers who ate fresh popcorn from a large “bucket” consumed 45.3% more than those who ate from a medium-sized “bucket”. Beyond the high number, an even more amazing figure is that viewers who received unfresh popcorn in a large “bucket” consumed 33.6% more than those who ate from a medium “bucket”. Although this is a smaller amount, if we take into account that it is a food that is not tasty, it is a huge amount and completely unnecessary. When all the data is weighted, it turns out that 41% ate more popcorn because of the quantity and not because of the taste or quality.

The question arises, do we eat too much food that we like, or do we eat too much food when we have it?

The environment and eating habits

There is no doubt that environmental factors may affect the amount we eat more than the taste of the food and its quality: eating in company or alone, eating while watching a movie or reading a newspaper versus a meal without any other activity at the same time. If we compare the consumption of popcorn at the cinema to meals at home, it seems that the size of the plates in our kitchen cupboards has a lot of meaning. Any amount that we serve on a large plate will seem reasonable, and the chance of eating more increases, according to the same study it is 25%-18% more.

This is especially serious in the consumption of snacks in large packages, these lead to a higher consumption by 30-45%. Casual eating means that we don’t pay attention to quantity and taste.

About popcorn and nutritional values

The popcorn is made from whole corn kernels (before being processed), and the corn belongs to the cereal family from the carbohydrate group. Most of the corn grain, about 70%, is carbohydrate, about 12% protein and a little fat 5-4%, so it is very common to include popcorn in the menu for weight loss (a cup of ready-to-eat popcorn, without added fat, about 30 calories). The popcorn is very rich in dietary fiber and therefore contributes to the feeling of satiety.

Popcorn in the cinema, on the other hand, is high in fat and its caloric values ​​are tens of percent higher: in the small portion about 250 calories, in the medium about 450 calories and in the large “bucket” – almost double. The large amounts of salt do not add calories – but are no less harmful. Increased salt consumption is a problem that intensifies with the size of the portion – the larger the portion, the more salt we consume, sometimes without noticing. Excess consumption of salt can raise blood pressure, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and burden kidney function. In addition, increased salt consumption causes a feeling of thirst, which often leads to drinking sugary drinks.

Do it yourself: homemade popcorn

Making popcorn at home allows you to enjoy its nutritional benefits optimally. Buying the ready-made bags with the corn kernels sold in the supermarket is not recommended because of the use of palm oil, which is common in the food industry. Palm oil is a nutritionally inferior component, and its consumption also causes damage to the environment. Moreover, the bags themselves contain harmful substances that may penetrate the popcorn and accumulate in the body. The preparation on your own is very simple and allows you to control the ingredients and quantities: canola or olive oil, a little salt – preferably the one enriched with iodine. Homemade preparation turns popcorn into a nutritious and enjoyable snack, and the activity itself can be a fun family experience before watching a movie:

• Use a medium-sized pot with a lid, suitable for the amount you want to prepare.
• Ensure uniform heating at the recommended temperature of 220 degrees, for optimal hatching of the grains.
• Use a measured amount of oil and season moderately with salt.
• Serve in a medium-sized bowl instead of a large dish.

And when you go out to the movies

For many of us, part of the experience of watching a movie is eating popcorn during it. One of my friends told me “I won’t understand the movie if I don’t snack on popcorn while I’m watching it.” For those who feel this way, I would recommend choosing the small portion and not being tempted by the sale of a carbonated drink + chocolate bar + popcorn, even if they are financially worthwhile. The health cost of increased calorie consumption , fat and salt may be significant.

More facts about popcorn:

1. Researchers found that about 3,500 years BC, the Indians in Central America prepared popcorn for eating and decorating jewelry and statues.
2. Beginning in the 19th century, popcorn was sold in the United States at stands, markets, parks and at the entrance to theaters. Later it was sold in the cinema, and became one of its symbols.
3. Most of the corn kernel is starch (carbohydrate). Heating the corn kernels at a temperature of 220 degrees causes the little water in the kernels to turn into steam which creates pressure on the hard shell and cracks it. Inside the grain bursts with the water vapor and popcorn is obtained in its swollen form. Some of the grains do not crack, because they contain a relatively high or low amount of water or because the heating was at too low a temperature.
4. Corn pops – the Hebrew alternative to popcorn according to the Hebrew Language Academy established in 1991.