Did you know popcorn is a snack that not only tastes good, but can actually be good for you as well?  I’ve heard rumblings of this but never really knew why.  Here are a few facts about popcorn that make it the perfect snack to satisfy your cravings any time of the day:

  • Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 55 calories per cup.
  • When lightly buttered, popcorn contains about 133 calories per cup.
  • Popcorn is a whole grain, making it a good-for-you food.
  • Popcorn contains fiber, providing roughage the body needs in the daily diet.
  • Popcorn is ideal for between meal snacking since it satisfies and doesn’t spoil the appetite.

(Information provided courtesy of Jolly Time Pop Corn, retrieved from the Popcorn Board – http://www.popcorn.org/)

     

Recently I had the opportunity to try out some Jolly Time Popcorn.   When presented with the opportunity, I thought it would be great to give to the kids for an after school snack, or me me to eat when I get those tummy growlies mid-afternoon.  I’ve heard popcorn was a good source of fiber, and after reading some of the facts given to me by Jolly Time, I’d say it is a good choice!  

WHAT DOES THE MOMMY BUNCH THINK?

  

We got to try out three flavors; one box Healthy Pop® Kettle Corn 100 Cal. Bags, one box Healthy Pop® Butter Flavor 100 Cal. Bags, and one box of Blast O Butter® Minis.  The Blast O Butter was of course my favorite because I just love butter flavored popcorn, but the others were very good too.  All of them had a great flavor, and since each bag was only 100 calories it was just the right amount (Blast O Butter is 210 calories).  

As far as popcorn goes, these taste great and everyone enjoyed them.  My kids love popcorn to begin with, so these definitely passed the test with them!  My husband is a huge kettle corn fan, and he is very picky, so if he liked the kettle corn flavor, you know it must be good!  

WANT SOME MORE FUN FACTS?

Here is a little on the history of popcorn (info provided by Jolly Time):

  • People in northeastern Peru were popping kernels as early as 4,700 BC!
  • When Columbus set foot on American soil in 1492 popcorn was already there.  Native Americans enjoyed snacking on the fluffy white stuff and made popcorn necklaces.
  • In 1620 popcorn played a starring role in the first thanksgiving.  Native Americans brought bowlfuls to the potluck feast.
  • Colonial women in 1700 made the first tasty breakfast cereal by pouring milk and sugar over popcorn.
  • The first popcorn “machine” was invented in 1885 so vendors could be close to the crowds.
  • Jolly Time pop corn was founded in 1914 by Cloid Smith and his son Howard Smith.
  • Jolly Time obtains the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval in 1924.
  • Fast forward to 2009 and Weight Watchers endorses Jolly Time Healthy Pop.
Some fun facts (info provided by Jolly Time):
  • Americans consume 16 billion quarts of this whole grain, good-for-you treat.  That is 51 quarts per man, woman, and child.
  • Popcorn is a type of maize (or corn), a member of the grass family, and is scientifically known as Zea mays everta.
  • Popcorn differs from other types of maize/corn in that it has a thicker pericarp/hull.  The hull allows pressure from the heated water to build and eventually bursts open.  THe inside starch becomes gelatinous while being heated; when the hull bursts, the gelatinized starch spills out and cools, giving it its familiar popcorn shape.
  • Many people believe the acres of corn they see in the Midwest during growing season could be picked and eaten for dinner, or dried and popped.  In fact, those acres are typically field corn, which is used largely for livestock feed, and differs from both sweet corn and popcorn.
  • Most popcorn comes in two basic shapes when it is popped:  snowflake and mushroom.  Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger.  Mushroom is used for candy confections because it doesn’t crumble.

 

Written by Jesica.

Disclosure:  The Mommy Bunch was provided a free product to facilitate this review, however, all opinions are our own. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.