popcorn

When I tried Baconnaise for the first time last year, I declared it the best thing since sliced bread. Its savory roundness led me to ponder: if Baconnaise is this good, why buy regular mayonnaise ever again?

I knew, from the way bacon turned up in just about everything, that this was only the beginning for J&D's, the mastermind behind Baconnaise. The latest food concepts up the company's sleeve? Bacon Ranch and Bacon Pop — because, as the motto claims, "everything should taste like bacon." We put it to the test. Should everything really taste like bacon? Read on to find out.

It's a big movie weekend, for sure. With New Moon finally out, I've already committed myself to spend an afternoon at the theater — the only complication is that I'm not so fond of the movie-theater fare. It's an admittedly challenging place to stick to healthy food choices, since there usually aren't any to begin with. Just in case you don't believe me, recent research is revealing just how unhealthy movie popcorn can be — and it's probably a lot worse than you think.

An article from WebMd highlights the Center for Science in the Public Interest's findings on the state of popcorn, which claims movie theater popcorn is just about as bad for you as "a pound of baby back ribs and a scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream or maybe two Big Macs" — and that's before you even add the butter. For the study, researchers sent samples of popcorn and toppings from three different movie theater chains and compared their findings to the chains' own nutritional information. What they found is likely to make you rethink how you view your movie treat.

The study's results show that the calorie count of movie theater popcorn ranges from just about 400 to 1,200 calories, and contains an alarming serving of saturated fat that's equivalent to three days worth of your daily recommended portion, and anywhere from 200 (in the smallest 6-cup size serving) to 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Additionally, the study revealed that both AMC and Regal theaters pop their popcorn in coconut oil, which has a saturated fat content of a whopping 90 percent. Cinemark theaters, which pops their popcorn in canola oil, earns the rep as the healthiest chain, with a significantly lower saturated fat content — ranging from 2 grams in the 420-calorie small size to 5 grams in the 910-calorie large popcorn bucket. But, keep in mind that popcorn is usually just a part of the order — add a soda or your choice of candy, and your order is easily nearing 1,700 calories.

To learn about healthier options at the movies read more

I'm a huge snacker, and admittedly have more than a few downfalls. One of them is popcorn. Combine this with a shipment we recently received of new popcorn from Cape Cod Chips, and you can guess where the story is headed.

Cape Cod is known for its all-natural potato chips, which come in a wide variety of flavors (my favorite is the jalapeño and aged cheddar — especially as a hangover snack). Now, the brand has added three kinds of popcorn flavored with all-natural ingredients to that list: white cheddar, sweet cream butter, and sweet and salty (all $2.69). Did they live up to their chip counterparts? Find out after the break.

The list of super foods just got a little snackier: popcorn is loaded with antioxidants. We have known for a while now that blueberries and broccoli contain high amounts of disease-fighting micronutrients, but whole grains are also high in polyphenols that can help in the nutrition fight against cancer and heart disease. Even whole grain foods like cracker and cereals — especially those with added cinnamon and cocoa, which are both known for their beneficial antioxidant content — are high in polyphenols. The key word here is "whole grain."

Surprisingly, popcorn ranked highest in antioxidant content among snack foods. It can be considered a healthy snack if it's not coated with butter. It's still important to eat your veggies, since they're loaded with other nutrients as well. Go for a well-balanced diet and keep your carbs whole grain.