And you thought the popcorn option was the healthy one…
in Blogs

When we are out and about and are feeling up for a nibble of something, often we tend to reach out for the popcorn, hoping and possibly believing that it is the healthiest option over the crisps, chocolates, sweeties and whatever else might be out there for sale. Perhaps it’s time to think again before reaching for that hot salty box, because you may be better off eating a proper food snack after all.

With the growing supply of genetically modified (GM) corn, there is a good chance that the vendor you have purchased from has found this source of cheap kernels. What does this mean for you? In standard GM practices, each corn kernel has a pesticide injected into it, so that as the corn grows, the insecticide is released in small doses to keep the pests at bay. And by eating popcorn, you are eating this pesticide filled seed! Additionally, if you live in South Africa, well the sheer mass confusion over labelling of GMO produce is such a mess that you probably won’t know if it’s genetically modified or not. And if you’re buying a box of freshly made popcorn from a vendor, there is little chance that they will have the answer to their kernel’s source either. In fact, would they even know what the definition of GM is?

Then there is the cheap, over-processed oil options that are chosen to get those kernels popping. If it’s canola oil, it could be GM. If it a cheap sunflower oil, it contains a lot of trans fats, which can lead to all different kinds of diseases (for more information on good and bad oils, read chapter three in our book Wholesome Nutrition). The oil heats up, changing the molecules of fat and causes all sorts of mayhem as our body tries to recognise what the foreign particles are.

And finally, the salt choice. The cheaper option obviously. Remember it is all about their profit, not YOUR HEALTH! So you get to ingest a partly synthetic, empty nutrient, toxic table salt that’s packed with an anti-caking agent. For real? Absolutely.

And that’s our sad, sorry box of popcorn that has zero benefits to your health and only has negative impacts on your body. 

However, if you are a popcorn fan like me, don’t lose hope because I have a recipe for you where you can keep popping away, bag it and take it with you.

Real Homemade Popcorn

Ingredients

  • - Organic popcorn kernels
  • - Organic coconut oil
  • - Himalayan or sea salt
  • - Grass fed butter

Method

  1. Melt the coconut oil over medium heat in a saucepan with a lid. 
  2. Drop a kernel into the oil; if it sizzles, add the rest of the kernels. 
  3. Place the lid on the pan. 
  4. Wait until the popping slows down then turn the heat off. 
  5. Pour into a glass or wooden bowl and season with salt. 
  6. Slice a few wedges of butter and drop them into the slightly cooled saucepan - they will melt without additional heat. Do not take your eyes off this as it only takes seconds and you don’t want to burn the butter. 
  7. Pour generously over the salted popcorn and enjoy. 

This is a no guilt snack and you’re not left feeling deprived of something you may enjoy. And if you have children of your own, please start making the effort of making it yourself. Remember to sneak a packet into your handbag or pocket when you’re out at the movies because what’s a movie without the popcorn!