I've never met a person who didn’t like popcorn. Have you?

Most of us associate popcorn with uplifting memories of movie theaters, carnivals, zoos, family time, farmers’ markets and many other fun venues. And I encourage you to continue splurging on popcorn. If you can limit the excessive butter and salt content, it is one of the healthiest snacks on the planet!

In just one cup of oil-popped popcorn, there’s only 55 calories, 3 grams saturated fat and 1 gram fiber. Okay, so most of us can’t stop eating popcorn at just one cup, but you do the math on your serving size and it will certainly add up to fewer calories than a couple servings of potato chips or chocolates.

I like to buy popcorn kernels at our farmer’s market and make it on the stovetop at home. Homemade popcorn tastes great and couldn’t be easier to prepare (and you skip the hazards of excessive packaging and funky preservatives associated with microwave popcorn). I have mostly perfected my homemade recipe at home as follows:

1. Heat 2-3 tablespoons canola oil in 2-quart saucepan on med-high heat.


2. Add a few kernels to pan.


3. When kernels begin to initially pop, add 1/4-1/3 cup kernels, put on lid and wait a few minutes for delicious and warm homemade popcorn!

To keep it vegan, you can add melted Earth Balance spread and/or vegan chocolate chips. The varieties are endless and the popcorn trade group's website has a bunch of fun recipes such as “popcorn s’mores” and “coconut-popcorn crunch pie." Yum!

Have you ever tried to grow popcorn in your garden? It is a simple and fun educational project to start with your kids in the spring. Be sure to choose “popcorn seeds," not just corn kernels. Plant the seeds about a half inch into the ground, cover, water and pull weeds as usual, and be prepared to cross-pollinate, especially if you have a small plot. (From the University of Florida's extension service: "Cut an entire tassel, and use it as a wand, shaking pollen grains [dust] onto the silks. Alternatively, strip the tassel and deposit the pollen from the anthers directly onto the silks. Either way, the pollen is transferred. Be thorough when dusting the pollen onto the silks, so chances for a bountiful harvest are increased.") When your plants are dry, kernels seem hard and the silks are brown, they are ready to harvest. Most popcorn-loving gardeners will suggest drying the kernels for several days, testing a few at a time and waiting for the popcorn to be light and crunchy before making a whole batch of it. Two to four months after sowing your seeds, you will have beautiful cobs of edible popcorn!

Do you have a favorite variety of popcorn or a unique recipe? Please continue to enjoy your popcorn and share fun ideas with us!

Note: Due to choking hazards, children should not eat popcorn until 4-5 years of age.