Popcorns contain more fiber as compared to other snacks made out of flour. There are many different delicious popcorn recipes for health conscious individuals.

Popcorns are fun and convenient whole grain snacks. It is an excellent source of fiber. It also helps steady one’s blood sugar levels. Aside from this, it can be incorporated as a low-fat snack, having a lot of nutritional benefits.

By experimenting with some healthful ingredients on your popcorn, one can achieve a healthy balanced diet without any risks. Below are some of healthy popcorn recipes that can meet your daily needs, for a delicious and quick snack mixture.

Peppy Popcorn

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 14 cups popcorn, air-popped

• 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, grated

• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano

• 2 tsp. paprika

In a small bowl, mix oregano, paprika and cheese. Sprinkle these onto the popcorn and toss. It can yield up to 14 cups. You can also melt organic raw cheese with organic milk and pour this over the popcorn.

Nutrition Data for 1 cup serving: 30 calories/0.5 grams fat

Spicy Peanut Curry PopCorn

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Number of serving: 1

Ingredients:

• 8 cups air-popped popcorn( no oil or salt)

• 1 teaspoon chili paste (Sambal Oelek)

• 2 tablespoons Better than Peanut Butter

• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Air-pop about ½ cup of corn kernels. Put peanut butter on a microwave cup. Add sambal with small amounts of water. Stir in order to make out a creamy and thick peanut butter mixture. Microwave it approximately 30 seconds. Fold the peanut butter mixture onto the popcorn.

Praline Popcorn Crunch

Ingredients:

• 12 cups popped popcorn

• 1/2 cup margarine

• 1 cup firm-pack brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 cup pecan halves

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Grease a 15×10 inch baking pan and place the popcorn on top. Combine sugar, honey and margarine in a 1 ½ quart saucepan. Cook and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Place this in medium heat until it boils.

Cook this for about 5 minutes and then remove from the heat. Mix vanilla and baking soda then pour it over the popped corn. Next, add some pecans, stir until evenly coated and bake at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes. Stir gently for five more minutes and lay everything down on waxed paper. Lastly, allow to cool and break into chunks.

Popcorn Trail Mix

Full Recipe: 1 quart

Yield: 3 cups

Ingredients:

1 quart air-popped popcorn

8 ounces raisins

6 ounces dried fruit (apricots, apples, etc.), diced

Add diced fruit and raisins to a large bowl of popped corn. Combine and toss thoroughly.

Nutritional Information (based on 3-cup serving)

o Protein 8g; Calories 651; Carbohydrate 162g ; Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 3g; Fiber 15g; Sodium 420 mg.

Other nutritional ingredients that can be mix in popcorn are:

o 1 /3 cup chopped dried fruit provides iron and fiber

o 2 tbsp. soy nuts gives fiber and calcium

o 2 tbsp. whole almonds gives protein, iron and fiber

o 2 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese gives protein and calcium

o 10 pretzel sticks gives B vitamins

o 2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds gives protein and fiber

o 1 /2 cup dry unsweetened cereal gives iron and B vitamins

While enjoying your favorite movies at home you can prepare popcorn in just a few minutes. There are many ways to include popcorn on one’s healthy diet.



By: David H. Urmann

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Carnivals, stadiums, movie theaters… these are all places that you usually think of finding commercial popcorn poppers. However if you think outside of the box then you’ll discover that there are many other ideas for where, when, and how to use these machines in order to make a profitable addition to your business that might interest you. Keep in mind that depending on location and circumstances, the mark-up on selling a bag of popcorn can be several hundred times the cost of the ingredients and the minimal labor of preparation means that you will inevitably make a great profit. This can be an opportunity that is hard to pass up once you come up with your own individual creative ways to use these popcorn vending machines. Even if you decide to give the popcorn away, the benefits that return to you could be much more than any direct monetary compensation.

Starting up a business can be difficult, so finding any extra sources of income can be the difference between making it or breaking it. In fact, sometimes it’s better to begin a subordinate business for a short period of time in order to gain the capital to launch the business that you truly desire to pursue. If you can find a highly trafficked area and obtain the proper permits, then setting up a cart with a commercial popcorn machine can be a very lucrative pursuit.

If strict entrepeneurialship isn’t your interest, then perhaps you could try renting a popcorn vending machine to raise money for your school or hobby club. It’s even possible to order commercial popcorn poppers designed with custom colors and logos. Such a machine might make a nice addition to the lounge of your fraternity or sorority, representing both your association and your school with pride… and deliciousness!

Customer satisfaction is important as well for any business. One problem that many businesses face is customer complaints from long waits in lines or other inconveniences. What if while a customer was waiting in line they could help themselves not only to some free coffee, but a steaming fresh bag of authentic kettle cooked popcorn? Just seeing and hearing the popcorn pop in the popcorn vending machine may bring a smile of nostalgic satisfaction to their face and boost their morale enough to ignore any minor inconvenience. You know, come to think of it, if any of you happen to know someone that works for the Department of Motor Vehicles, could you please forward this idea to them?



By: Sydney Hornbrook

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