Healthy Snacks - Popcorn, A Whole Grain Snack, Can Be Healthier Using A Salt Free Popcorn Seasoning

When we think of healthy snacks, popcorn doesn't usually make the list. We think of popcorn and we think of butter, salt and sometimes sugar. However, popcorn can be a very healthy snack by choosing healthy popcorn toppings like a salt free popcorn seasoning.

Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is naturally high in fiber, low in calories, no sodium and 1 gram of fat (from the corn). It's the popcorn toppings and how we pop the popcorn that turns this otherwise healthy snack into a high sodium, high calorie, high fat, not so healthy snack.

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One serving is quite a bit, about 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels yields about 5 cups of popped popcorn at only 110 calories and 7 grams of fiber. That is a lot of munching with not a lot of calories.

Healthy Snacks - Popcorn, A Whole Grain Snack, Can Be Healthier Using A Salt Free Popcorn Seasoning

Here are some tips to help make popcorn a healthy snack:

Tip #1 Choose organic popcorn which means no pesticide residues. Non-organic or regular popcorn was listed on the FDA's top ten of the most commonly contaminated foods with pesticides and chemicals.

Tip #2 Learn to pop your own popcorn and avoid the microwave packets. There are still health concerns about microwave popcorn packets and the chemicals added to promote popping and less sticking.

• Use an air popper to eliminate the need for fat. There are many electric air popcorn poppers and there are also popcorn poppers for the microwave.
• Another way to pop popcorn is in a paper bag, in the microwave. Use about 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in a paper lunch bag. Fold over top of bag a couple of times at the very top of the bag. Leave plenty of room for popping. Allow about 3 minutes for popping depending upon the wattage of your microwave oven. Stop when the popping sounds slow way down but not finished, or the popcorn may start to burn. That's it. Pour popcorn into a bowl, add toppings and you can re-use the bag.
• You can learn to pop popcorn the old-fashioned way. Heat a skillet or pan on top of the stove dry or (with a little oil works better), add popcorn, place a lid on it, and shake the pan back and forth (with one hand on the pan and one hand on the lid to keep them together). Keep the lid a little to the side to let steam escape but not the popcorn. Pop over medium-high heat until it has finished popping. Immediately pour into a bowl. This is not only makes a healthier popcorn but you can actually burn some calories in the process, especially if you are making several batches for everybody.

Tip #3 Choose healthier popcorn toppings.

• Lower sodium popcorn: Instead of adding salt, or a popcorn salt, try adding a salt substitute, a low sodium seasoning or a salt free popcorn seasoning. This will help turn an otherwise high sodium snack into a much more heart healthy snack.
• Chili popcorn or a spicy popcorn is popular and flavorful: Add cayenne or a salt free chili seasoning and try a chili flavored oil.
• Use unsalted versions of butter, margarines, or butter substitutes and oils in moderation. No hydrogenated oils or trans fats. Try other oils like olive oil (some even taste buttery). Try heart healthy nut oils like a macadamia nut oil has a nice buttery taste.

Tip #4 Healthy snacks to go. Make your popcorn snack and take it with you. Here is a different healthy snack idea. Create a popcorn trail mix by adding nuts, raisins, coconut, dried fruits even vegan chocolate chips and make this healthy snack even healthier, more flavorful and it's delicious. Also, try adding popcorn to granola.

When eating popcorn choose healthier options for your popcorn. Be creative and try other ways to flavor your popcorn with healthier flavored oils, healthy seasonings, and lower your sodium intake with a salt substitute or a salt free popcorn seasoning. Now you can put popcorn on your list of healthy snacks.

Healthy Snacks - Popcorn, A Whole Grain Snack, Can Be Healthier Using A Salt Free Popcorn Seasoning

And now for more low sodium tips, recipes and information I invite you to sign up for our FREE Season It Newsletter when you visit Benson's Gourmet Seasonings at http://BensonsGourmetSeasonings.com

Get more information about low sodium, including a low sodium diet, low sodium cooking tips, salt free seasonings, popcorn seasoning and low sodium recipes. Here you'll learn how you can use seasonings, fresh herbs, fresh fruits & vegetables, olive oil, nuts, vinegars, wine and different cooking techniques to flavor your food without adding salt and sugar. You'll find out how to get more flavor than you ever thought possible.

From Debbie Benson owner of Benson's Gourmet Seasonings with over 30 years experience promoting salt free seasonings. Loving to cook and cooking salt free by choice, I have learned a lot of tips and tricks to create flavor without salt and sugar that seems to be in everything these days.

Kids Low Calorie Snack Recipes - 15 Kids Snacks Recipes for Weight Loss

Kids love to snack between their meals and probably like their snacks more than the meals. Now days there are high calories snacks available with low nutrition. Consumption of these snacks has increased obesity in children.

One way to stop this is to provide kids low calorie snack recipes for weight loss. These snacks are healthy and more nutritious than the readymade ones. Be innovative and try new snacks at home which your kids will love.

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Some of the ideas for kids low calorie snack recipes for weight loss are as follows:

Kids Low Calorie Snack Recipes - 15 Kids Snacks Recipes for Weight Loss

1. Strawberry Banana Smoothie: Take few strawberries and a banana and blend with yogurt and 2 tablespoon of honey. Slowly add low fat milk if you wish. This is a filling and nutritious smoothie!

2. Melon Balls: Scoop out some water melon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon. Arrange these colorful balls in a plate with a toothpick inserted. This makes a very healthy low calorie snack! And the kids will love the colorful balls!

3. Peanut Butter Apple: To make the apple slices more attractive, apply a thin layer of peanut butter to the slices and watch them disappear!

4. Fruit Pops: Blend any fruit or 2-3 fruits and fill the popsicles with this puree. Freeze and serve!

5. Kabobs: Make a colorful selection of fruits and cheese cubes. Cut into small bite sized cubes and skewer them.

6. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a very healthy snack for kids. Top it with some berries.

7. Ants on a log: Take a celery stalk and apply peanut butter. Put some raisins giving it a look of ants on a log. Kids will love this visually!

8. Mini Sandwiches: Put some boiled egg or tuna in brown bread and cut in mini sizes.

9. Soup: Make any vegetable soup with olive oil! Soups are a great way to get the nutrients and fill the kid's tummy. Serve the soup with a toast. This is a great low calorie kids snack for weight loss!

10. Dip: Kids love to dip. So give them raw fresh veggies with dip made of yogurt or low fat cream.

11. Pita pockets: Cut pita bread into triangles and season with olive oil and some herb. This is a healthy snack!

12. Boiled Egg: This provides the proteins a kid needs. Serve boiled egg without the yolk. Add some salt and pepper.

13. Cracker: Take a cracker and top it with some low fat cheese and olives. You can arrange the olives like eyes and put a tomato for lips. Be innovative to create a healthy low calorie snack recipe.

14. Trail Mix: Mix some bran cereal, nuts and pretzels for a crunchy snack mix.

15. Mini Pizzas: Which kid doesn't love pizzas? Make this low calorie snack recipe and watch your kid enjoy! Take brown bread and cut rounds off the slices with help of cookie cutter. Apply a little sauce and top with chopped green bell pepper and tomatoes and olives. Top with little grated cheese. This pizza can be eaten like this or baked. This healthy kid snack is sure to be a hit!

You can invent your kids low calorie snack recipe for weight loss on your own. Be creative with the presentation and watch your kids lose that unhealthy weight!

Kids Low Calorie Snack Recipes - 15 Kids Snacks Recipes for Weight Loss

Read How to Lose Stomach Fat Fast. Also know how to Lose Baby Fat After Pregnancy.

Benefits Of Healthy Snacks

Everyone loves snacks. There are even kids that say "snack" is their favorite meal of the day. While some laugh at this, it shouldn't be taken so lightly. Snacks can be really important parts of a child or adult's diet. Snacks give your body an energy boost throughout the day, and they can help maintain your weight because you will be eating less at big meals. Eating less at main meals and having snacks in between will help your metabolism, and you will process food faster when you eat.

Healthy snacking has a lot of benefits. Choosing fruit, yogurt, granola bars, vegetables, and whole wheat grains are better choices than pre-made snacks by cookie and chip companies. The benefits of healthy snacking are that these snacks provide a lot of nutrients and vitamins that many people need but take for granted. They are good sources of energy. Also, they provide fiber to help cleanse the body, again making your bodily systems and functions more efficient.

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For your children, one of the major benefits of healthy snacking is that it increases and builds their immune systems. This will mean less medical bills for you! Try giving your children fresh fruit, vegetables like carrots and celery, yogurt, cheese, and nuts. These snacks are not only healthier for your children, but they directly address needed food groups your children should be taking in everyday. Keep your kids away from potato chips, candy, and sugary cookies. These types of snacks usually boost children with energy, but send them crashing after a while. All that your children will be left with are the sodium and fats found in the snacks. Many of these store bought snacks are also salty, which can dehydrate you and/or your child,

Benefits Of Healthy Snacks

It can be difficult to keep children away from the yummy ready to eat snacks, so look for good alternatives. If your child likes candy and chocolate because they have a sweet tooth, turn them on to eating fresh fruit or fruit juice Popsicles. If they like chips and cookies, get them some unsalted nuts or oatmeal cookies. Keeping your children on healthy snacks lessen their risks for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, and other serious illnesses. These benefits will be helpful to them for the rest of their lives.

Healthy snacking will also help your children at school. When their bodies are not filled with junk, they will feel less sluggish or moody and cranky, and they can perform at their best and achieve their peak potential. The benefits of healthy snacking are all around, and great! So look into snacking for you and your kids. You will never regret it!

Benefits Of Healthy Snacks

Getting your kids to eat healthy snacks can be a huge challenge for a parent. For more healthy snack ideas, visit Easy and Healthy Snacks for Kids and find healthy snack ideas, as well as healthy recipes for meals that your kids will love!