June 12, 2007
Addicted to Popcorn
I exercise every day and I’m pretty careful about what I eat, but one thing that I can’t go without is buttered popcorn. When I was growing up we had an ancient popcorn popper powered by this thin heating coil that was constantly breaking, but it made the best popcorn ever. I miss that thing.
Now I just eat microwave popcorn. This wasn’t a problem in the US because I could get the low-fat kind. Carrefour (my supermarket here) used to carry Orville Redenbacher (including their “Light” variety) but they had a tragic (for me) falling out with the supplier. All I have available now is “Homestyle” Pop Secret, and I think it’s the main reason I can’t get back to 185 pounds (where I’d like to be — I’m 195 pounds).
Incidentally, there’s a line of microwave popcorn here with really disgusting flavors: banana, strawberry, peach, red bean, you name it, and it’s all gross. Maybe the locals like it, but I hate sweet-flavored popcorn, let alone strawberry-flavored.
Anyway, here’s a roundup of the major microwave popcorn brands.
- Pop Secret (General Mills)
- Jolly Time (with its amusingly named Blast O Butter Light and Butterlicious Light)
- Act II (ConAgra)
- Orville Redenbacher (ConAgra)
- Newman’s Own
I’m forced to eat their Homestyle product (the only thing available here) when what I want is their 94% Fat Free Butter.
Jolly Time’s Healthy Pop Butter would be nice but it isn’t available here.
I’ve seen Act II around but never their 94% Fat Free Butter, unfortunately.
I think Orville’s tastes the best of all the microwave popcorns I’ve tried.
I may have seen some Newman’s Own at Jenny Lou’s (a grocer catering to super-sized foreigners), but it was full fat and they wanted like US$5 a box, which is nuts.
If you have a favorite popcorn, or a suggestion on where to find an ancient popcorn popper (220 volt!), or any idea where I can find Orville Redenbacher Light in Beijing, please leave a comment. And does anyone know why it’s always “94% Fat Free” ? Why not 82% or 96% Fat Free?
UPDATE: The popcorn popper from my childhood looks similar to this model 1702 from Dominion Mansfield… the exact same heating element anyway.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
My advice would be to quit cold turkey while you are ahead (and still young), but I realize that’s not what you asked for — and I know from personal experience that it’s not that fun. It’s all about choices, though. Like the man used to say, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.”
Then, of course, there’s this: “Exercise, Eat Right, Die Anyway.”
June 12th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Scott: Popcorn is practically my only indulgence except for cigars and girls half my age… all required to maintain a healthy mental state. ;-)
June 12th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Keep the cigars and girls. Two out of three ain’t bad, is it?
June 12th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
popcorn butter illness problems because of diacetyl:
1
2
June 12th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
bob: I have no doubt that the chemicals in the buttered microwave popcorn are horrible, but I can’t seem to help myself.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
If you can’t find an old-school popper on eBay then they can’t be found. I don’t know about the 220 voltage though
June 12th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Trader Mike: Yeah, the voltage is the rub. Or should I say wattage? It’s tough to get a converter that can handle high-wattage appliances like popcorn poppers.
June 13th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Making good popcorn is fun. Buy quality kernels. Place element on high, grab your pot, pour in quality canola oil to cover the bottom plus some, add kernels to cover the bottom plus some, stir with spoon till the first one pops, put your lid on, let it sit still for a bit, shake back on forth on the element once popping starts to get going, turn your element down to medium, once the lid starts coming off, pour off popped corn in to a bowl, pop the rest, empty, melt butter in the same pot if needed, without butter is good too. Add pepper or salt. Eat and enjoy.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:09 am
I hope you’re at least 36 years old. Regarding diet and exercise, I was wondering, what was Jim Fixx doing when he died?
June 13th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Bill, according to Wikipedia:
“Fixx died at the age of 52 of a massive heart attack, after his daily run, on Route 15 in Hardwick, Vermont. The autopsy revealed that atherosclerosis had blocked one coronary artery 95%, a second 85%, and a third 50%. Many who opposed his beliefs said this was proof running was harmful. However, Fixx came from a family where the men had poor health histories. His father suffered a heart attack at the age of 35 and died of one at 42. Given Fixx’s unhealthy lifestyle until he took up running, many argued that running added many years to his life.”
June 13th, 2007 at 3:08 am
that thing looks dangerous…
June 13th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Buy the raw grains and pop em over the stove in a pot.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Use real butter. It is the corn that makes you fat, not the butter. Fat-free is bad, no matter the percentage.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
You can make up your own microwave popcorn by buying loose popcorn kernels and brown paper lunch sacks. just put the corn in the sack, fold it closed and microwave it. It should help with your weight issue as you get control of the portion size while maintaining your popcorn fix without pressure to finish the bag. The only reason to use a sack is to keep control of the kernels while popping.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Paul: Thanks for the tip (although loose kernels and brown paper bags are hard to come by here) … great point about portion size too.
June 17th, 2007 at 12:25 am
My dentist says 10 to 15 percent of his work comes as a result of people chipping or cracking a tooth or filling while eating popcorn. Take care to avoid the unpopped kernels while snacking.
June 17th, 2007 at 12:33 am
John: So your dentist’s Mercedes was indirectly paid for by Orville Redenbacher? ;-)
June 17th, 2007 at 2:06 am
I joke with my dentist when I am presented with his bill, saying “You must have to make a boat payment”. He doesn’t actually have a boat, but his vehicle is German (Audi).
June 17th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Mr. Chairman, the “Homestyle” crap is worse than nothing. Smothered in delicious trans fat. I eat a bag of the 94% fat-free every day. It is a healthy whole grain snack, lots of fiber.
June 17th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Ugly: I know, I know, but there ain’t no 94% fat-free in the Middle Kingdom… maybe we can do a green tea for popcorn trade, though not pound for pound. ;-)
June 25th, 2007 at 6:55 am
[…] This will definitely elevate your risk of coronary heart disease. It is also possible it will increase your risk of cancer, diabetes, liver dysfunction and infertility. Maoxian’s been eating this stuff - even pork rinds are better for you. […]
June 25th, 2007 at 7:20 am
My guess is that they are all 94% fat free (and not more) because plain popcorn is about 4% fat and the other 2% must be the minimum amount of oil needed for packaging.