Snack Smart this summer

Tasty Tuesday:  Time to snack smart this summer!

With swimsuit season quickly approaching, eating healthier and getting in shape for summer is top of mind for many people.  One important part of weight management is healthy snacking – eating light, often.  In fact, new research presented at the Experimental Biology conference this week reveals that low-fat popcorn is a smart snack choice for weight management.

The study, commissioned by ConAgra Foods, found that eating a filling but calorie-controlled snack, such as Orville Redenbacher’s 94 percent fat-free SmartPop! popcorn, will leave you feeling fuller and less hungry than snacking on the same caloric amount of milk chocolate.

The study found that participants who ate a 100-calorie portion of SmartPop! popcorn versus two nuggets of milk chocolate (also 100 calories) were significantly less hungry and more full, had less desire for a second snack, and were more satisfied with the amount of food after eating the popcorn.

More About the Study

There were 49 female participants in the study, aged 20 to 50 years old, with a BMI between 18 and 25 (normal weight). All participants followed the same consumption protocol in a controlled testing facility. After an overnight fast, they arrived at the testing facility, ate a controlled breakfast, and then ate a snack 3.5 hours after breakfast. Participants’ fullness levels were approximately 40 percent higher 30 minutes after snacking on popcorn versus after eating chocolate.

About Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop!

·         100% whole grain

·         94% fat-free

·         0 grams of trans fat

·         0 milligrams of cholesterol

·         Excellent source of fiber

·         Available in either full-sized or 100-calorie bags

·         Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn pops up lighter and fluffier than ordinary popcorn.

·         Whole grains support heart health, and previous research has shown that popcorn consumers get more than twice the amount of whole grains as is typical in the U.S. diet, plus 20 percent more total fiber.

·         Learn more: https://www.orville.com/our-popcorn/microwave-popcorn-smartpop.jsp

I haven’t always been a fan of popcorn because I just can’t stand the smell sometimes but this popcorn is pretty good.  Hubby is more a fan of popcorn than myself and said he really enjoyed the Smart Pop Kettle Corn.  It wasn’t too sweet and it was just the right amount. Hey it’s only 100 calories a bag, can’t beat that.  But do be cautious not to use the popcorn setting on your microwave because it definitely doesn’t need that long since it’s a smaller portion than the regular bags.  Ours would have been perfect at about 1 minute in the microwave.

Do you like popcorn?  What is your favorite snack smart tip for the summer?

Photo source

*I was sent samples of this popcorn and info on the study to post about on my blog.