Making healthy snack choices can help you maintain a healthy weight by controlling appetite. Healthy snack choices include fruits, vegetables and whole grains foods. Popcorn is a whole grain and can make a filling and healthy snack choice on anyone's diet. Low-fat, microwave popcorn such as ACT II 94 percent fat free popcorn, makes it easy to pop a bag for a quick and easy snack.
Serving Size and Calories
A food item's serving size dictates the calories and nutrient content you will consume. Read the Nutrition Facts label to determine the serving size of your favorite foods and help you calculate your calorie intake. Eating more calories than your body needs leads to weight gain. A serving of Act II 94 percent fat free popcorn is equal to 1/2 of a popped bag, with 110 calories per serving. MayoClinic.com says snacks should contain about 100 calories.
Carbohydrates and Fiber
Each serving of Act II 94 percent fat free popcorn contains 20 g of carbohydrate and 4 g of fiber. As a whole grain, popcorn is a high-fiber snack choice. Fiber in food slows down digestion and improves satiety to help with weight control. In addition, fiber in foods helps to normalize your bowel movements and lowers blood cholesterol levels. Healthy women need 21 to 25 g of fiber a day, and healthy men need 30 to 38 g of fiber a day.
Fat and Protein
One serving of Act II 94 percent fat free popcorn contains 1.5 g of total fat, 0.5 g of saturated fat and 4 g of protein. In comparison, 1 cup of Butter Lover's Act II popcorn contains 2.5 g of total fat and 1 g of saturated fat in every 1 cup, 35 calorie serving, making the 94 percent fat free version a healthier choice. Decreasing the amount of saturated fat in your diet can help to keep your blood cholesterol levels within a healthy range and limit your risk of heart disease.
Sodium
One serving of Act II 94 percent fat free popcorn contains 250 mg of sodium. High intakes of sodium causes your body to retain fluids and increases your blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends you limit your total sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg a day. Overall, Act II 94 percent fat free popcorn makes a healthy snack, but if you are concerned about the amount of sodium in your popcorn, consider air-popped popcorn without added salt, which has 1 mg of sodium in a 1 cup serving.
References
- LIVESTRONG.com: MyPlate: Calories in Act II 94 Percent Fat Free Popcorn
- LIVESTRONG.com: MyPlate: Calories in Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn
- MyPyramid.gov: Grains
- American Heart Association: Healthy Diet Goals
- MayoClinic.com: Snacks: How They Fit Into Your Weight-Loss Plan
- USDA Nutrient Database: Air-Popped Popcorn
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