Popcorn can be a healthy snack for your child and a source of fiber, which can provide energy and help him feel full. However, the calories, chemicals and potential choking hazard can make microwave popcorn an unhealthy snack if your child eats too much of it or eats it without supervision.
Calories and Fat
According to Keep Kids Healthy, a 3-cup serving of microwave popcorn can contain 120 calories and 8g to 12g fat, and many bags of microwave popcorn contain more than 3 cups. The fat and calories can contribute to future weight gain and high cholesterol, especially if the rest of your child's diet isn't nutritious. Microwave popcorn can also contain trans fat, a man-made fat that can increase the risk of heart disease and is often added to foods to lengthen shelf life.
Choking Hazard
The small, hard and sometimes odd shape of popped kernels can be a potential choking hazard, as well as unpopped kernels that can make it into a bowl. If your child is younger than 4, Babycenter recommends avoiding popcorn as a snack. If your child is older than 4 and eating popcorn, make sure you supervise her to help prevent accidents.
Diacetyl
Some types of microwave popcorn contain diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial butter flavoring. A 2008 study at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that the chemical can be harmful to the nose and airways of mice. It has also been considered a possible cause for rare lung disease in humans who have had long-term exposure to the chemical.
Recommendations
You can avoid some of the negative health effects of microwave popcorn by limiting your child's consumption. You can also offer air-popped popcorn instead, which only has 93 calories and 1.5g fat in a 3-cup serving. Top air-popped popcorn with melted butter or parmesan cheese for a healthy snack.
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