Organic Snacks List

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.

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.

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.

What are the leading snack food companies in USA?

can you plz list the leading food companies in USA that produce natural snacks, like natural & organic bars or the ones with fruit and nuts….

Kashi is my favorite and you can get it any local grocery store and may i recommend the cracker called TLC ( tiny little cracker)

1st VoxBox (Naturals)

[groupmage source="groupon" location=0 display=5]
[groupmage source="crowdsavings" location=1 display=5]

Clif Bar Builder’s Bar, 2.4-Ounce Bars Clif Bar Builder’s Bar is the first delicious high protein bar to pay tribute to those who turn their everyday world into a gym. It will fuel your muscles with added protein, especially when your day requires a little extra oomph 12 bars per box…

GoGo Squeez appleapple, Applesauce on the Go, 3.2-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 48) $26.07 All Natural Squeezable Applesauce on the Go. Story has it that in the 19th century, a very loving grandfather was determined to craft a special snack for his grandson. Using delicious apples from his backyard orchard in the Val De Loire region of France, near the Chateau Chambord, Monsieur Materne created a delicious and simple applesauce, the Materne Company was born in what would become the mo…

HAPPYBABY Organic Baby Food, Stage 2, Broccoli, Peas & Pear, 3.5-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 16) $14.98 HAPPYBABY organic baby food, stage 2, broccoli, peas, and pear is a simple fruit veggie combo–perfect for babies who are six months or older. It is a unique premium recipe with minimal processing that is sure to please your baby’s palette. It is all organic with 100% natural ingredients, no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no genetic modifications, and no preservatives. Made out of orga…

KIND PLUS Gluten Free Bars (Pack of 12) Top-selling Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants is a delicious complementary blend of tangy cranberries and dry almonds. A delicious way to get 50% DV of Vitamins A, C, & E, 3g fiber and only 190 calories. Made with All Natural Ingredients You Can See and Pronounce™Low GI & Very Low Sodium Free of Wheat & Dairy Non-GMO, No Trans Fats No Hydrogenated Oils or Sulphur Dioxide Gluten Free All Natural…

thinkThin Protein Bar, Chunky Peanut Butter, Gluten Free, 10 – 2.1-Ounce Bars $14.75 All thinkThin®natural snacks are based on key nutritional principles:
No Sugar • High Protein • Gluten FreethinkThin Protein Bar, Chunky Peanut Butter. This high protein bar packs the nutty flavors of chunky roasted peanut butter blended with cocoa and covered in luscious milk chocolate. With 0g sugar and no gluten, it’s a guilt-free treat you can feel good about.The thinkThin…

Annie’s Homegrown Berry Patch Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, 5-Count Pouches (Pack of 4) $16.56 Organic Berry patch bunny fruit snacks are a delicious mix of strawberry, cherry and raspberry flavored bunnies. Certified organic, these bunny-shaped fruit snacks are made with real fruit juice and packed with 100% daily value of vitamin C….

Hungry Girl 300 Under 300: 300 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Dishes Under 300 Calories $12.39 “Super-simple, low-calorie, great-tasting meal ideas aren’t easy to come by. 300 Under 300 will offer up so many guilt-free breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, it’ll make your head spin! It’s meal-mania, HG style! This book features three hundred satisfyiTitle: Hungry Girl 300 Under 300Author: Lillien, Lisa/ Bourassa, Val (PHT)Publisher: St Martins PrPublication Date: 2011/03/29Number of Pages: 54…

Eating for IBS: 175 Delicious, Nutritious, Low-Fat, Low-Residue Recipes to Stabilize the Touchiest Tummy $5.09 Book annotation not available for this title.Title: Eating for IbsAuthor: Van Vorous, HeatherPublisher: Perseus Books GroupPublication Date: 2000/11/12Number of Pages: 279Binding Type: PAPERBACKLibrary of Congress: 00056219…

Eat This Not That! for Kids!: Be the Leanest, Fittest Family on the Block! $3.00 Product Description It’s no secret that children are getting fatter: 17% of this country’s youth are overweight or obese, and the number of diabetic children has nearly quadrupled in the past thirty years. Now, to help combat the problem, David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health, and co-author Matt Goulding have created Eat This, Not That! for Kids. This must-have guide for concerned pa…