Popcorn: Nature’s Simple Snack

Today was grandkids day at my aunt’s house. It’s a time where her four grandchildren, ages 7-10, spend a few hours running and jumping and screaming and being youthful. It’s also a time for snacks which can range from cookies to brownies or ice cream to pastries. Today’s snack happened to be popcorn, which made me realize how delicious of a snack it is.

I find that a movie is never complete without it and once I smell it I have to have it (an obsession I’ve inherited from my father). Although the kernels have a nasty habit of getting stuck in my teeth in such a way that multiple flossing sessions are a necessity, I still find it to be a great and satisfying treat.

Popcorn is a relatively healthy food that’s low in sugar and high in fiber. It’s distribution is becoming a growing industry, especially during the holidays where gourmet popcorn can be given as a gift, eaten as an appetizer at a get-together or strung together and hung as decoration on the Christmas tree.

I’ve heard of and consumed kennel corn, carmel corn, regular salted popcorn and even cheese popcorn (which I personally don’t recommend)  but I’ve never heard of the sour cream & onion, cinnamon toast or rocky road flavors. Which has, needless to say, peaked my interest and taken this simple snack into a glorious and indulging pleasure. If only flavored popcorn drizzled in chocolate and sugar was as healthy as regular – but few things as indulging as this are rarely good for you (a sad reality of life). It’s just amazing to see how far a basic food can be taken and how much of a profit can be made from setting fire or heat to corn.

Although I do enjoy kennel corn and would someday like to try every other flavor imaginable, for now I like to keep it simple and lightly salted, for it’s the simple pleasures in life that are the most delicious.