Healthy snacks: Pop corn, not your pants’ buttons.
March 11, 2016 Ashley 0 Comments
“Popcorn’s actually very healthy, Margot,” assured the diabetes doctor.
“Not when you cover it with as much butter as I do,” my mom replied flatly.
Much like I am with my date or McDougall noodle addiction, my mom’s got this love-hate relache with her serving of kernel explosions every evening. Glass of wine. Good book. Maybe a Tivo’d episode of American X Factor. And, of course, a bucket of fluffy air filled food, drowned in a lake o’ Land O’ Lakes. Enthralling upon ingestion. Less so in the aftermath of numbers on the scale or diabetes-meter (or whatever that thing’s called). But, as she puts it – “I look forward to it every evening”. And it got me wondering – could there be a happy medium for people like my mom? A way to make these amoeba shaped chunks of crunchy styrofoam healthier? Without sacrificing savory goodness?
On a mission to retain the “favorite daughter” baton I’ve rightfully earned, I journeyed far away to find out.
And what did I find out?
Well, after tweaking my search a bit, I learned the following:
By using a few healthy shoe ins, you can totally save the taste of these classic theater eats, without packing in the fat. How? By using veggie oil as your butter sub before adding in some of your other favorite tongue tickling drizzles (like lime juice, barbecue sauce, or coconut milk – though, obvi. – not all in the same batch, which would be disgusting). Then, to top it off? Add some of your other tasty favorite food enhancers – like curry, queso, or cilantro. In fact, Fitness magazine (see image link below) has a series of amazing recipes that turn in your boring churned toppings for some mouth watering goodness reminiscent of the latest Lays chips flavored to taste like wings, pizza, or some exotic Indian dish:
(Clickable link. Note: Each one comes with a suggested vino pairing for taste.)
It’s actually perfect that I came across this compendium of recipes when I did.
’cause my mom, sister, and I are all planning a girls’ night super soon. And since I’m playing hostess, I’m charged with the task of providing snacks. And what better provender to provide for film viewing from my Palace de Ashley sofa than… popcorn? The double conundrum up util now’s been that I want something that won’t set off a family domino effect retching sesh…
…but that also won’t make me cringe in the process, knowing that I’m contributing to indirect snack induced matricide. That, and the fact that butter’s not part’ve my nom repertoire as a vegan. (The other end of the conundrum.) So, what, pray tell is vegan me going to make to ensure deliciousness is the verdict given by all? While also not dousing the family bowl of snack clouds in animal effluvia?
Well, after much contemplation, I think I’m gonna go with this one:
(Except, instead’ve the queso fresco bit, I’mma use one’ve the many tofu based vegan versions found online.)
Unless, of course, one of you step in and save the day with an even better suggestion.
Otherwise… wish me luck!
Just as I wish you luck on your quest to jettison this yellow enemy from your tongues.
Hopefully these tweaked recipes’ll help you enjoy your movie snacks sans splitting any slacks.