Thursday, May 19, 2011

Healthy Homemade Popcorn


Popcorn is a healthy snack, right?  Yes. If you are popping it from the kernel yourself.    No.  If you are reaching for those convenient, but oh so aromatic, microwavable bags. 

Why?   I'll tell you.

That eyeglass steaming mist that washes over your face when you pull open those opposing corners contains over 4 dozen chemicals.  Before you even take a bite, you inhale all that goodness into your lungs.  Microwave Popcorn plant workers are at risk of  developing what is known as "popcorn lung".  It's a result of inhaling Diacetyl which is used to give it that movie theatre, buttery taste.  This should make you think twice before lingering and deeply inhaling over that warm, freshly popped bag.  There is actually a confirmed case of a diehard popcorn lover developing bronchiolitis obliterans, aka "popcorn lung", from doing that twice a day/365.  Extreme-yes, but something to be aware of regardless.  Luckily, major producers have started to eliminate Diacetyl in their products. 

There are still all of those other chemicals to worry about.  Whole foods are always best.  If the list of ingredients is either a mile long or contains stuff that you can't pronounce, it's not real food. 

Besides, popping up your own, the old fashioned way is more fun anyway!  Give it a try tonight and let me know how it goes.

Home Popped Popcorn

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernals
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a 2 to 3 quart saucepan or pot with a lid set over medium-high heat. 
  2. Test one-two kernels to see if the temperature is ready.
  3. Pour in popcorn kernels and sprinkle salt to lightly cover the layer of kernels. Remember, you can always add more salt later. Add the butter to the pot and cover with the lid.
  4. As soon as the kernels start to pop, shake the pan back and forth across the burner constantly until the popping slows down. As soon as the pops are about 2 seconds apart, remove from the heat and pour into a serving bowl. 
  5. Taste, and season with additional salt if desired.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

How to be smarter than the average eater

You have NO idea what to eat and are feeling frustrated (not to mention confused) with all of the "scientific" studies and health claims that you are bombarded with everyday.  I know this because you've all told me.  Fear not, if you are a devoted fan of Motivated Nutrition, you are smarter than the average eater.  There are, however, many consumers who believe everything they read and hear when it comes to the latest food fad.

Chances are, you have a few "crash diet" devoted friends who often recite nutritional facts that they've heard on the latest Kashi commercial or a billboard statement about why they need to be drinking 2-3 glasses of milk everyday.   It's not their fault. We are all being "fed" misinformation.  The government regulations on food are politically motivated in favor of certain industries. (Ah hem!  Dairy, Beef, and Corn. ) We are bombarded daily with studies and advertisements claiming to help us lose weight and eat healthy.  Meanwhile, they are promoting processed, packaged foods that put money into their pockets and an extra inch of fat around our waists.  It's infuriating that we live in a society that is obsessed with being thin while all of the "health" food sources being promoted are making us fat.  

Learn to read the ingredients in your food and think about what you are putting into your body.  If a package or commercial is blasting you with the health benefits, chances are they are hiding something.  (Read more here about how that will hopefully change soon)

Think about it, do your fruits and veggies come with bold face health claims on them?   There's a reason they don't have to.  They are REAL foods!

Get out there and eat something real today!  No health claims needed.