DIY/ Recipes/ Tips

DIY: Better Than Movie Theater Popcorn

Yup, that’s right. This stuff is better in nearly every way. It tastes buttery and good, it’s slightly sweet and salty (but not quite like a kettle corn), and it’s good for you. A perfect way to treat yourself AND a great snack to make for everyone at your holiday gatherings this weekend. Kids definitely approve of this one 😉

So what makes this popcorn so good? What makes it special? What makes it my go-to, no-guilt evening snack? The answer is simple. It all comes back around to coconut oil – you know, the stuff we talked about using as a moisturizer recently. Coconut oil is still a fat, but let’s get real for a moment – fat free is T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E for you for a plethora of reasons. One reason is that fat free products, such as 99% fat free popcorn, is often devoid of nutrients and full of processed non-foods to make it taste good again. Fat free also isn’t good for our bodies or mind. Our brain needs fat to work and our body needs some fat to keep our digestive tract running. In Ayurveda, we balance the airyness of certain foods (think popcorn) with an oil or fat to keep the your digestion from becoming…airy…and in a hault.

Now, there are some fats we want to stay away from – saturated animal fats. These often clog your pipes (digestive as well as arterial) and can contribute to the build up of plaque and cholesterol. Plant-based fats often contain good fats the help support our systems and are free of cholesterol. A little of these is quite healthy for you. Coconut oil is high in fat, but very good for the body, mind, and soul.

DIY Coconut Popcorn:

1-2 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 cup popcorn kernels

sprinkle of (himalayan) sea salt

*you’ll also need a large pot – not too heavy, a lid, and a few pot holders

Heat oil on high. Add in kernels. Cover with lid. When they start popping, grab the potholders and start shaking the pot back and forth over the burner – this helps to get to all the kernels and keeps the popped ones from burning. Continue until you hear no more popping.