If you’re still after a snack with a little crunch, there’s one chip alternative that you might not have thought of: popcorn.

But before you go and buy a whole bucket full, there’s a few things you need to know.

First off: Cinema popcorn is a definite no-go. Often chuck full of butter and/or salt, cinema popcorn can be unhealthier than fries, with a large pack containing up to 1200 calories. That’s approximately half your daily intake, in a single snack!

The same applies for the flavoured and oil-popped popcorns, particularly those you might find pre-popped at your local supermarket. These brands often contain high amounts of sugar – even those that market themselves as ‘healthy’ or ‘gourmet’.

If you want to get the most out of swapping your chips for popcorn, the best thing to do is to air-pop them at home – in your microwave.

Looking at nutrition; 3 cups of air-popped popcorn is only around 93 calories, and contains only 1 gram of fat. Best of all, it gives you control over how much salt/sugar you want to add (though we recommend trying it original style).

So next time you reach for the potato chips, stop. The popcorn’s right down the aisle.

On top of the pop,
– EQ