What a great way to make boring popcorn into something you just can’t put down ! And at only 149 calories – - eat up ! Popcorn is filling and full of fiber and a great snack food to keep around the house.

Spicy Popcorn

6 servings
149 calories per serving

3.5 oz. bag of plain microwave popcorn
2 T buttery spread
2 T spicy brown mustard
2 t chili powder
2 t hot pepper sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pop popcorn according to package instructions. In a large bowl combine margarine, mustard, chili powder and hot pepper sauce. Microwave 45 seconds or until butter is melted then stir well and add popcorn and mix well to coat. Turn into a baking pan and bake 10 minutes or until popcorn browns a little. Cool completely before serving.

I admit it – I’m a snacker. That can be my downfall…I eat great, healthy meals, but the snacks get me. So I try to keep a bunch of healthier alternatives around so that when I can’t resist the urge, at least I am not totally killing my calorie count. My newest favorite is a popcorn ‘chip’ called PopCorners. These are FABULOUS !!

Popcorners

A 1.1 ounce bag is only 140 calories! The serving size is more than enough and the all natural product tastes great. It’s popcorn without all the messy little leftover kernel pieces that only get in my teeth and bother me anyhow And one of my favorite parts – - they come in different flavors. I LOVE things that have different flavors

Today I’m eating the slightly sweet Kettle version. Yesterday was Butter. The day before was Sea Salt. And tomorrow I have to try the White Cheddar – based on all the others being so good, I am sure the cheese will please.

Try some – if you can’t find them locally, you can order online. Healthy, all natural, low cal and awesome…Popcorners. (I may sound like an endorsement, but I have no affiliation with the product ! I just love it.)

Some of the simplest snacks are the best – adding ranch flavor to popcorn is just a match made in heaven. And this is so easy to do !

Ranch Popcorn

1 serving
184 calories per serving

6 c air popped popcorn (you can use microwave popcorn, but the calorie count goes up a bit)
2 t Molly McButter
2 t Dry ranch dressing mix
ICBINB Spray

Pop popcorn and spread out on a cookie sheet then spray with ICBINB and sprinkle with the Molly McButter. Then spray again and mix with the ranch dressing mix.

These are just scrumptious ! Another one of those snacks then when left unattended, they just seem to disappear A nice healthy alternative for snacking.

Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls

9 servings
98 calories per serving

5 c popped popcorn
¼ c honey
¼ c creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Put popcorn in a large pan (like a roaster pan) and warm in the oven. In a small pan on medium heat, boil honey 1-2 minutes and then reduce heat and add peanut butter, mixing well. Drizzle the mixture over the popcorn and stir well. Tear off 9 ten inch pieces of wax paper and place a bit more than ½ c of the mix on each sheet then fold the corners up and form the popcorn mix into a ball. Store with the wax paper on the balls at room temperature.

This is barely sweet – much more of a cocoa flavor than a sweet flavor and yet it definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. This is a great sweet snack for in front of the TV.

Cocoa Popcorn

6 servings
94 calories per serving

6 c popped popcorn
1 T margarine
2 T light corn syrup
1 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ T skim milk
1/8 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place popcorn in a large baking pan and warm in the oven. In a small pan melt margarine, then add syrup, cocoa, milk and salt and stir until well mixed. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat all pieces.

Just the right amount of spice in a popcorn snack that will keep you coming back for more

Chili Lime Popcorn

2 servings
85 calories per serving

8 c microwave light popcorn, popped (20 calories per cup)
2 t hot sauce
1 T chili powder
Juice of one lime

Toss popcorn with lime juice and then add chili powder and hot sauce and mix well.

Sweet yet salty – a great snack that tastes indulgent but is not !

White Chocolate Trail Mix

24 servings
80 calories per serving

10 c popped popcorn
1 c mini marshmallows
½ c dry roasted peanuts
½ c dried cranberries
6 squares Baker’s white chocolate, melted

Combine all ingredients except chocolate and toss. Add chocolate and mix well. Spread onto a baking sheet and refrigerate 10 minutes or until coating is firm.

The flavor here was subtle, but definitely enough to make it a nice change up from eating just plain pretzels or popcorn. I like it best when it was fresh out of the oven and still warm

Parmesan Pretzels and Popcorn

6 servings
170 calories per serving

2 T grated parmesan cheese
½ t basil flakes
½ t parsley flakes
3 c mini pretzel twists
3 c air popped popcorn
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine spices and mix well. Mix pretzels and popcorn and spread in an ungreased 15×10 baking sheet. Spray mix with Pam (pretty heavily) and sprinkle with cheese mix. Do not stir and bake 6 minutes or until hot.

This has a subtle sweetness that builds with each bite rather than a thick, in your face coating of sweet on the popcorn. It’s a great alternative to kettle corn and at only 90 calories per serving, eat up !

Caramel Popcorn

6 servings
90 calories per serving

6 c popped popcorn
2 T margarine
2 T honey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spread popcorn in a large pan. Melt margarine and honey and pour over the popcorn and bake 10 minutes stirring often. Let cool then store in an airtight container.