Many of us grew up munching on Smartfood popcorn in our youth, this cult classic has a uniquely delicious flavor that no other popcorn has since replicated.
Whether we were eating the mini bags that fit in your school lunchbox or sharing a family-sized bag over movie night, there is something addicting about that cheesy flavor.
Now the inevitable question remains, is Smartfood popcorn good for you?
The short answer is, yes and no. Compared to potato chips, yes, this popcorn is a healthier choice and contains more nutrients. However, it does contain more additives than you might think; let’s take a look below.
Is Smartfood Popcorn Healthier than Regular Popcorn?
At the end of the day nearly all popcorn starts out the same, it’s popped from its kernel state then each brand customizes it from there.
If we compare Smartfood popcorn to regular popcorn, then sadly, it isn’t healthier. Regular popcorn is generally popped in either butter or oil and a bit of salt might be added.
Smartfood Popcorn follows this same process, it’s first popped in sunflower/corn/canola oil then the toppings are added.
This is a list of all the ingredients added to Smartfood Popcorn:
- Cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Whey
- Buttermilk
- Natural flavor
- Salt
While these ingredients aren’t terribly unhealthy, they do contain a lot of added fats from dairy and salt. Regular popcorn, on the other hand, contains only oil and salt.
Learn how to make Jiffy Pop popcorn next.
What is the Healthiest Popcorn to Eat?
When looking for a healthy popcorn option, the rule of thumb is that the fewer ingredients, the better.
We love LesserEvil’s Himalayan Pink Salt popcorn because of its minimal, clean ingredients. This popcorn is not only non-GMO but is completely organic and additive-free. It contains only:
- Non-GMO organic popcorn
- Organic coconut oil
- Himalayan salt
Finally, let’s do a side-by-side nutrition chart comparison to fully understand which popcorn is the healthier option.
Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
- Serving size–2.5 cups
- Calories–160 per serving
- Total fat–10 grams
- Cholesterol–5 mg
- Sodium–240 mg
- Fiber–2 grams
- Protein–4 grams
Need more info on how healthy white cheddar popcorn is?
LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt
- Serving size–3 cups
- Calories–110 per serving
- Total fat–4 grams
- Cholesterol–0 mg
- Sodium–190 mg
- Fiber–5 grams
- Protein–2 grams
Overall, LesserEvil’s popcorn contains far less fat, calories, cholesterol, and sodium. Smartfood popcorn has two extra grams of protein in comparison, thanks to the added dairy products and if you are looking to up your protein, then Smartfood Popcorn may be the better choice for you.
If you are searching for Smartfood Popcorn’s vegan variety, you’ll be pleased to know that their Smartfood Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn Flavored Popcorn ticks this box.
Does Smartfood Popcorn Make You Gain Weight?
An entire full-sized bag of Smartfood popcorn contains nine servings inside; considering there are 160 calories per serving, you could eat the entire bag, and it would come to 1440 calories.
The calories are not exactly the culprit here, but the high-fat content may be cause for concern. This snack may seem light, but it has 10 grams of fat serving, 2 grams of which are saturated fat. This is the unhealthy fat that clogs your arteries and leads to health problems.
In addition, there is 200mg of sodium which can cause you to retain water and lead to bloating. Eating Smartfood popcorn in moderation won’t make you gain weight however, considering the levels of fat and sodium, it’s advised to eat it in moderation as you would eat chips.
Is Smartfood Junk Food?
Yes, Smartfood popcorn is technically considered junk food. That being said, of all the junk food choices, it would be one of the least harmful options.
Thanks to the high levels of protein and fiber, this snack will stabilize your blood sugar and keep you feeling full for much longer than other junk food options.
Pros
- Air-popped
- Gluten-free
- No artificial colors or flavors
- No artificial preservatives
- 14 grams of whole grain per serving
Cons
- High fat and sodium levels
- Is no longer non-GMO
- Uses enzymes to preserve
Reviews for Smartfood Popcorn
Smartfood Popcorn Reviews are generally positive, with one reviewer commenting that they love the crunchy texture and natural ingredients. Smartfood Popcorn varieties are usually rated highly on Amazon, with most reviewers giving it 5 stars.
The majority of customer reviews mention how tasty Smartfood Popcorn is and how much they enjoy eating it as a snack or movie treat. One reviewer said that “this is my favorite popcorn” because it has “a great flavor from real butter and caramelized sugar, which makes it perfect for snacking or movie time!”
One notable criticism is that sometimes the Amazon sellers are sending out bags that are only a few weeks within their sell-by date. If you don’t eat it right away, you’ve got some super stale popcorn on your hands.
Popcorn can be a great source of fiber and antioxidants, but it’s also high in sugar. You’ll find that Smartfood Popcorn has less sugar than other brands, but it still contains some sugar. And if you’re trying to avoid added sugars, you might want to look elsewhere.
Smartfood Popcorn is also fairly high in sodium — each serving has 140mg of sodium, which is about 10 percent of the recommended daily value. This may not seem like much at first glance, but it adds up quickly when you’re eating multiple servings per day. If your diet already contains too much sodium, eating too much, Smartfood Popcorn could cause problems for your health over time.
Still, despite these drawbacks, many people say they enjoy Smartfood Popcorn because it tastes so good and isn’t greasy like other varieties of popcorn (such as microwave popcorn). There are lots of positive reviews from customers who love how flavorful and crunchy this brand is compared to other brands on the market.
Here are some other healthy popcorn options that you may end up loving even more – my personal popcorn favorites include:
Final Thoughts
Remember, any snack eaten in moderation is totally fine and won’t lead to weight gain. The delicious nostalgia that comes with every bag of Smartfood popcorn makes it absolutely worth it.
If you’re a person who lacks self-control when snacking, then stock up on these Smartfood 70-calorie mini bags for perfect portion control.
Read about a fascinating popcorn company next – Double Good Popcorn.
Sources
https://www.smartfood.com/about-us
https://www.smartfood.com/products/smartfood-white-cheddar-popcorn
