So, how many calories in a bag of popcorn? Popcorn, in its most basic form, is a popped whole grain. If you are a fan of popcorn, you will be happy to learn that if it is prepared without the use of oil or butter and consumed in moderation, it may deliver several unexpected health advantages. It has a low-calorie count, is high in antioxidants, and provides a good amount of fiber, all of which are beneficial for digestion and the heart’s health.
However, consuming a whole bag of popcorn is unhealthy, especially homemade popcorn with butter, caramel, or the hydrogenated soybean oils used in movie theatre snacks. Doing so will not improve your health.
It requires just a few primary components, can be prepared in various ways and is tasty and satisfying. Although there are certain positive effects on your health, how many calories does it have?
Read this article to know the answer!
How Many Calories Are in a Bag of Popcorn?
If you like eating popcorn as a snack, your best choice is to get air-popped popcorn instead of preparing it in the microwave. One bag of plain popcorn, for instance, has 375 calories. If you want to keep the calories under control, limit yourself to only one or two cups of this popcorn at a time.
Suppose you consume the entire bag of popcorn. In that case, you have consumed 9.5 to 14.5 grams of fiber, which brings you closer to meeting the fiber count necessary to guarantee that your body is functioning properly. That equals the amount of fiber found in a big banana or a red apple. The fact that popcorn comes from whole grains means it contains certain nutrients.
How Many Calories Is in a Whole Bag of Microwave Popcorn?
The amount of calories in microwave popcorn bags varies from brand to brand and relies on the flavor inside the bag. For instance, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that one bag of low-fat microwave popcorn has 424 calories.
Most microwave popcorn brands use either hydrogenated or partly hydrogenated oils, both of which include unhealthy trans fats. Microwave popcorn is related to a dangerous lung ailment called popcorn lung. So it is advised to avoid microwave bags of popcorn.
How Many Calories Are in a Bag of Popcorn With Butter?
There are 491 calories in a bag of buttered popcorn. However, if you add extra butter to the popcorn, you will have more saturated fat, increasing the total number of calories.
Is a Bag of Popcorn Good for Weight Loss?
Popcorn has a low energy density and a comparatively low number of calories for how high its fiber content is. People should include all these in a diet for weight reduction. In addition, it facilitates weight reduction and improves many elements of future health and wellbeing.
For example, air-popped popcorn contains just 31 calories per cup, much fewer calories than many other snacks. So if you eat popcorn in moderation, it may help to reduce weight.
Final Words – How Many Calories in a Bag of Popcorn?
Depending on how you prepare (air-popped, microwaved, or with butter), each bag of popcorn has anywhere from 375 to 500 calories. In conclusion, popcorn is an excellent choice for a nutritious snack that you can include in any section of your day, particularly if you are trying to reduce your body fat percentage.
If reducing the number of calories you consume when eating popcorn is one of your primary goals, the healthiest method to consume popcorn is air-popped popcorn that does not include any butter or spices. Through this, you will get the essential grain while avoiding junk. However, if you flavor it with a touch of salt and butter, you may keep the dish on the lighter side of the healthy snack spectrum.