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| Source for Whole Grains & Fiber |
Increasing interest and demand for more nutritious snacks and natural products is at an all-time high. Popcorn is no exception. Not only is popcorn a great-tasting source for whole grains and fiber, new research shows that, in a national survey, those Americans who consumed popcorn consumed more whole grains and fiber on that day than those who did not eat popcorn. This indicates that popcorn is a delicious way to help meet the important health goal of consuming more whole grains and fiber for a great tasting snack with varieties that provide all natural ingredients and unique flavors.**
| Q: | What else should I know about popcorn in relation to healthy snacking? |
| A: |
Each kernel of popcorn is a whole grain. According to USDA's MyPyramid, three cups is equivalent to a serving of whole grain and a good source of dietary fiber.
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** Source: Grandjean, AC, et al. Popcorn Consumption and Dietary and Physiological Parameters of US Children and Adults: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 Dietary Survey Data. J Am Dietetic Assoc, IN PRESS |
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| 100 Calorie Snacking |
The 100-calorie snack pack is a growing trend meant to give consumers a controlled portion of a snack with an easy-to-remember caloric value. Here are some things to keep in mind about pre-packaged 100-calorie snacks.
| Q: | What makes 100-calorie snack bags of popcorn better than other 100-calorie snacks? |
| A: |
A key to a healthy diet is to eat foods that help us meet our nutritional needs while staying within our calorie needs. One hundred calorie snack bags of popcorn are a perfect solution. While all 100-calorie snacks have the benefit of being portion-controlled, popcorn uniquely provides an excellent source of whole grain and a good source of dietary fiber. In fact, a 100-calorie pack of Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop popcorn provides two of the three recommended daily servings of whole grains based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) MyPyramid. |
| Q: | How do 100-calorie snack packs help me maintain a healthy weight? |
| A: |
More and more, Americans are concerned about the negative health effects of becoming overweight. Portion control, such as the 100-calorie snack bag, may help people control their caloric intake. And Orville Redenbacher's 94% Fat Free 100 calorie packs make it easy to control calories from fat, too. Making it convenient and easy to keep calories in check through portion control is a great benefit for those who enjoy popcorn as a snack. |
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| Trans Fat |
Many varieties of popcorn are low in fat and calories with zero grams trans fat per serving and are a great source of whole grain.
| Q: | What are trans fatty acids? |
| A: |
Trans fatty acids (or "trans fat") are a type of fat created when oils are hydrogenated. They also occur naturally in certain foods. Common trans fat sources include vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods, cookies, snack foods and fried foods.* Where possible, many food companies have reduced or even eliminated trans fat in their products. |
| Q: | Why should I care about trans fat? |
| A: |
It's important to know about trans fat because consuming too much trans fat may increase your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while reducing your HDL ("good") cholesterol levels, which could put you at an increased risk of coronary heart disease—a leading cause of death in the United States. |
| Q: | How much trans fat is in popcorn? |
| A: |
The amount of trans fat in microwave popcorn varies, some have more than 11g of trans fat per box! To know for sure, check the nutrition side panel, or choose Orville Redenbacher's or ACT II brands which have 0g trans fat per serving on all microwave popcorn varieties. |
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* Source: FDA.gov
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| Whole-grain perfection in its purest form-so there’s nothing between you and a great snack. |
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