A few months ago, I blogged about popcorn being the perfect snack and now I have some great news for you: popcorn may not only be the perfect healthy and delicious snack but it’s even more satisfying than that other snack time favorite – potato chips! 

In a study published in Nutrition Journal, 35 normal weight adults ages 20-50 years ate three different snacks: either 1 cup of plain popcorn (45 calories), 6 cups of plain popcorn (100 calories) or 1 cup of potato chips (150 calories). Following each “snack session,” the consumers rated their hunger and level of satisfaction. After a serving of six cups of popcorn, the participants felt less hungry and more satisfied as compared to eating a serving of potato chips, even though they’d eaten 33% fewer calories. The study concluded that “popcorn exerted a stronger effect on short-term satiety than did potato chips as measured by subjective ratings and energy intake at subsequent meals.” In plain old English, the study proved that popcorn will satisfy your hunger better than potato chips and you’ll therefore eat less at the next meal.

For all of you die-hard potato chip lovers out there holding steadfast to that crunchy little pop of flavor, let me try and sway you. Like potato chips, popcorn has that great, oddly satisfying crunch that we all crave, and while some may think popcorn is bland, it is just as versatile as the potato chip and a wonderful canvas for an array of flavors. Make it sweet, make it salty, make it sweet-salty, make it spicy—you name it!  You know what else? It’s full of fibery and whole grain goodness while potato chips are not. 

So go ahead, make your own potato chip-popcorn experiment. Pick your favorite potato chip flavor and re create it on popcorn. Don’t drench it in butter; instead try a light spray of olive oil and crazy spices. Have potato chips one day as an afternoon snack and popcorn the next. Did you eat less at your next full meal the day you ate popcorn? Was your crunch craving satisfied? (Mallory)