At the end of the day when it’s time to turn on the Netflix, you might want a tasty snack to go with it. Like popcorn! Although microwave popcorn might be super convenient, it’s usually super unhealthy too. Keep reading and I’ll share my fave recipe for Zesty Buffalo popcorn 🍿
Let’s first take a look at the ingredients commonly used in microwave popcorn:
palm oil, salt, less than 2% of butter, natural and artificial flavor, color added, tbhq, and citric acid.
Palm oil is not sustainable. According to saynotopalmoil.com, “The industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty and indigenous rights abuses in the countries where it is produced, as the land and forests must be cleared for the development of the oil palm plantations.” It can also be hard to digest.
Butter isn’t bad for you, but you should buy it organic and pasture-raised when possible to avoid GMOS, added hormones, and antibiotics.
Natural & artificial flavors are dangerous because manufacturers do not have to disclose what is in them. They are a catch-all term for added chemicals that make foods taste a certain way.
Artificial colors have a few problems. They are made in a lab with chemicals derived from petroleum, they can cause hyperactivity in children, have no nutritional value, and are carcinogens. Countries outside the U.S. require a warning label when colors are added.
TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is made from a toxic gas, butane. It’s used as a preservative but has been linked to ADHD, stomach issues, allergies, asthma, and more.
Citric acid is an additive used as a preservative. It sounds like it would be from citrus fruit, right? Well it used to, but it can also be derived from black mold. GROSS. Learn more here.
And lastly, the bag itself it harmful! According to Food Babe:
The bag almost all microwave popcorn varieties come in is lined with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This chemical is the same toxic stuff found in teflon pots and pans. It can stay in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time. This chemical when heated has been linked to infertility, cancer and other diseases in lab animals. No long term studies have been conducted on humans, but the EPA lists this substance as a carcinogen.
This is why you should make your own at home instead! I also recommend using an air popper instead of microwaving. Or you can make it on the stove with a healthy oil of your choice, like coconut oil or avocado oil.
And now the fun part! My husband and I make popcorn on a regular basis for a snack, or sneak it into the movie theater 😎 This recipe is a result of lots of trial and error and randomly mixing some spices together. This combo of ingredients stuck and we never get sick of it!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil (or butter/ghee)
- 1/2 Tbsp hot sauce, or more if you like more heat (my fave is Ninja Squirrel from Whole Foods)
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp dill weed
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
Instructions
- Pop your popcorn in an air popper or on the stove.
- While that is popping, add the sauce ingredients in a pan and melt together on the stove.
- Drizzle the sauce evenly over the popcorn. It helps to shake up the bowl about halfway through pouring.
- Add all the seasonings evenly and enjoy!
Notes
Use all organic ingredients when possible!
Yum! A delicious, healthy snack that is full of flavor. And wayyyyyy better than the microwave stuff!
