Crunchy and satisfying, popcorn is one of the most popular snacks for people of all ages.
The average American munches on 43 quarts of popcorn per year. With a relatively low-calorie count (31 calories per cup of air-popped popcorn), it’s been a favorite of folks who are looking to lose weight. In fact, air-popped popcorn actually ranks as a zero point food on WeightWatchers.
As a dietitian, I’ve always promoted popcorn as a healthy snack thanks to its status as a whole grain. As long as it’s not coated in chocolate, caramel or rivers of butter, it’s generally considered to be a low-calorie snack that fits into most everyone’s diet. But popcorn is gaining popularity for one thing I never considered it to be: a keto-friendly snack.
Popcorn nutrition facts
Let’s take a deep dive into popcorn nutrition. As a whole grain, popcorn would be categorized as a carbohydrate food. It certainly is, but when you analyze it more closely, it’s lower in carbohydrate than you might guess. (Note that the calories and carbs will be higher for kettle corn or popcorn with any kind of drizzle.)
According to the USDA’s Nutrient Database, here’s the breakdown for 1 cup of air-popped popcorn:
- Calories: 31
- Carbohydrates: 6 grams
- Fiber: 1.2 grams
- Protein: 1 grams
- Fat: 0.36 grams
Is popcorn keto?
The goal of a keto diet is to put the body into a state of ketosis so that it burns fat instead of carbohydrates as fuel. To get to this state, carbohydrates, which usually make up 40 to 60 percent of the American diet, need to be severely restricted. People who follow a keto-style diet generally need to limit carbohydrate intake to 5 percent or less of their total calories.
For example, on a 2000-calorie diet, only 25 grams can come from carbohydrate. The remaining calories would come from fat (60 to 80 percent) and protein (15 to 25 percent). So, in theory you could enjoy a substantial 4 cups of popcorn (half a bag of microwave popcorn) a day while keeping to a keto lifestyle.
According to the Keto Project, an organization that verifies keto foods, a food must have 5 or less grams of net carbohydrate per serving to qualify as keto. Net carbs are calculated by taking the total grams of carbohydrate in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber. In this case, popcorn contains 6 grams of carbs per 1 cup serving and 1.2 grams of fiber, bringing the net carbs per serving to 4.8 grams. Yes friends, popcorn is indeed a keto food.
Other keto-friendly snacks
The market for keto foods is huge and expected to grow to 15 billion by 2027. There is no shortage of packaged keto diet products on the market, ranging from granola bars to pancake mix to tortillas. Other smart snack picks that work with a keto diet include the following:
Keep in mind that while all the foods above fit into a low-carb, high-fat keto diet, you won’t see results on this diet unless you stick with it overall. And for the best outcome, it’s smart to pair any eating plan with regular exercise. If you’re not sure if a keto diet is right for you, talk to your physician or registered dietitian.
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized health expert. Frances has been a guest on several TV shows, including the Today Show, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood Live and CNN. She contributes to many publications, including Today.com, Parade, and Well+Good and is a sought-after spokesperson for brands in the wellness space. Frances is a mom of three and loves helping families stay healthy with her fun approach to eating well. She is the author of numerous books, including Eating in Color and the upcoming, Everyday Snack Tray. Follow her on Instagram and get her wellness content and recipes at www.FrancesLargemanRoth.com.
FAQs
From the popcorn nutrition facts above, you probably already got your answer. Generally, eating popcorn is not recommended for those observing a keto diet. It's a starchy food that contains carbohydrates, with one cup of air-popped popcorn containing about 6.2 grams of net carbs.
Is popcorn a good low carb snack? ›
“It's going to fill you up, it's not high on the carb count and it has a little bit of fiber.” The key is not to go overboard — 1 cup of air-popped popcorn has only 6 grams of carbs, but if you eat 3 cups, that's 18 grams and likely more than half of your daily carbs.
Can I eat movie popcorn on a low-carb diet? ›
Corn is a whole grain, after all. Carb-rich foods aren't necessarily bad for you. Even on a low-carb diet, you can enjoy a few handfuls of popcorn without going overboard.
How much popcorn can I eat on keto? ›
A typical serving of air-popped popcorn is 3 cups (24 grams) and contains 4 grams of fiber and 18 grams of carbs — or 14 grams of net carbs ( 7 ). Popcorn can easily fit into a keto diet with a daily limit of 50 grams of net carbs and can even be included in more restrictive versions of the keto diet.
How much popcorn can I eat on a diet? ›
A healthy portion size of popcorn is about 25-30g. While plain popcorn can be enjoyed as a low-calorie snack, portion size is key to keep calories in check.
What is the most filling low carb food? ›
36 tasty, low-carb foods that will keep you full and satisfied
- Avocado. A whole avocado has about 15 grams of carbs, but you're unlikely to eat the entire thing in one sitting, so it's more realistic that you'll get 4 or 5 carbs in one meal or snack. ...
- Broccoli. ...
- Coconut oil. ...
- Eggplant. ...
- Eggs. ...
- Grapefruit. ...
- Greek yogurt. ...
- Green beans.
Zero Carb Snacks:
- Cheese: A savory and satisfying snack, cheese is low in carbs and high in flavor. ...
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: Packed with protein and virtually carb-free, hard-boiled eggs make for a portable and nutritious snack. ...
- Pork Rinds: Crispy and carb-free, pork rinds are a savory alternative to traditional snacks.
As far as how many carbohydrates to eat, Pratt says 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates is safe for most people who are trying to lose weight. It may be better for some people to eat carbs consistently throughout the day. “You can also break it up evenly with 40 to 50 grams of carbs per meal,” she says.
Is popcorn an unhealthy carb? ›
Health benefits of eating popcorn
Popcorn is high in fiber and protein. It's also a good source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. It's loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.
Does popcorn spike blood sugar? ›
Popcorn is a great snack option for people with diabetes. It's high in fiber, low in calories, and depending on the portion size you eat, it won't cause your blood sugar levels to spike. It can also be quite filling, making it a good option to help you feel more full between meals.
Keto Uniq's Sweet & Salty Keto Friendly popcorn is delicious alternative to Kettle Corn without the unwanted carbs.
Is skinny pop popcorn ok on keto? ›
It's low in calories, tasty, and convenient. Skinny Pop has 7g of net carbs per small bag, making it pretty keto-friendly. So while it is lower in popcorn carbs,it's still best to substitute Skinny Pop for lower-carb snack options like beef jerky sticks, cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs, and nuts.
What is the healthiest popcorn to eat? ›
The 10 Best Healthy Popcorn Brands of 2022, According to...
- How We Chose.
- Skinny Pop Original.
- Lesser Evil Himalayan Pink Salt.
- Quinn Aged Parmesan and Rosemary.
- Boom Chicka Pop Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn.
- Bjorn Qorn.
- Pipcorn Truffle Mini Popcorn.
- Newman's Own Organic Touch of Butter.
Because of its low calorie content, low energy density, high fiber content and increased satiety, eating popcorn may help you eat fewer calories and lose weight. However, moderation is key. Even though it is much more filling than many other snack foods, it can still be fattening if you eat too much of it.
Can I eat popcorn at night for weight loss? ›
A: Eating popcorn at night can be part of a healthy diet, but it's important to consider portion control and the overall calorie intake for the day. Popcorn is a relatively low-calorie snack, especially when prepared without excessive oil or toppings.
Is popcorn an inflammatory food? ›
As healthy snacks go, popcorn is high in fiber and polyphenols, low in calories and pretty high on the list of inflammatory foods.
What junk food has no carbs? ›
Southern Recipe Original Pork Rinds
If you're ever craving something salty with a satisfying crunch, you can't go wrong with pork rinds. The Southern Recipe Original Pork Rinds is more suitable for your keto diet than potato chips, containing 0 grams of carbohydrates and 9 grams of protein per serving!
How many net carbs are in 1 cup of popcorn? ›
According to the USDA, 1 cup of air-popped, unsalted popcorn (8g) has about 5.02 net carbs. While 1 cup of popped popcorn doesn't seem unreasonable considering keto caps daily carbs around 50g a day, realistically, it's hard to only eat 1 cup of plain popcorn.
