Dr. Andrea Middleton - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Andrea Middleton

Is SkinnyPop Popcorn Bad For You?

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Grade

C+

Short answer

As long as you pay close attention to portion sizes, SkinnyPop Popcorn is not bad for you. It’s somewhat high in fat, but free of GMOs, gluten, and preservatives.

Grade

C+

Recommended Alternative

LesserEvil Organic Popcorn

Himalayan pink salt, organic & premium, minimally processed, no vegetable oil, convenient snack size

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Long answer

Judging solely from the name, SkinnyPop Popcorn sounds like a healthy snack. But is it? Or could the self-proclaimed “skinny popcorn” be bad for you?

First, let’s take a look at the label. For a four-cup serving, SkinnyPop Popcorn contains 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, three grams of fiber and two grams of protein. Compared to most snacks, four cups is a huge serving—that’s roughly 28 grams and certainly enough to get you through an entire movie or at least a couple episodes of what you’re currently streaming on Netflix!

Back to the label: SkinnyPop Popcorn also contains a healthy amount of fiber—more than 12 percent of your daily recommended intake. Fiber helps you feel fuller longer, which is an important part of weight management. It also helps regulate your digestive system and prevent constipation. Finally, fiber offers the added benefit of protection against serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and even certain types of cancer.

The only thing semi-concerning about SkinnyPop Popcorn’s nutrients is the high fat content. The amount of fat you need each day depends entirely on the quantity of calories you’re consuming. According to the American Heart Association, you'd need somewhere between 36 to 62 grams of fat per day for a 1,600-calorie diet and 44 to 78 grams when consuming up to 2,000 calories a day. On the low-end of that spectrum, one serving of SkinnyPop Popcorn can account for over a quarter of your daily recommended fat intake. Occasionally going over your fats isn’t terrible for you, but if you make it a habit, it can raise cholesterol levels and increase your risk of heart disease, amongst other ailments.

Next, you should consider SkinnyPop’s ingredients. This is something that SkinnyPop takes very seriously as an organization, stating on their official website: “There are no artificial ingredients, flavors or preservatives in our products. We pride ourselves on providing you with a great tasting snack that's free of all those things, including GMOs, MSG, dairy, peanuts, soy, tree nuts and gluten.” The SkinnyPop Popcorn ingredient label confirms this.

In summary, SkinnyPop Popcorn does not appear to be that bad for you—it’s low in calories, contains fiber and is free of GMO, gluten, and preservatives. However, it does have a relatively high fat content, which makes moderation an important element when consuming this snack. The occasional bowl of SkinnyPop Popcorn is a healthier alternative to snacks like chips or cookies - but don’t overdo it.