While we salute National Popcorn Day on January 19th, March 10th is Popcorn Lovers Day. And I love popcorn, so count me in… whether it be buttered, caramelized, cheesy, kettle corn, or chocolate drizzled. Popcorn, a GMO and gluten-free treat, is also a high-fiber and antioxidant whole grain, which can reduce our risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. (Okay, for the best health benefits, we must forgo all the yummy toppings.)
Popcorn has been a staple food for over 5,000 years. In the 1800s popcorn was eaten as cereal, served with milk and sugar. Charles Cretors invented the first commercial popcorn machine in 1885. Pillsbury invented microwaveable popcorn in 1982.
Here are a couple of interesting popcorn tidbits: Popcorn’s 4% water content is what causes it to pop when heated. Nebraska grows the most popcorn in America… 250 million pounds per year! And the Cancel Culture was alive in 1949 when popcorn was banned (temporarily) from movie theatres, because the snack was too loud.
