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 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.
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.
How many net carbs in 2 cups of popped popcorn? ›
Popcorn, home popped, popped in fat (2 cup) contains 12.4g total carbs, 10.1g net carbs, 9.8g fat, 2.1g protein, and 142 calories.
What snack food has no carbs? ›
Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.
Is popcorn a good or bad carb? ›
Health benefits of eating popcorn
It's also a good source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. It's loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. The antioxidant lignans found in popcorn may help protect against cancer. Eating popcorn can help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels.
Will I lose weight if I only eat popcorn? ›
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 and still lose weight? ›
Popcorn Has Good Nutrition Stats
A 1-ounce serving (about 3½ cups) has 4 grams of fiber, almost 4 grams of protein and clocks in at 110 calories. This combination makes it a snack with staying power with very few calories, which can help with weight loss.
Is popcorn a good snack when trying to lose weight? ›
Another health benefit of popcorn is its high satiety. Because of popcorn's high fiber content, its low calorie count and its low energy density, popcorn is considered to be a food that can aid in weight loss.
What popcorn has the lowest carbs? ›
Air-popped popcorn would be the best choice, as it is lower in carbohydrates as well as calories, Palinski-Wade says. “However, since grams of fat are not a concern on a keto diet, added oil or butter would still allow this snack to be keto-friendly,” she adds.
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.
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.
What happens if you eat no carbs for a week? ›
Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness. It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose.
Can I eat chips on no carb diet? ›
The best keto chips are the low-carb and no-carb variety, which are typically made from alternative chip ingredients like meat, cheese, fish. And while you can sneak a few in if you are tracking your carb intake, you'll need to avoid chips made predominantly from starchy vegetables like corn, potatoes, and peas.
Can you live without carbs? ›
Severe restriction in long term will result in ketosis; fats are broken down into ketones for energy. Sometimes, a low-carb diet can change the body's metabolic process and can hamper mental and physical health. However, excess carbohydrate is bad for our health but survival without carbohydrate is not possible.
What kind of popcorn can you eat on a low-carb diet? ›
Corn in itself is considered pretty carb-heavy. But, believe it or not, popcorn isn't that high in carbs: One cup of air-popped popcorn has 6 grams of carbs, and 1 gram of fiber, for a total of 5 grams of net carbs, says Natalie Rizzo, M.S, R.D.
What popcorn has the least carbs? ›
Air-popped popcorn would be the best choice, as it is lower in carbohydrates as well as calories, Palinski-Wade says. “However, since grams of fat are not a concern on a keto diet, added oil or butter would still allow this snack to be keto-friendly,” she adds.
What is a keto substitute for popcorn? ›
That being said, there are plenty of low-carb popcorn alternatives that are much easier to fit into a keto diet. Pork rinds and cheese crisps, for example, have a much lower carb content than popcorn and are packed with high-quality fats and flavor.
