Popcorn is a popular and delicious snack food that can be enjoyed by people following the Weight Watchers program. With just 30 calories per cup, air-popped popcorn is naturally low in calories and fat. This makes it an ideal snack for managing your weight. However, what you put on your popcorn can cause the calories and points to quickly add up. The good news is that there are many tasty seasoning options that keep popcorn light while satisfying your cravings for flavor. This article will explore the best options for seasoning popcorn that stay within your daily SmartPoints budget when following Weight Watchers.
Flavored Powders and Spices
One of the easiest ways to add flavor to popcorn without adding calories and points is by using powdered seasonings. These powdered flavors provide a big pop of taste without much added fat or sugar. Here are some great options:
- Ranch powder seasoning mix
- Taco seasoning
- Parmesan cheese powder
- Onion soup mix
- Cinnamon sugar
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Curry powder
Only about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon is needed to get lots of flavor. Be careful with seasoning mixes that have added salt, as too much sodium is not heart healthy.
Similarly, a variety of dried spices can spice up your popcorn while adding minimal calories. Try spices like paprika, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, rosemary, basil, or any of your other favorite dried herbs. Spritz the popcorn lightly with olive oil or cooking spray first so the spices will stick.
Spray Oils and Vinegars
Using a light spritz of spray oil, like olive oil or avocado oil, gives popcorn a nice sheen and allows other seasonings to stick. Each short spray from a mister adds a negligible amount of oil and calories.
You can also spray or drizzle flavored vinegars onto popcorn to impart tangy flavor. Balsamic, red wine, rice wine, and apple cider vinegar all work nicely. Try a spray of vinegar followed by a sprinkle of Italian herb seasoning mix.
Salsa and Hot Sauce
For a Mexican-inspired popcorn, top it with a tablespoon or two of fresh salsa. Look for salsas labeled “lite” or make your own fresh tomato salsa with chopped tomatoes, onions, chilies, cilantro, and lime juice.
Similarly, hot sauces like Tabasco, Cholula, and sriracha add a spicy kick while only using around 5 calories per teaspoon. For buffalo flavor, combine hot sauce with a bit of salt-free ranch seasoning.
Light Butters and Margarines
Buttery flavor can make popcorn irresistible. Regular butter and oils quickly add calories and fat. However, light butter spreads provide rich, buttery taste with less guilt. Options like Land O’Lakes Butter with Canola Oil, Brummel & Brown Buttery Spread, or I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Light are good choices. Use a teaspoon or less per portion.
Flavored Hummus
For creaminess, try dipping popcorn in hummus! Flavored hummus varieties like roasted red pepper, spicy chipotle, garlic, and jalapeño all taste fantastic on popcorn. Hummus provides protein too. Limit to 1-2 tablespoons per serving.
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast is a seasoning that provides an ultra cheesy, savory flavor. It contains protein, B vitamins, and minerals too. Nutritional yeast only has about 20 calories per tablespoon but packs a cheesy punch so a little goes a long way. It’s delicious on popcorn!
Sea Salt
A light sprinkle of sea salt over popcorn can really make the flavors pop. Sea salt crystals have more mineral taste than regular table salt. Use a pinch per portion to keep sodium in check.
Dried Fruits and Nuts
For sweet and salty flavor, top popcorn with chopped dried fruits and nuts. Some good combinations are chopped dried apricots with sliced almonds or chopped dates with chopped walnuts or pecans. limit to 2 tablespoons of dried fruit and 1 tablespoon of nuts per serving to keep calories under control.
No-Sugar-Added Chocolate Syrup
Drizzle a teaspoon of no-sugar-added chocolate syrup over popcorn for an indulgent treat. Brands like Hershey’s Sugar Free Chocolate Flavored Syrup allow you to satisfy a chocolate craving for just 15 calories per teaspoon.
Low-Fat Greek Yogurt
Plain non-fat Greek yogurt makes a creamy, protein-packed topping for popcorn. Stir in a bit of honey or lemon juice to taste. For sweet flavors, combine the yogurt with berries or cinnamon. Or mix in ranch seasoning mix for a savory dip.
Comparison of Calorie Counts for Popcorn Toppings
| Topping | Calories per Tablespoon |
|---|---|
| Parmesan cheese powder | 20 |
| Taco seasoning | 5 |
| Garlic powder | 8 |
| Chili powder | 8 |
| Light butter spread | 25 |
| Hummus | 46 |
| Salsa | 10 |
| Hot sauce | 0 |
| Nutritional yeast | 20 |
| Dried fruit | 70 |
| Greek yogurt | 17 |
As you can see, powdered seasonings, herbs, spices, vinegars, mustards, and hot sauces provide big flavor for very little calories. Heavier toppings like nut butters, oils, cream cheese, and sugary syrups quickly add calories and points. Used sparingly, higher calorie toppings can fit into your daily allotment. But powders, spices, herbs, mustard, and hot sauce allow you to pile on the flavor without going over your points budget.
Healthy Popcorn Topping Combinations
Here are some healthy seasoning ideas for popcorn that highlight the best low calorie, low point options:
Cheesy Jalapeno
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon shredded parmesan cheese
Sweet and Salty
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Nacho Cheese
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon salsa
Curried Coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- Pinch of cumin
- Pinch of coriander
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut
Chili Lime
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Juice of 1 lime
- Pinch of salt
Everything Bagel
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
Guidelines for Healthy Popcorn Toppings on Weight Watchers
To stay within your daily SmartPoints allowance on Weight Watchers while still enjoying delicious flavored popcorn, follow these guidelines:
- Use powdered seasonings instead of oil-based dressings
- Limit butter or margarine to 1 teaspoon per serving
- Use just a quick spray of olive oil instead of pouring or heavily coating
- Flavor with herbs, spices, vinegars, mustards, hot sauces, and lemon juice
- Look for low-fat/lite versions of cream cheese, ranch dressing, mayo, etc.
- Measure nut butters and chocolate syrups carefully
- Use just 1-2 tablespoons of higher fat toppings like hummus, nut butters, or shredded cheese
- Avoid drizzling with honey, sugary syrups, or molasses
- Stick to just 1-2 tablespoons of dried fruit or nuts as mix-ins
- Be mindful of sodium levels in seasoning mixes
With creative use of herbs, spices, vinegars, mustards, and other low calorie flavor enhancers, you can create delicious gourmet popcorn recipes without going over your daily SmartPoints. Enjoy popcorn as a healthy anytime snack within your Weight Watchers plan.
Conclusion
Popcorn is a fantastic low-calorie snack to enjoy while following the Weight Watchers program. With strategic use of low point seasoning options like spices, herbs, flavored powders, vinegars, mustards, and hot sauces, you can craft delicious popcorn recipes that satisfy cravings without derailing your weight loss goals. Aim for well-rounded flavor combinations and carefully limit fattier toppings like oils, butter, cream cheese, chocolate, nuts, and dried fruit. With mindful attention to portions, the seasoning ideas in this article will help you stay within your daily SmartPoints allowance on Weight Watchers so you can lose weight while still enjoying bold and crave-worthy popcorn snacks.