Popcorn, The Colonists’ Favorite Breakfast Cereal

Popcorn was a popular snack over 5,600 years ago and still a favorite snack in 2011. It is estimated that Americans eat one billion pounds of popcorn each year. Its popularity stems from the fact that it is cheap, quick to make and low in calories.

This golden kernel of corn has a very long and rich history. Indian tribes used popcorn both as a food, a ceremonial decoration and one of the first foods they introduced to the colonists. It is thought that the Wampanoag tribe introduced popcorn to the colonists at the first Thanksgiving dinner.

The colonists loved popcorn so much it became a favorite breakfast food served with milk and sugar. I was so fasinated with the ideal of popcorn as a breakfast cereal I decided to give it a try. I don’t think popcorn will give any of the modern day cereals competition but it does have possibilities as a breakfast food. Create a breakfast trail mix by adding raisins, almonds and sunflower seeds to the popcorn. A perfect on the go food for those of you who feel there is not enough time for a set down breakfast. This is the perfect combination of fiber, complex carbohydrates and protein, definitely a much better option than scarfing down a doughnut. Any left overs can be eaten as a snack later in the day.

Popcorn doesn’t have to be swimming in butter to be a tasty treat. Experiment by adding different herbs, spices, dried fruits, nuts or whole grain cereals to your popcorn.

Category: Nutrition