Answer: It depends.
Vegan varieties are:
- Kettle Corn
- Butter Lovers
- Llama Party
To help vegan dieters distinguish popcorn flavors, below is a list of all the Act 2 Popcorn varieties that are not vegan-friendly.
Table of Contents
Non-vegan Flavors of Act 2 Popcorn
- Xtreme Butter
- Movie Theater Butter
- Light Butter
- Homestyle
- Butter
- 94% Fat-Free Butter
- Butter Kettle Corn
Is Popcorn Vegan?
Since popcorn is a variety of kernel pop, it is vegan. However, when animal products are added to the popcorn, it becomes non-vegan. Ingredients such as cheese, milk, and butter are animal products.
Most commercial popcorn brands add animal products, which is why you can only make 100 % vegan popcorn at home.
Vegan Popcorn Brands
Some brands in the market manufacture vegan varieties of popcorn:
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Sea Salt Popcorn
These sea salt-flavored popcorns are made of three ingredients:
- Sea salt
- Popcorn
- Sunflower oil
Pop Art Thai Coconut Curry Popcorn
This brand of popcorn is vegan-friendly and is non-GMO verified, and a gluten-free product.
SkinnyPop Sea Salt and Pepper Corn
While this popcorn might not have the classic flavor of sea salt popcorn, it is made from non-GMO salt, which means it is vegan and healthier than other popcorn.
Health Benefits of Popcorn
Popcorn is one of the healthiest snacks in the world and is loaded with essential nutrients. However, sometimes popcorn is prepared with the following ingredients:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Fat
Most of these ingredients are unhealthy and promote overeating. Nonetheless, without these additional ingredients, popcorn has several health benefits.
Popcorn Nutrition Facts
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 7% RDI
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 12 % RDI
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): 8% RDI
- Iron: 18% RDI
- Magnesium: 36% RDI
- Potassium: 9% RDI
- Manganese: 56% RDI
- Copper: 13% RDI
- Zinc: 21% RDI
- Phosphorus: 36% RDI
Popcorn usually have:
- Calories: 387
- Protein: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 78g
- Fat: 5g
- Fiber: 15g
High in Polyphenol Antioxidants
Polyphenol is a type of antioxidant that protects cells from damage. A University of Scranton study found that popcorns are high in polyphenol. Polyphenol also has several other health benefits, such as improving blood circulation and digestive health and decreasing the risk of other serious illnesses.
Rich in Fiber
Popcorn is exceptionally high in fiber, and research suggests that dietary fiber can reduce the risk of heart diseases, type-II diabetes, and obesity. Experts recommend a daily intake of 38g of fiber for men and 25g for women. A 100g serving of popcorn contains approximately 15g of fiber.
Can Help With Weight Loss
Since popcorn is low in calories and rich in fiber, it can lead to weight loss. A cup of air-popped popcorn contains approximately 31 calories, much less than other types of snacks.
A study conducted on the feeling of fullness after eating potato chips and popcorn concluded that roughly 15 calories of popcorn are as filling as 150 calories of potato chips. However, the key is moderation; ensure that you do not overeat popcorn.
Real Popcorn Is Extremely Healthy
Popcorn is high in vitamins, nutrients, polyphenol, antioxidants, and minerals. In addition to that, popcorn is rich in fiber, so consuming popcorn in moderation can have several health benefits.
Adverse Effects of Popcorn
Pre-Packaged Microwave Popcorn Can Harm Your Health
There are several ways to eat popcorn; however, people usually eat pre-packaged microwave popcorn. Bags of microwave popcorn are lined with a chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which can cause several health issues.
Some of these issues are:
- ADHD
- Thyroid problems
- Low birth weight
Some forms of microwave popcorn also contain diacetyl, a chemical found in artificial butter varieties. Although how risky diacetyl can be for your health is unknown, studies conducted on animals showed that the chemical could cause lung diseases and damaged airways.
Some microwave popcorn varieties are made with hydrogenated oil, which contains trans-fats that can harm your health. Studies indicate that trans-fat can lead to severe illnesses such as heart disease.
Some Popcorn Preparation Methods and Toppings Are Bad for You
Despite all the health benefits popcorn has, the way they are prepared can impact its nutritional qualities. While air-popped popcorn is low in calories, some commercial varieties have high-calorie content.
A CSPI report found that a medium-sized serving of popcorn at a cinema contains around 1200 calories. That is even before the butter is added to the popcorn.
Popcorn varieties available at cinemas are full of unhealthy fats, salt, sugar, and flavoring.
Are These Popcorn Brands Vegan?
Newman’s Own Popcorn
Two varieties of Newman’s Own microwave popcorn are vegan:
- Tender White
- Sea Salt
These two popcorn flavors are free of milk.
Non-Vegan Flavors,
- Butter
- Movie Theater Butter
- Touch of Butter
- Organic Touch of Butter
- Organic Butter
365 Microwave Popcorn
These are the flavors offered by this brand that are vegan:
- No salt and Oil Added
Non-Vegan Flavors,
- Light Butter
- Butter
Quinn Popcorn
Two flavors offered by Quinn Popcorn are vegan-friendly:
- Sea Salt
- Vermont Maple Kettle Corn
Both these flavors are free of milk.
Non-Vegan Flavors‚
- Aged Parmesan and Rosemary
- Real Butter and Sea Salt
- Movie Theater Extra Butter
Skinny Pop Microwave Popcorn
Both flavors produced by Skinny pop are vegan:
- Sea Salt
- Butter
The butter-flavored popcorn is made from non-dairy butter that is vegan-certified.
Pop Weaver Popcorn
No flavors of Pop Weaver are vegan, as all of them contain butter.
Cousin Willie’s Popcorn
One flavor offered by Cousin Willie is vegan:
- Just a Hint of Sea Salt
Non-Vegan Flavors‚
- Movie Theater Butter
- Buttery Explosion
- Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn
- Natural White Cheddar
- White Cheddar
- Butter
- Cinnamon Toast
- Real Butter
Black Jewell Popcorn
There are three flavors of Black Jewell popcorn that are vegan-friendly:
- No Salt/No Oil
- Natural
- Simply Sea Salt
Non-Vegan Flavors‚
- Sweet and Salty
- Touch of Butter
Organic Microwave Popcorn
Out of two, only one flavor of Organic Microwave Popcorn is vegan:
- Simply Salted
Non-Vegan Flavors‚
- Butter
Vegan Snacks
It is challenging for vegan dieters to get their hands on vegan-friendly snacks. However, some delicious vegan snacks are available in the market, and some of them have been discussed below.
Fruit and Nut Butter
This snack is made of blended nut, nut butter, and fruit and has several nutritional benefits. Fruit is also rich in:
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Fibers
And nut butter is rich in:
- Protein
- Fiber
You can also try different combinations by adding bananas, peanuts, or almond butter. For a nutritional boost, use nut butter free of oil, salt, and added sugar.
Guacamole and Crackers
Guacamole is a variety of vegan dip and is made from the following ingredients:
- Garlic
- Lime juice
- Onion
- Avocado
This combination is exceptionally healthy and contains several beneficial nutrients. Avocados are also rich in nutrients as they are rich in fiber, potassium, and monounsaturated fat. You can prepare this guacamole dip at home along with 100% whole grain cracker.
Edamame With Sea Salt
Immature soybeans are known as edamame, and they are rich in protein. A cup (155g) of soybean provides approximately 17g of protein and around 200 calories. Boil edamame before consuming it, and sprinkle them with soy sauce or sea salt.
Trail Mix
Trail mix is a snack that is plant-based and contains nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. Some varieties of trail mix also have coconut, chocolate, wholegrain, and crackers.
Most varieties of trail mix are rich in these nutrients:
- Fiber
- Healthy fats
- Protein
However, vegan dieters need to be careful as some varieties of Trail Mix are non-vegan and contain the following ingredients:
- Salt
- Oil
- Added sugar
Read the ingredients of Trail Mix before consuming them.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are rich in nutrients such as protein and folate. Chickpeas are also rich in the following nutrients:
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Manganese
- Iron
- Copper
You can also make roasted chickpeas at home; all you need is olive oil and seasonings. Take a pan, overheat (450 degrees Fahrenheit), add the olive oil and seasonings and roast them.
Fruit Leather
The main ingredient of fruit leather is fruit puree. The puree is dried, flattened, and sliced. Fruit leather is rich in minerals, vitamins, and fibers. However, some commercial varieties of fruit leather come with added color and sugar and have no nutrients in them.
You can also make fruit leather by mixing maple syrup and lemon juice.
Conclusion
Some varieties of Act 2 Popcorn are indeed vegan-friendly. There was also a discussion on vegan-friendly popcorn brands that you can make a part of your diet.
As vegan dieters, it is essential to know the health benefits of what you eat. We have discussed some important health benefits of eating popcorn. As long as popcorn is free of additional, harmful ingredients such as butter, it can be extremely healthy and give your diet a much-needed boost.
If you are not a fan of popcorn, don’t worry, there is a list of other vegan snacks in this article that will help you find popcorn options.