The popcorn error
Challenges, Food May 16th, 2008Yesterday evening I came home from work to find my stepson (DSS) ready for a snack — and I was too. I wanted to make myself my new Tabasco-fired air popcorn, but thought that I’d offer him a treat and finally make the microwave popcorn my DH bought a few months back - Jolly Time Mallow Pop which is supposed to be a marshmallow flavor like Rice Krispie Treats.
I thought I was safe as I had a plan for myself and I don’t like sweet popcorn (although - warning - I do like Rice Krispie Treats, I just never eat them). I made his popcorn first and was kind of fascinated / grossed out by the slimy white goo that is the “flavoring pouch”. We eat mainly whole foods around here - packaged foods are rare for us, and its been a long time since I’ve seen a slime pouch like that. My DSS was pretty excited by the whole process. He had rarely seen me make microwave popcorn, so even that was exciting to him, and the sugar-slime mix was a perfect treat for an 8 year old…
Well, it was pretty tasty. Terribly sweet and more than a little chemically, but creamy and greasy and sticky. He loved it. And I tasted more than I should have. And then kept grabbing another few bites. I never made my own air-popped hot-sauced version, and I think I ate about 1 1/2 “servings” of his - which I have just dutifully looked up on the box and figured out to be around 300 calories. Which doesn’t blow me out of the water (although the trans fats could blow up my arteries…) but did make dinner automatically a “light” one.
Lessons learned :
- Do not let this packaged garbage food into the house. My DSS was happy with this treat but would have been just as happy with air-popped corn with butter and sugar, all of which are REAL ingredients.
- Do not eat the stuff just because its around (if only…)
- Make my own snack first. Had I done this I doubt I’d have touched his, except maybe a bite out of curiosity. I kept munching because I was hungry and wanted to crunch…
I was able to have a veggie-only dinner so the day was fine overall.
There are so many lessons to learn on this path!
May 16th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
mmms sounds too yummy. I have never heard of this popcorn. Probably a good thing. Have a great weekend!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I hate when I eat stuff and the whole time I’m telling myself to STOP EATING it, those internal battles are so difficult! Plus, I still had the calories but didn’t even enjoy it. Like you said, it is a learning process!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
“Do not let this …. into the house” I’m with you on that. My girls complain that we don’t have any food in the house, just ingredients. They would love to open a cupboard and a hand in there passes them some corn chips covered in heated Velveeta, or maybe a hamburger
You managed the situation well.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Wow I usually don’t like sweet popcorn but that sounds really good. I’m with you… some things I just cannot have in the house… baked goods being one of them!
May 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I can’t believe they make popcorn like that — yikes. Not sure if I would have been brave enough to even try. Although that said I did indulge in a rice krispie treat yesterday. Usually they have these caramel and peanut butter ones here on campus (WAYYYY too sweet) but yesterday was plain and I was in the mood. Very sad I ignored my yogurt and berries in lieu (bad Joanne). Oh well I can only hope to be doing as well as you are lately. Very proud of you!!!
Joanne
May 16th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Hi
You kindly left a message on my new blog, Thank you
I do agree about the clothes shopping factor to, my main problem in the past was that I would get to a point where I could squeeze into a smaller size then stop and go back to my old eating habits!
I also agree about the ease of being able to lose weight in America, its the same for me.. in the UK everything is labeled by law in regards to fat, calories, salt e.t.c.. In Germany and maybe France to? Its really hard to find the breakdown of foods and not speaking the language very well doesn’t help! LOL
I also have to say that popcorn sounds LUSH! I think you showed amazing constraint in not banning your son from it so you could eat it ALL yourself
Hugs
I look forward to being a regular reader of your blog!
xx
May 16th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I’m SO glad I read your blog at this particular moment. I feel kind of lost on Friday afternoons. This is the beginning of the weekend and we do “fun” things like order pizza or eat nachos and watch movies. I don’t know what to do with myself. I give myself Friday off from working out but then I don’t know what to do with the free time. Anyway, I was sitting here feeling a little lost and reading your blog reinforced my resolve. I can’t relax this evening. I know if I slip a little, I’ll slip a lot and regret it later. So I’ll grab a packet of rice cakes and make some tea that I can sweeten with Splenda and watch TV with the rest of them. I won’t get near the popcorn!
May 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hey! I too have learned that lesson. I realized when I dont buy tempting/overly processed treats/snacks, I dont eat them. Both 100 calorie packs and even organic cheese crackers etc. I can easily say no to almonds. but i cant say no to the quantities of other items, so i’ve learned to just not buy them. a lesson i too have learned on this path. anyways! just wanted to say hi!