Bite-sized info about the delicious food Americans love

Now who doesn't love popcorn? This snack extremely easy to make, not to mention very healthy. It's perfect for enjoying while watching a movie, either at home or in the theatres. Popcorn is also a great match for sporting events, state fairs, carnivals and shopping malls. It is a great snack to carry with you on the go. These are just some of the popcorn facts that you may already know.

It is low in calories and low in fat. You can also find flavored popcorn in just about any flavor to suit your taste buds — cajun popcorn anyone? What about white chocolate popcorn? Or cinnamon popcorn? It is certainly out there!

But just how much do you really know about this tasty snack that has been a part of our lives for generations? If you are like most, then you know that popcorn pops when the kernels are heated. But do you actually know why the popcorn kernels pop?

There is more to know about popcorn, and here are some bite-sized facts just for you all about your favorite snack – popcorn! Did you know that....

• January 19th is National Popcorn Day • April 7th is Caramel Popcorn Day • October is National Popcorn Poppin' Month. • Popcorn is low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup and oil-popped is only 55 per cup.
• Popular popcorn seasonings include butter, butter and salt, chili powder, garlic powder or salt, grated parmesan cheese, caramel and black pepper. Don't forget people who like things like chocolate chips, peanuts, fudge sauce or marshmallows with their popcorn! • Heat and pressure make popcorn pop. This is because popcorn kernels have moisture inside and when they are heated, this moisture turns into steam and the steam builds into pressure. When that pressure gets high, the kernel then explodes and the popcorn then "pops" into what we know and love as popcorn. • Unpopped popcorn kernels are called "old maids". • Popcorn is one of the healthiest snacks there is. It is a whole grain food that is low in calories and fat, but is rich in carbohydrates. • Americans consume 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn annually, or 54 quarts per man, woman and child. • The majority of popcorn consumed is eaten in the home. • The Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world, each year attracting crowds over two hundred thousand people. It has been named one of the top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. It is held the first weekend after Labor Day. http://www.popcornfestival.com/ • The Wyandot Popcorn Museum is the largest collection of restored popcorn antiques. It is an outgrowth of historical research done by George K. Brown. The museum first opened in September 1982, just before the second annual Marion Popcorn Festival. The museum is located in Heritage Hall in Marion, Ohio. It can be visited on the Internet at www.wyandotpopcornmus.com • States that produce popcorn include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio. • Popcorn is definitely a snack of the U.S.A.! We consume more popcorn than the citizens of any other country.