Saturday - January 19th is National Popcorn Day

This coming Saturday - January 19th - while a special day at my house as it is my daughter's birthday - is a special day, because it is National Popcorn Day! I personally enjoy a nice red popcorn, popped in sunflower oil with a bit of Himalayan Pink Salt on it, but it is difficult to go wrong with any popcorn as it is all tasty!

So, I thought I'd give you a heads up, so you are able to plan to celebrate this tasty day with the children you love. Consider sharing with them some fun popcorn facts . . . did you know . . .

• Popcorn can grow to be 30 times its original size when it pops.
• While other businesses failed during the Great Depression, the popcorn business thrived. Popcorn sold at around 5 to 10 cents a bag, making it one of the more affordable (and possibly life saving) treats for poor families.
• How do popcorns pop? The answer is simple: pressure. The pressure from the heat placed on popcorn kernels causes a failure in the kernel’s skin, which results in the skin “popping”.
• The oldest known popcorn was found in New Mexico; the discovery of small heads of corn and several individual popped kernels was made by Berbert Dick and Earle Smith in 1948. These kernels were carbon dated to be around 5,600 years old.
• Americans eat around 17 billion quarts of popcorn every year. This amount would fill the Empire State Building 18 times.
• Nebraska grows the most popcorn, having over ¼ of the national production of popcorn. Other high popcorn-producing states include Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri.
• In the 1800s, Americans consumed popcorn as a breakfast cereal. This meal consisted of popcorn with milk and sweetener.
• Popcorn kernels can pop up to 3 feet in the air.
• Popcorn has more protein than any other cereal grain. It also has more iron than eggs or roast beef. It has more fiber than pretzels or potato chips.
• Popped corn contains large amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Among other health benefits, popped corn helps build bones and muscle tissues and assists in digestion. It is also rich in antioxidants (polyphenols). Most of the nutrients are found in the “hull” or shell rather than the fluffy, white part. However, popcorn that has too much butter, oil, or salt compromises its health benefits.
• You will find more fun facts at this link.

How do you most enjoy popcorn at your house? My grandsons love it with butter and a bit of salt and I fix it pretty much every weekend when they visit for their sleepover!