Another stupid question re: popcorn

[HappyLoveMama]

Okay, let me just say that this is more of a vent for feeling guilty. I had a guilty pleasure snack which was microwaved popcorn at night. Before my BFP, I would eat a bag almost every night (maybe the past month or two?). I remembered a while back reading it was dangerous but thought that was something you see on snopes but forgot about it. Turns out, it's really not good. All the healthy organic things I do just erases that. I'm now 5 weeks pregnant and quit eating it (still ate after i got BFP so, recently) but just feel horrible thinking what nasty things are lurking in my body now. Am I crazy or what? I just don't want to go as far as saying I poisoned the baby thus far but man, I feel guilty and stupid!

[~Adorkable~]

what in the heck do they say is wrong with popcorn? are you talking about stuff that is on your brand?

[MyFullHouse]

My understanding is that the toxicity of the fumes in the bag is more of a cumulative thing - like in factory-employee amounts. We have chosen to stop using microwave popcorn to be "on the safe side", but I have no fears about effects from our previous use.

I wouldn't really give a second thought to effects on your pregnancy. Women are constantly doing the "wrong" something or other in the first few weeks b/c they either don't know they're pregnant or don't know something is considered "wrong" at the time. And they're usually things that are WAY higher on the list than popcorn could ever be.

If you're genuinely worried about popcorn fumes, switch to a different method of popping. Don't sweat it!

[Virginia884]

It's going to be a LONG 9 months if you google everything you eat and believe everything they say. I would just remember everything in moderation and if you wouldn't eat it before the pregnancy, then don't eat it now.

I have no idea about the popcorn, but if you've stopped eating it then I don't see any major problem with what you've eaten in the past.

[HappyLoveMama]

It's just that I didn't realize how nasty the chems in the bag really were. I kind of thought it was just upon opening the bag but it turns out that's it's sticking to the popcorn. I KNOW I sound ridiculous! I'm not in denial of that by any means. I usually am very relaxed about most things especially that this is my second pregnancy but I just felt "wrong" eating it, kwim? Sorry for my silly vent!

[~Demeter~]

Before that information was put out many women regularly consumed microwave popcorn... you're still in the early stages so it's not like it's had a long amount of time in your system. If you like popcorn, get a popcorn cooker or just cook it on the stove top. Our microwave died last fall... I don't miss it.

[Jenne]

I don't eat microwave popcorn because it is expensive but I *would* eat it. If you love popcorn though don't want the microwave chemicals why not try making it on the stove? This is what we do at our house. Take a pot (I use a tiny one for one serving and bigger size for more servings) add in oil-we use canola or vegetable- and 2 kernels and put the lid on. Put on the stove on high heat. As soon as the 2 kernels pop add in enough popcorn kernels to cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer (do not take the pan off the heat). Replace the lid and shake the pan back and forth. Kernels should begin popping after just a few seconds. As soon as popping stops remove the pan from heat and dump into a paper bag or into a large bowl. Use the hot pan to melt butter. All in all it takes me less time to make popcorn on the stove then in the microwave and it costs just pennies and tastes FABULOUS.

But again, don't sweat eating microwave popcorn if that's your vice...

Jenne

[nova22]

If you make popcorn on the stove, it's incredibly yummy, and you will never want to go back to those microwavable bags. They hurt my tongue now. Season it however you want - butter, salt, parmesan, caramel sprinkles (oh yeah), or nutritional yeast, which mildly resembles parmesan cheese and is incredibly good for you!

You can also put unpopped popcorn in a brown paper bag, fold the top over, and cook it in the microwave. Couldn't be much easier than that and you don't have to wash anything.

[RedOakMomma]

We make popcorn every day, but we use the stove. It's delicious!

Olive oil, popcorn kernels, and sea salt when it's done. That's it. We use a gas stove and a thick-bottomed stainless steel pot. Works great.

[Karamom]

I like air popped popcorn. Really good and super easy. I don't think it takes any longer than microwave popcorn would take.

[Drummer's Wife]

We love our air popper (cheap, too - like $13). Then we melt a bunch of butter and sprinkle it with sea salt. I think it tastes tons better than microwave popcorn with artificial butter flavoring; however, if you love your bags of popcorn, I wouldn't worry about it just b/c you are pregnant!

[EdnaMarie]

Honestly, I pop mine in a dutch oven with olive oil and it's really fast and easy and easy to wash. Then I salt and if I want, pour melted butter (real butter) over it. You get great popcorn and it's just grains and (if you want) butterfat and salt. Can't get simpler than that!

[finnegansmom]

As long as you don't it with deli meat, hot dogs, blue cheese and hummus you should be fine... LOL.

I eat what I eat when I'm not pregnant. That said, I don't eat food that is dangerous at anytime. I don't think popcorn or anything above is dangerous. (well, I don't eat hot dogs and meat since I'm veg but you KWIM...)

[FarrenSquare]

I think the OP is refering to the actual chemicals inside the microwave popcorn bags. It's a chemical related to teflon that is also a known carcinogen. I'd avoid it pregnant or not, but that is just me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn_bag

[CookAMH]

Microwave popcorn isn't good for anyone...pregnant or not. That said, don't beat yourself up over having some occasionally. It's the pattern that is important, I wouldn't advise eating it all throughout pregnancy the same way I wouldn't advise eating processed food all throughout pregnancy. I just don't eat it myself anymore, regardless of my baby status.

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom

As long as you don't it with deli meat, hot dogs, blue cheese and hummus you should be fine... LOL.

We're not allowed to have hummus now, either? Darn it!

There are ickies in microwave popcorn, but there's no sense stressing about what's already done, you know? Now I'm going to have to buy some popcorn and do some in my dutch oven, it sounds so good! I haven't have stove popped in forever, but it is way better and not much effort.

[dakotablue]

Stove popcorn cooked in oils (I like safflower or olive) Is SOSOSOSO good. only thing I put on it is salt, because (for me at least) the oil leaves a buttery taste.

Just watch for too much salt....my feet weren't happy after a few days in a row towards the end of my last pregnancy.

Seriously, microwave popcorn...it is NOTHING compared to the real thing. I'm not advocating this because the microwave stuff is bad...its just not good, its like a outback steak compared to MD's hamburger.

Otherwise, seriously. I would avoid heavy metals, poisons and chemicals, you know all the stuff that you shouldn't eat anyway. And call it a day.

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Originally Posted by Virginia884

It's going to be a LONG 9 months if you google everything you eat and believe everything they say. I would just remember everything in moderation and if you wouldn't eat it before the pregnancy, then don't eat it now.

This! There are so many things that are not good for us... pretty much everything except for the bare organics. Even the packaging used for almost everything we can get at the stores. Our world is, unfortunately, carcinogenic. Make a conscious decision to eat as healthily as you can, and try not to stress the small stuff. OH! And congratulations!

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by CherryBomb

We're not allowed to have hummus now, either? Darn it!

I think that is just prepackaged hummus, there is a listeria thing like some other deli type foods. You can make your own hummus

[texmati]

Originally Posted by nova22

If you make popcorn on the stove, it's incredibly yummy, and you will never want to go back to those microwavable bags. They hurt my tongue now. Season it however you want - butter, salt, parmesan, caramel sprinkles (oh yeah), or nutritional yeast, which mildly resembles parmesan cheese and is incredibly good for you!

You can also put unpopped popcorn in a brown paper bag, fold the top over, and cook it in the microwave. Couldn't be much easier than that and you don't have to wash anything.

this. Stove popcorn is the absolute best. Teach your DH how to make it.