Cutting back is not the only way to manage your weight, and it is rarely the way that lasts. Some foods are built to be eaten in generous amounts, because water, fibre and protein fill you up long before the energy adds up, and a handful of everyday habits make the same food go further. Here is what to keep in the kitchen, and what to change about the way you eat it.
Air-Popped Popcorn Fills a Bowl Without Filling You Out
Popcorn is one of the few snacks that lets you eat by the handful and still feel like you are being sensible. It is a whole grain, it carries a useful amount of fibre, and air popping keeps it light because no oil goes into the pan.
The real advantage is volume. A few tablespoons of kernels expand into a bowl big enough to take a whole evening to work through, and slow eating gives your appetite time to catch up. Fibre digests slowly too, so fullness lingers longer than it would after a bag of crisps. Season with paprika, black pepper, nutritional yeast or a little salt rather than butter and caramel, and popcorn stays the light snack it was always meant to be.