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Plan Z Phase: This is a Z2 (ZReduction) recipe. Let’s compare the crunch of popcorn to the crunch of an apple.

Remember I said that popcorn has 22 grams of carbohydrates per ounce. That’s 6 grams per cup. I’m going to make a leap here and assume that most folks consume about 8 cups of popcorn before they stop eating it; or at least take a break. That’s 48 grams of carbohydrates.  Really bad.

Take a nice-sized apple. An apple is 85% water and 12% carbohydrates. That’s about 21 grams of carbs, less than half of the amount of carbs in the popcorn. Most people will be satisfied eating one apple at a sitting.

On the glycemic index chart, (which measures how much your blood sugar will spike when you eat something), popcorn comes in high at 89. Sugar has a glycemic index of 100! So a glycemic index of 89 is almost like eating straight sugar! It doesn’t taste sweet but that’s how your body reacts to popcorn. How high it will rank is really dependent on what kind of corn it was made from and how it was processed but we already know that in the US we breed our corn to be as sweet as possible. The lowest glycemic ranked popcorn will come in around 60. That’s not much of an improvement.

An apple will rank on the glycemic index at a 38. Anything under 50 is “okay to eat” in my book.

The next time I sit down and watch a movie I’m going to have an apple snack instead of snacking on popcorn. Sounds silly, maybe, but think of it this way. You get the same crunch as you do with popcorn. You get a whole lot less carbohydrates and you have something to keep your fingers busy while you watch the movie. It’s also sweet. The kiddies will love it.

Serving Size: Serves 1. Can be multiplied with ease.

Instructions:

Choose an apple. Some people like sweet apples. Some like tart ones. I like Honeycrisp apples. If Granny Smith apples are the Cadillac of apples, then Honey Crisp is the Bentley. Honey Crisp apples cost a bit more but they are the juiciest apples I have ever eaten. They are on the sweet side too. When I cannot get a Honey Crisp I go for Granny Smith or I love the thin skin of a Golden Delicious apple. You decide on your favorite.

At its most simple, you’ll wash and cut your apple into small dice. I cut mine into 1/3 – ½” pieces. I don’t peel it. The skin has lots of vitamins and fiber. Put the apple bits into a bowl and you can eat them 2 or 3 at a time. Just munch on the bits. It takes a long time to eat an apple this way.

Have napkins around or be ready to do a lot of finger licking. This also occupies you while you are watch the movie and makes it take longer to eat the apple. The apple will fill you up.

Toppings:

1. Sprinkle with Truvia for a sweeter option
2. Sprinkle with Vanilla Powder (find in gourmet stores)
3. Sprinkle with Truvia and a bit of Cinnamon
4. Sprinkle with a bit of Truvia and Pumpkin Pie Spice mix (my favorite)
5. Sprinkle with a bit of Truvia and Apple Pie Spice mix
6. Sprinkle with a bit of grated sea salt. Some people love the salt and sweet ying/yang

Going to the theater? Pack this in a zippered baggie. I know the movie theater won’t support me on this one. They want to sell you all that other garbage they have in the cases but until they start offering healthy options we have to do what we have to do. Buy their water. That’ll make them feel better.

The baggie won’t make noise. The crunching of the apple won’t be any louder than the crunching of the popcorn.  It’s a BIG YUM.

Enjoy!

Cheers,