The claim: This new microwave popcorn line is 94 percent fat-free, 100 percent whole grain, cholesterol-free and has zero grams of trans and saturated fat. It comes in both a full-size bag and individual 3-ounce bags that are portion- controlled to 100 calories each. Endorsed by Weight Watchers, it counts as 1 point per serving.
Cost: $2.59 for 4-pack, $4.49 for 10-pack
Where: Supermarkets
As a veteran of both an extended, successful weight-loss program and the continuing battle to keep those pounds from coming back, I've eaten more than my fair share of low-fat microwave popcorn. It's high in fiber, low in calories and fat, filling and satisfies the craving for something that's salty and crunchy. Moreover, it takes a long time to finish when eaten one piece at a time. So when Jolly Time teamed up with Weight Watchers to offer its low-fat microwave popcorn in single-serving bags and flavors such as Kettlecorn and Caramel, I felt it was my duty to test them. Let's face it. Nothing beats a batch of oily, salty popcorn fresh from the family popper -- unless it's a bag of kettlecorn whipped up at a crafts fair. Nevertheless, the Healthy Pop plain Butter popcorn offers a satisfying substitute for the 4 p.m. call of the vending machine. It's mildly salty and abundantly crisp. But the Kettle Corn and Caramel Apple versions disappoint. The sweetness of the Kettle Corn was barely perceptible. Caramel Apple smelled like warm sugary caramel as soon as it started popping. The apple aroma was also evident. But the resulting taste was artificial and chemical.
-- Alice T. Carter
I'm a bit more body-conscious these days than I have been in years past. Ridiculous amounts of exercise help me the most in this, but I occasionally find it useful to trim a calorie here and there. Jolly Time's Healthy Pop line of microwave popcorn, endorsed by Weight Watchers, seems like a good way to expand my snacking options without making that apply to my waistline. To be truly effective, any low-cal food must at least taste acceptable AND slake your food desires. The Butter and Kettle Corn options were ... acceptable. I prefer my popcorn finger-lickingly, clothes-stainingly drenched with butter, which would surely tank-roll right through a 100-calorie barrier. The Butter option was about the lightest concentration of butter you can have and still claim the name, but it can do the job as a topper after a meal. Otherwise, it didn't sate my hunger. The Caramel Apple flavor lived up to its name, but could take some getting used to. The flavoring is as faithful to the promised taste as can be, though I'd personally like more caramel, less tart-apple edge.
-- Marcus Session
A traditionally sized bag of microwave popcorn has too much for me to eat at one sitting. So I've have been thrilled with the recent sale of smaller bags. Jolly Time Healthy Pop's Butter flavor didn't seem to have much evidence of butter flavor. That actually is point in its favor for me, because I don't like buttery popcorn. I find the mix of sweet and salty in the Kettle Corn very appealing, and it's a favorite of mine when I go to fairs and festivals. This is the first time I've tried a microwave version. I found that the popcorn at the top of the bag was way more sweet than salty, and the popcorn at the bottom was way more salty than sweet. Perhaps that can be remedied by shaking the bag well before opening it. The popcorn in the middle provided a pleasant mix of sweet and salty and seemed like a good way to get a quick hit of both tastes. Although I like caramel corn, the concept of Caramel Apple popcorn didn't sound particularly appealing. Upon trying it, I found the flavor, which reminded me of a sweeter version of a Jolly Rancher green apple candy, a bit disconcerting when connected to the texture of popcorn. It wasn't bad, and I didn't stop eating it, but I don't think I'd actually buy it.
-- Madelyn Dinnerstein
