McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews | Popcorners

by | Aug 20, 2019 | Family Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Reviews, Wellness

Welcome to “McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews” | Popcorners 

It’s a weekly series we’re calling “McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews!” Every other week, we’ll share a popular food, drink or supplement one of our MNT Registered Dietitians tried, reviewed and rated. With the growing number products on the grocery store shelves, figuring out which items are getting you the most nutritional bang for your buck can feel overwhelming? Our hope is that we can make grocery shopping at least 0.5% easier!
FYI – these posts aren’t sponsored. They are opinions of unpaid tastebuds.

Check Out Our Past Reviews:

Product: Popcorners


Popcorners is a popped corn-based snack chip. Per their website:

“Drizzled in sunflower oil with a pinch of sea salt, our chips are made with non-GMO corn and never fried. No gluten, no nuts. Just simple ingredients for great tasting flavor!”

They come in several flavors: Kettle Corn, Sea Salt, White Cheddar, Spicy Queso, Sweet Chili, Cinema Style Butter, and Jalapeno Cheddar.

Why Did We Try Popcorners? 

With school back in session, in addition to lunch, I’m responsible for packing an afternoon snack. Why yes, fresh/dried fruit, cheese, veggies would be a better whole-food option, please, sometimes mamas need a grab bag option. In lieu of chips or pretzels, I was looking for a snack that might offer some fiber or even a touch of protein.

Nutrition Facts Label

Sea Salt


Kettle Corn Flavor

White Cheddar

Where to Find Popcorners: 

We got the variety pack at Cost Co, but use their store locator to find out where you can buy Popcorners. In the Midwest, you can purchase them at CVS, Schnucks, Cost Co, Straubs, Sam’s and Dierbergs.

Popcorners: Should I Pack This Snack?

Our 5 Star Rating 

Taste: 5/5 stars
Our family tried the three flavors that came in the Cost Co variety pack: White Cheddar, Sea Salt and Kettle Corn. I enjoyed the flavors and crunch of each one, but my personal favorite was the Kettle Corn. The crunch of the chip felt more like a chip than popcorn. We’ve also snacked on PopChips which feel more airy and light compared to the Popcorners. I prefer the heartier crunch of Popcorners.
Nutrient Density: 3/5
Calories: These are a light caloric snack under 150 calories per bag. Honestly, it’s enough to satisfy you for a short time period, but if you’re snacking to get satisfied, you might pair it with a piece of cheese or fruit. It’s an ideal snack when you’re craving something salty or sweet, but you aren’t that hungry!
Fat: There is quite a range of fat (2.5-6 grams of fat) between the three varieties we tried. However, all three had less than 0.5 grams of saturated fat.
Protein: Popcorn, by nature, is not high in protein. You do get 2 grams of protein in the Sea Salt and White Cheddar compared to 1 gram in the Kettle Corn.
Added Sugars: The Kettle Corn flavor has 3 grams of added sugar which is 1 gram short of a teaspoon. The other two have zero grams added sugar.
Fiber: Fiber grams ranged from 0-1 grams. You’ll get more fiber (4 grams per serving) if you eat the same amount of actual popcorn.
Value: 2/5

  • Popcorners: 0.72 cents per bag in a 18 count box
  • PopChips: 0.43 cents per bag in a 30 count box
  • Skinny Pop: 0.61 cents per bag in a 28 count box

I’m seeing a theme. McDaniel reviews tend to choose the more expensive items. We might be falling prey to what is called the “health halo” effect.
Overall Rating of Popcorners: 3.3/5 Stars
If you’re craving a delicious, convenient and light snack at a higher price compared to similar products, you might enjoy Popcorners.
How We Tried It 
As a light snack after a swim to ensure the kids didn’t ruin their appetites before Sunday dinner!