Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Healthy? 11 Things You Should Know

Is Lesser Evil Popcorn considered a healthy snack option?

Popcorn is a great high-fiber snack, but adding ingredients like sugar and oil can make it less healthy. We’re going to take a closer look at Lesser Evil popcorn and find out if it’s a nutritious snack option. 

Lesser Evil popcorn uses only organic ingredients and non-GMO popcorn. Most flavors contain no added sugar, making Lesser Evil popcorn a relatively healthy snack. However, Lesser Evil uses coconut, ghee, and olive oil in their popcorn, resulting in a fairly high amount of saturated fat, so sticking to the 28g serving size is wise.

In this article, I’ll continue to dig deeper into whether Lesser Evil popcorn is a good healthy snack. I’ll also be exploring whether it’s a whole grain, and if Lesser Evil popcorn can help with weight loss. This will allow you to make an educated decision on whether this snack is the best option for you!

Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Bad For You?

The 11 Lesser Evil nutrition questions I’ll be answering are listed below. You can click on the individual sections for the information you are looking for, or continue reading to learn about this popcorn snack in more detail. 

1. What Are the Ingredients in Lesser Evil Popcorn?
2. Does Lesser Evil Popcorn Have Sugar?
3. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Good For Weight Loss?
4. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn High In Sodium?
5. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Low Fat?
6. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Processed?
7. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn a Whole Grain?
8. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Healthier Than Skinny Pop?
9. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Healthier Than Chips?
10. What Is a Healthier Alternative to Lesser Evil Popcorn?
11. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Vegan?

1. What Are the Ingredients in Lesser Evil Popcorn?

I’ve chosen three popular flavors of Lesser Evil popcorn to explore the ingredients. Keep reading below to see the breakdown of what’s included in each flavor.

Flavor	Ingredients
Himalayan Pink Salt	Organic NON-GMO Popcorn, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Himalayan Salt
No Cheese Cheesiness	Organic Non-GMO Popcorn, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Solids, Organic Rice Flour, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Flavor, Yeast Extract, Lactic Acid, Organic Butter-Type Flavor
Fiery Hot!	Organic NON-GMO popcorn, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Solids, Sea Salt, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, Organic Garlic Powder, Organic Red Bell Pepper Powder, Organic Jalapeño Pepper Powder, Organic Yeast Extract, Organic White Distilled Vinegar, Organic Spices, Organic Nutritional Yeast, Organic Flavor, Citric Acid, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Annatto Extract, Organic Habanero Pepper

Here’s what catches my eye about these popcorn ingredients:

• Lesser Evil popcorn only contains organic ingredients and non-GMO popcorn. These ingredients don’t stem from the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and GMOs, making them a healthier and more nutritious option. Lesser Evil prides itself on making ‘clean’ snacks for people to enjoy, and the use of only organic ingredients is a big part of this.

• Lesser Evil popcorn has no artificial colors. There are an increasing number of studies showing artificial colors have negative effects such as hyperactivity in children. Therefore Lesser Evil containing no artificial colors is fantastic.

• Most flavors of Lesser Evil popcorn are dairy free. Many people are intolerant to dairy or choose to have a dairy-free diet, including vegans like myself. The only flavor of Lesser Evil popcorn that has any dairy is the ‘Oh My Ghee’ flavor.

• Most flavors of Lesser Evil popcorn contain no added sugar. We all know how good sugar tastes, but it can wreak havoc on our bodies. Consuming sugary snacks can spike blood sugar levels, so it’s best to opt for healthier snacks with minimal or no added sugar. 

• The ‘Oh My Ghee’ flavor of Lesser Evil popcorn has 4.5g of saturated fat per serving. Ghee is clarified butter, typically made from cow’s milk, making it unsuitable for vegans and high in unhealthy saturated fats. 

Lesser Evil popcorn has whole grain popcorn, which is naturally high in fiber and low in fat. However, the addition of sugar and ghee makes some flavors less healthy than others. The Himalayan Salt flavor seems to be one of the healthier choices, with 0g of sugar and only 3 ingredients.

In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at the sugar content of Lesser Evil popcorn.

Related Questions:

• What kind of popcorn does Lesser Evil use? Lesser Evil uses non-GMO, air-popped popcorn with the addition of organic ingredients to enhance taste and flavor.

• Is there MSG in Lesser Evil popcorn? Lesser Evil popcorn contains no MSG (monosodium glutamate).

2. Does Lesser Evil Popcorn Have Sugar?

Only 3 flavors of Lesser Evil popcorn contain sugar: Himalayan Sweetness, Fiery Hot, and Celebration. The sugar in these flavors is organic raw cane sugar and doesn’t exceed 5g per serving. Raw cane sugar is somewhat healthier than regular white sugar but is still not ideal for weight loss or a low-sugar diet. 

Personally I always try to avoid consuming too much sugar. Cutting down on sugar is an effortless way to aid weight loss without counting calories. The Dietary Guidelines For Americans advises keeping sugar to less than 10% of daily calories, which can be hard if you’re regularly consuming sugary snacks.

I’ve put together a table showing the sugar content of all 8 flavors of Lesser Evil popcorn:

Flavor	Serving Size	Total Sugar
Himalayan Pink Salt	3 cups (28g)	0g
Himalayan Gold	3 cups (28g)	0g
No Cheese Cheesiness	3 cups (28g)	0g
Fiery Hot	3 cups (28g)	1g
Himalayan Sweetness	2 cups (28g)	6g
Avocadolicious	3 cups (28g)	0g
Oh My Ghee!	3 cups (28g)	0g
Celebration	3 cups (28g)	4g

It’s clear to see, most of the Lesser Evil popcorn flavors don’t contain sugar. As hinted by its name, Himalayan Sweetness has the highest sugar content with 6g per serving. It does have a smaller recommended serving size, so it’s worth keeping this in mind when snacking on this flavor.

The carb content is worth considering for all flavors, as well. Most flavors have around 14g of total carbohydrates, but Himalayan Sweetness has 18g. Plain popcorn has a low glycemic index (GI), but when other ingredients such as sugar are added, the GI score increases.

Related Questions:

• Is Lesser Evil popcorn high in carbohydrates? Lesser Evil popcorn has a considerable amount of carbs, ranging from 14g – 18g across different flavors. It may be a good option for HCLF vegans but not for those following a low-carb diet.

• Is Lesser Evil popcorn gluten-free? Lesser Evil popcorn does not contain any gluten. Therefore, it’s suitable for sufferers of Coeliac Disease or those opting for a gluten-free diet.

3. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Good For Weight Loss?

Lesser Evil popcorn may be a good option for weight loss, provided consumers stick to the recommended serving sizes. Some Lesser Evil popcorn flavors contain considerably more calories than others. This is something to be mindful of when eating Lesser Evil Popcorn if weight loss is a goal.

Weight loss, in simple terms, comes down to calorie input and calorie expenditure. This means if you are burning 2000 calories but consuming 3000, you are in a surplus of 1000 calories. Over time, this can lead to significant weight gain. It’s therefore best to consume a balanced diet, in the suitable calorie range for your body type, activity level, and dietary needs. 

Lesser Evil popcorn flavors either contain organic coconut oil, ghee, or olive oil. Ghee is a particularly high-calorie ingredient derived from animals.

Can Lesser Evil popcorn cause weight gain? Weight gain is typically caused by being in a calorie surplus. Lesser Evil popcorn can cause weight gain if consumed in large volumes. It’s important, however, to consider total lifestyle choices, as this will have an impact on weight gain, too. 

To lose weight successfully, it’s important to build good habits, eat nutritious food, and move your body if you can. If your overall lifestyle is an active one and consumption of processed foods isn’t an everyday occurrence, consuming Lesser Evil popcorn shouldn’t ruin your weight loss goals. 

Losing weight is a journey, and it’s vital to consume wholesome food, exercise regularly, and understand that it doesn’t happen overnight. Even as a vegan, it can take time to lose weight and see physical changes, as explained in this post: How long does it take to lose weight on a vegan diet?

4. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn High In Sodium?

The amount of sodium in Lesser Evil popcorn ranges from 140mg to 230mg per serving. No Cheese Cheesiness has the highest sodium content, with Fiery Hot and Celebration having the lowest. 

Below is a breakdown of the amount of sodium in each flavor of Lesser Evil popcorn per serving.

Flavor	Serving Size	Sodium
Himalayan Pink Salt	3 cups (28g)	190mg
Himalayan Gold	3 cups (28g)	170mg
No Cheese Cheesiness	3 cups (28g)	230mg
Fiery Hot	3 cups (28g)	140mg
Himalayan Sweetness	2 cups (28g)	180mg
Avocadolicious	3 cups (28g)	200mg
Oh My Ghee!	3 cups (28g)	170mg
Celebration	3 cups (28g)	140mg

Most Americans consume around 3,400 mg of sodium a day, which is far more than our bodies need. Eating too much sodium can cause many health issues, such as stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and even heart disease.

Snacking on the high-sodium popcorn flavors from Lesser Evil and eating other foods high in salt during the day can push you over the recommended sodium guidelines. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), daily sodium intake shouldn’t raise above 2,300mg. That’s 10 servings of the No Cheese Cheesiness flavor! 

If you have a high-sodium diet, it may be advisable to start cutting down your salt consumption to lower your health risks.

5. Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Low Fat?

Lesser Evil popcorn has a relatively low-fat content across all flavors, ranging from 3g to 7g per serving. Oh My Ghee has the highest amount of fat and Himalayan Sweetness has the least. As Lesser Evil popcorn is air-popped, the fat content is considerably less than other snacks like chips, which are usually fried. 

Here’s a table showing the fat content of each of the Lesser Evil popcorn flavors:

Flavor	Serving Size	Total Fat
Himalayan Pink Salt	3 cups (28g)	6g
Himalayan Gold	3 cups (28g)	6g
No Cheese Cheesiness	3 cups (28g)	6g
Fiery Hot	3 cups (28g)	6g
Himalayan Sweetness	2 cups (28g)	3g
Avocadolicious	3 cups (28g)	6g
Oh My Ghee!	3 cups (28g)	7g
Celebration	3 cups (28g)	5g

Related Questions:

• Does Lesser Evil popcorn contain saturated fat? All Lesser Evil popcorn flavors contain saturated fat. Celebration has the lowest amount at 0.5g, with Himalayan Pink Salt, Himalayan Gold, and No Cheese Cheesiness having the highest amount at 5g per serving. 

• Why Does Lesser Evil popcorn have saturated fat? Lesser Evil popcorn contains saturated fat due to the addition of either coconut oil, ghee, or olive oil. If you are at risk of heart dise