My favorite comfort snack in the world? Air-popped popcorn with real melted butter and salt along with a bubbly, fresh Coca-Cola on ice. If my life is temporarily sucking, this homey salty snack literally comforts me from the inside out. I remember my mother making this snack most weekends as we got ready to watch football on the couch.

But let’s face it - most weeks I can’t calorically afford to have real butter on my popcorn. Right now, I’ve got to drop a quick 5 pounds so that I can fit into my summer clothes and hit La Jolla Shores in a few weeks. When I’m particularly health-conscious, microwave popcorn is one of the main ways I make it through the long, stomach-grumbling afternoons.

That is, until I read about this recent study that says scientists have found that carcinogenic chemicals on the inside of microwave popcorn bags are rubbing off (more than they previously thought) and getting on the popcorn. I just can’t have that! There’s enough disease in my family gene pool already… I don’t need to be adding more risk factors.

In the CNN news video I watched on this topic, they recommended putting a fourth cup of kernels in a brown paper lunch bag and stapling it shut. Solution found! Until I told my husband my plan and he said, “What?!? You can’t put metal staples in the microwave. Are you crazy?”

So, I started to think, “How could I quickly and easily enjoy a small portion of fiber-heavy, filling, satisfying popcorn in the afternoons in a healthier manner?” Of course, I’m not willing to sacrifice too much taste. I know it won’t taste as yummy and rich and soul-sating buttery as my full-fat version. But what could I do?

Yesterday I figured it out. I airpopped 3 tablespoons of kernels which is just the right amount to fit in my preferred popcorn bowl. As it comes out of the popper hot and fresh, I spray olive oil spray and dusting the popcorn with Butter Buds and a little salt to taste. I know it takes a little longer than the microwave popcorn, but I feel better because this is healthier and hardly calories are added with the use of the butter flavoring and the olive oil spray.

In the spice section of the grocery store, I almost chose the Molly McButter brand, but it has partially hydrogenated oils in it. Butter Buds are all natural and the ingredients aren’t bad at all.

So if you’re not having a shitty day and are, thus, not in need of the full-fat popcorn life remedy, try my new healthy non-carcinogenic way to have a light, salty snack in the afternoon!