A large pack of popcorn is only an option for a nursery lunch if the children’s ages and eating abilities, as well as the setting’s rules, make it suitable. If popcorn is appropriate for the group, loose popcorn kernels let you control how much you make and how much sugar, salt and fat you add. Microwave popcorn saves preparation time, but an adult must heat it and open the hot bag carefully because of the heat and steam. Ready-to-eat popcorn needs no preparation, but should still be portioned out in small amounts for the occasion.
When children have different ages and eating abilities, check before shopping whether popcorn is allowed on the menu at all. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists popcorn as a choking hazard to avoid for children under four. The rules of the individual setting also apply.
A larger pack is particularly practical if you can prepare or decant only the amount you need. With loose popcorn kernels, adults can also decide whether to add sugar, salt or fat, and how much to use.
If snack day needs to be organised at short notice, microwave or ready-to-eat products are options – provided popcorn is allowed and suitable for the group. An adult must heat microwave popcorn and open the hot bag.
First, check whether popcorn is suitable for the children in your group and your setting. Only then is it worth choosing between making it yourself, using a microwave bag or buying a ready-to-eat pack.
A good choice if: adults want to make the amount needed themselves and control what is added.
Consider: According to REWE, the 500-g bag of Seeberger popcorn kernels contains only popcorn kernels as an ingredient, but it is not ready to eat.
A good choice if: a microwave and an adult are available to prepare it.
Consider: The 300-g REWE Beste Wahl product contains sugar and palm fat; the bag and steam may be hot after heating.
A good choice if: there is no time to prepare an occasional snack that is allowed.
Consider: The recipe is already set. For its 200-g ja! caramelised popcorn, REWE warns that it may contain traces of milk.
| Criteria | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Age and nursery approval | Before bringing popcorn in, check the children’s ages and eating abilities, as well as the setting’s rules. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise against giving popcorn to children under four in their guidance for childcare settings. | When children of different ages are eating together, I want to know first whether popcorn is suitable for all the children concerned. For around 50 % of consumers, this safety and approval question would be the main priority. |
| Supply and portions | Compare the pack weight with the amount needed; check the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g on the current pack. | I want to take only the amount needed for snack day from a larger supply and take the recipe into account. Around 30 % of consumers would make portion planning their main priority. |
| Preparation | For unpopped kernels, plan for the cooking equipment and preparation time; for microwave popcorn, leave heating, opening and cooling to an adult. | When there is little time to prepare, I need a process that adults can take care of before serving. This would be the main concern for around 20 % of consumers. |
A large bag tells you nothing about a suitable portion for a child or whether the snack is appropriate for the group.
Check in advance whether popcorn can be served, then prepare or portion out only the amount needed for the occasion.
The bag, popcorn and steam from the REWE Beste Wahl microwave product may be hot after heating.
An adult should heat the product, open the bag carefully and leave the popcorn to cool before serving.
Even when you make popcorn yourself, the occasion and the amount served matter. Germany’s Federal Institute of Public Health recommends that children have snacks only occasionally and in small amounts.
Plan popcorn as an occasional snack, rather than making it a regular snack just because you have a larger pack.
Ingredients and traces information vary between products. For example, REWE says that ja! popcorn may contain traces of milk.
Read the label on the pack you have actually bought and check it against the allergy information for the children in your group.
The 500-g pack of Seeberger popcorn kernels listed by REWE is an option for adults to prepare.
The product featured is sweetened microwave popcorn in a 300-g pack.
The ja! caramelised popcorn featured is a ready-to-eat product in a 200-g pack.
No, popcorn is not suitable for every group of children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists it as a choking hazard to avoid for children under four. You should also check the children’s eating abilities and the nursery’s rules before deciding whether it is suitable for your group.
With loose popcorn kernels, adults decide what to add during preparation. REWE lists popcorn kernels as the only ingredient in Seeberger popcorn kernels; sugar and palm fat are already part of the recipe for REWE Beste Wahl’s sweetened microwave popcorn.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, as well as the allergy information for the children in the group. For example, the ja! caramelised popcorn listed by REWE carries a warning that it may contain traces of milk.
For the microwave product featured, an adult should take care of heating it and opening the bag. The bag, popcorn and escaping steam may be hot; you should also follow the nursery’s rules on using appliances.