The title of this post is a shout out to a blog that I loved – Shouldn’t But Do (and its companion, Should But Don’t). Sadly, both blogs appear to have been abandoned by their creators. If you’re out there, Andrea and Jeff, come back. We miss you and all the things you shouldn’t but do.
I’m trying to be better about my eating. Unlike many people’s January eating goals, it’s not a weight-conscious thing – I am one of those irritating people who can eat pretty much anything and not gain weight. But this year I’m striving to eat real food more sustainably.
That means that Act II Butter Lovers popcorn is a big “shouldn’t but do.”
But you know what? I’m not giving it up. I don’t care that inhaling popcorn fumes gives you lung cancer. And I don’t care that the “butter” in the name bears no resemblance to actual butter. I don’t care that I have to drive out of my way because they only carry it at a certain grocery store, that the ingredient list could be the first chapter of a novel, or that one bag contains more calories (and calories from fat – wow!) than my entire dinner. Don’t bother suggesting an air popped, yeasted, buttered, salted alternative. I’ve tried them and I’m not interested.
So why am I saying this?
Because I think we need to remember how attached we are to some things. Yes, it would probably be better all around if I were to eat a different kind of popcorn. But sometimes things end up meaning more to us than they actually are.
When I was little, my mom and I used to watch movies, drink lemonade and eat popcorn together. This popcorn. Never any other popcorn. I remember riding in the cart at Price Club (now Costco) and watching her put the case Act II in the cart, always making sure it was the Butter Lovers kind.
And now, when I pop a bag of popcorn, I end up with this face staring up at me. My cat loves popcorn, and she always comes to share it with me (read: steal it out of my hands). College, cross-country road trips, first apartments, new cities, new jobs – my cat + popcorn = home.
Making changes in your life can be hard, be it a thousand little changes or a couple of really big ones. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting caught up in the momentum of change. In fact, it’s awesome when you do! But if you feel yourself dragging your heels or digging in on something, I think it’s alright to take a step back and reevaluate. Sometimes it’s okay to pick something easier to change. Someday I’ll probably give up my popcorn for a better alternative. But today – and every day – I’m just doing my best. And then I’m going to have a bag of popcorn. And I’ll be okay with that.
I wrote this just as the news about Monsanto’s GMO corn causing organ failure in rats hit the internet. I haven’t been able to figure out if my popcorn is Monsanto corn, but I’ve decided it doesn’t really matter. I’m going to hold off on buying any more Act II until they figure the Monsanto thing out, which may mean that I’ll never buy it again. (I’ll eat what I have, because I abhor wasting food more than I fear possible popcorn-induced organ failure.)
I decided to post this in spite of my change in opinion. I think it’s a good example of how a little new information can change your perspective on something you were pretty darn sure about just minutes before. Go figure.
I loved this post and the editor’s commentary at the end. Nice job!
Now, have you tried popping your non-gm corn in a ton of coconut oil and pouring on a ton of melted butter and sea salt? I know it’s emotionally not the same thing but maybe you could learn to love the one your with?
Thank you!
I have not tried that. Actually, I’ve never done any cooking with coconut oil at all, but I’ve had several people recommend it recently. I bet that makes for a really different flavor! I will put it on my list of things to try after my last bag is gone. *sniff sniff*
My mom, my sister, my brother, and I used to ALWAYS have popcorn and lemonade when certain movies came on. Pipi Longstocking, anything with Shirley Temple, The Incredible Mr. Limpit, The Apple Dumpling Gang…it was the only time we could eat anywhere but the kitchen. My mom would put a big sheet on the floor for us and we’d have a movie picnic. For me it isn’t the kind of popcorn, but Kool-aid pink lemonade that stuck. I have one of those popcorn makers where you put in the oil and corn and set it on the stove, then turn the handle when it starts to pop. It’s at least as fast as microwave popcorn, and yummy.
Ooh yes! I know Kool-aid pink lemonade. We were more a yellow lemonade family, but I went through a strawberry soda phase for a while. That stuff was so vibrantly pink! I still can’t believe I actually drank that in mass quantities. Do you know if your oil popper would work with coconut oil?
Aw! We will. We were just talking about how we should restart this shit. (We are in a Project EVIE meeting right now and got sidetracked by this discussion.)
Thanks for the shout out. Sitting around right now with Andrea talking about a possible Should But Don’t revival. I’m glad to see the meme live on.
Hi Jeff and Andrea – thanks for stopping by! I would love to see a revival of either/both, but from the looks of it, you have your hands full with Project EVIE. I can’t wait to follow the chronicle of your adventure!
I am so with you on not wanting to give up everything. I’ve been telling myself that “balance” is important
How’s that for cheating? We got a very cool popcorn bowl at Target that goes in the microwave. Oil or not it works really great. Then we butter and salt or whatever to taste. At least you get microwave ease with the popcorn you want to eat.
Amen to that! I know that if I try to give up everything at once, it won’t stick, so I still have my little shelf of holdout food!
And if it makes you more likely to reach your final goal, it’s not cheating, right?