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Pregnant woman’s plane dilemma sparks debate

<p>In a tale as old as modern time, the internet has erupted over a tweet. </p> <p>When professional American baseball player Anthony Bass shared his wife Sydney Rae Bass’s in-flight trouble to Twitter, he was expecting an outpouring of support, and perhaps an answer from the airline. </p> <p>Instead, he generated a heated debate over plane etiquette, entitlement, and the responsibilities of parenting - namely, cleaning up after your own kids. </p> <p>In the viral tweet, Anthony - who was not with his family at the time of the incident - wrote that a flight attendant had made the 22-week pregnant Sydney “get on her hands and knees” to clean up the mess their 2-year-old daughter had made with her popcorn. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The flight attendant <a href="https://twitter.com/united?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@united</a> just made my 22 week pregnant wife traveling with a 5 year old and 2 year old get on her hands and knees to pick up the popcorn mess by my youngest daughter. Are you kidding me?!?! <a href="https://t.co/vLYyLyJC54">pic.twitter.com/vLYyLyJC54</a></p> <p>— Anthony Bass (@AnthonyBass52) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnthonyBass52/status/1647632911720390664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>The airline was quick to ask Anthony for more information in the comment section, but with over 70 million views - and counting - and 10,000 likes, many had questions. And because it was the internet, where filters tend to fall to the wayside, people had no qualms about sharing their opinion with the irate father. </p> <p>“Genuinely curious who should clean up the mess your 2 year old made?” one asked him. “As a parent of three kids I am the one responsible for them.”</p> <p>Anthony, who was having none of it, fired back, “The cleaning crew they hire!” </p> <p>“It's called being considerate,” someone else pointed out, “and we all know planes don't get thoroughly cleaned during a day of flying.”</p> <p>In one popular response, one user reminded the sports star that “just because you’re rich doesn’t mean everyone is your servant. I hope this helps.”</p> <p>One former flight attendant chimed in as well, telling Anthony that “a flight attendant is there for safety, not to pick up after you or your children.”</p> <p>“Shouldn't have even had to ask, TBH [to be honest],” another said. </p> <p>“I have three kids, just flew coach 12 hours, and was able to clean up after them - for every mess. It’s called parenting,” one shared. “Do you expect park janitors to clean up after your pet? No; Your child, your responsibility.”</p> <p>Although the majority were in agreement that it was “the most pretentious, arrogant, self-absorbed tweet of all time”, there were still those in Anthony’s corner. </p> <p>As one such supporter wrote, “I think it’s disgusting that the stewardess made a pregnant woman clean up a mess if they’re going to supply popcorn on the aeroplane. Be ready for messes to clean up if you don’t like it, don’t serve popcorn.”</p> <p>Perhaps the loudest - and most passionate - on their team was Sydney Rae’s sister, Jessie James Decker. </p> <p>The country singer and reality TV star took to Instagram to share her thoughts in a now expired story, where she wrote that she had just received a text from Sydney from her flight, and “as you know, she is five months pregnant, high-risk, and also travelling alone with her two small children. </p> <p>“Blaire [their 2-year-old] accidentally spilled some popcorn in the aisle, and the flight attendant came up to Sydney with a trash bag and a wet wipe, telling her the captain wants Syd to clean up every drop.</p> <p>"My poor sister is on her hands and knees, crying in the aisle, completely humiliated and exhausted, with her children while everyone else watched.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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14 great movies that got rotten reviews when they came out

<h2>Critics missed the mark on these movies</h2> <p>Before there was the almighty review section of every online shopping site, we looked to movie critics to fill us in on whether a film was worthy of our dollars, eyeballs, and time. A trip to the movie theatre isn’t exactly an inexpensive activity, so the opinions of these cinephiles has been historically a pretty important factor in terms of whether or not we buy those tickets. However, these film buffs don’t always get it right. In fact, some features that were badly panned by critics ended up becoming what we now consider the best movies of all time.</p> <p>This surprising list includes some of the most iconic dramas, comedies, romantic movies, and horror films – many of which went on to become blockbusters and award winners. It just goes to show you that sometimes it’s best to trust your gut and take a chance on a big-screen story that looks interesting, regardless of what the so-called experts have to say.</p> <h2>Vertigo</h2> <p>Released: 1958</p> <p>Director: Alfred Hitchcock</p> <p>Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo tells the story of a former police detective battling his own demons who becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman. Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, the film is now considered a classic by fans of thriller movies, and of Hitchcock in particular. It’s hard to believe any critic could have distaste for a film that’s held in such high regard today, but Time magazine’s review was less than stellar: ‘The old master has turned out another Hitchcock-and-bull story in which the mystery is not so much who done it as who cares.’ Although we appreciate the reviewer’s pun, if you love a good mystery, give Vertigo a watch.</p> <h2>2001: A Space Odyssey</h2> <p>Released: 1968</p> <p>Director: Stanley Kubrick</p> <p>One of the best sci-fi movies ever, this flick directed by Stanley Kubrick is about astronauts sent to the moon on a mysterious mission who wind up in a battle between man and machine. ‘For all its lively visual and mechanical spectacle, this is a kind of space-Spartacus and, more pretentious still, a shaggy God story,’ wrote John Simon of the New Leader when the film came out. Keep in mind that the movie won an Oscar for its dazzling visual effects (which were a big deal for the time), and Kubrick was also nominated for the Best Director award. We side with the real critics – the fans – on this one, because 2001: A Space Odyssey was an instant classic that earned its place in film history.</p> <h2>Armageddon</h2> <p>Released: 1998</p> <p>Director: Michael Bay</p> <p>There are so many things to love about Armageddon: there’s action, romance, family drama, and cool special effects. Oh, and Aerosmith’s killer power ballad ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,’ which gives the flick one of the best movie soundtracks. It also boasts a great cast with Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, and Liv Tyler. Still, film critics weren’t sold. ‘The movie is an assault on the eyes, the ears, the brain, common sense, and the human desire to be entertained,’ wrote Roger Ebert in 1998. The New York Times‘ Janet Maslin penned a similarly terrible review, saying, ‘Though it means to be inspiring, it has quite the opposite effect. There’s not a believable moment here.’</p> <h2>A Star Is Born</h2> <p>Released: 1976</p> <p>Director: Frank Pierson</p> <p>Today when we think of A Star Is Born, we conjure up images of the most recent adaption starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. But back in 1976, Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand put their own spin on one of the best movie musicals of all time, about a former star helping a fledgling singer find fame while his own career falters due to age and alcoholism. The heartbreaking drama had audiences in tears all over the world, but apparently for some critics, those were tears of agony. ‘A bore is starred,’ quipped the Village Voice‘s famous review of the film. A review in the Hollywood Reporter was slightly less savage, complaining mainly that the flick focuses too much on the main stars and not enough on the supporting cast. Still, if you loved the Cooper and Gaga version, you should check out the 1976 entry.</p> <h2>Gladiator</h2> <p>Released: 2000</p> <p>Director: Ridley Scott</p> <p>Even if you’re not a pop culture trivia whiz, you probably know where is this movie quote from: “Are you not entertained?” Of course, it’s this surprising underdog story. In the Ridley Scott directed picture, Maximus (Russell Crowe) starts out as a big-deal general who finds himself demoted to common gladiator after a sinister betrayal. Needless to say, this move does little to help him avenge his murdered family, so like any good action film character, he has to take matters into his own hands. Gladiator was a massive hit at the box office, so clearly movie seekers thought it was worth seeing. But Roger Ebert’s review wasn’t so sparkling: ‘By the end of this long film, I would have traded any given gladiatorial victory for just one shot of blue skies.’</p> <h2>Jaws</h2> <p>Released: 1975</p> <p>Director: Steven Spielberg</p> <p>Yes, it’s a horror movie, but it’s also one of the best beach movies ever made – and started the tradition of the summer blockbuster. Jaws further proved its power by literally making people afraid to go in the ocean for fear of sharks after its 1975 premiere – and today. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Roy Scheider as a local sheriff desperate to locate a killer shark plaguing the oh-so-quaint Amity Island. The mere sound of the Jaws theme music (you know the one) insinuates there’s trouble afoot. Although the film did get many fine reviews from critics back in the day, it also had its fair share of harsh comments. ‘While I have no doubt that Jaws will make a bloody fortune for Universal and producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown, it is a coarse-grained and exploitive work which depends on excess for its impact,’ wrote Charles Champlin in the Los Angeles Times. ‘Ashore it is a bore, awkwardly staged and lumpily written.’</p> <h2>The Shawshank Redemption</h2> <p>Released: 1994</p> <p>Director: Frank Darabont</p> <p>The Shawshank Redemption gifted us the wonderful big-screen duo of Andy (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman) in one of the best drama movies of all time. As they spend years together in prison, the film chronicles the journey of these unlikely friends, long-term inmates who form a close bond. On any given weekend you’re like to find this movie being replayed on television because it’s that good to watch over and over again. Some critics, however, found the film listless. ‘Speaking of jail, Shawshank-the-movie seems to last about half a life sentence,’ writes Desson Thomson in the Washington Post. ‘The story, chiefly about the 20-year friendship between Freeman and Robbins, becomes incarcerated in its own labyrinthine sentimentality.’</p> <h2>Psycho</h2> <p>Released: 1960</p> <p>Director: Alfred Hitchcock</p> <p>This Hitchcock thriller’s shower scene featuring Janet Leigh’s heart-pounding screams has been riffed on countless times in pop culture. And to this day motel manager Norman Bates is still among the creepiest of all film characters – made all the more disturbing because this horror movie is inspired by a real story. The movie was also shocking to audiences because in a surprise twist (spoiler alert!) the purported lead star is killed off early on in the movie. But of course, critics wouldn’t be critics without some sort of, you guessed it, criticism. ‘The trail leads to a sagging, swamp-view motel and to one of the messiest, most nauseating murders ever filmed,’ says a Time review. ‘At close range, the camera watches every twitch, gurgle, convulsion, and haemorrhage in the process by which a living human becomes a corpse…. The nightmare that follows is expertly gothic, but the nausea never disappears.’ Actually, that’s kind of a compliment for a horror flick!</p> <h2>Pretty Woman</h2> <p>Released: 1990</p> <p>Director: Garry Marshall</p> <p>Julia Roberts was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in 1990’s Pretty Woman, now considered one of the best romantic comedies of all time. Many poked fun at the idea of a wealthy businessman falling for a call girl he meets in Hollywood, but moviegoers fell in love with the couple and the pairing of Roberts with actor Richard Gere. Time magazine critic Richard Corliss wrote, ‘A ticket to Pretty Woman buys you mechanical titillation and predictable twists…Old-fashioned, assembly-line moviemaking without the old panache.’ Perhaps, but we still love it, and so do a legion of fans.</p> <h2>Dirty Dancing</h2> <p>Released: 1987</p> <p>Director: Emile Ardolino</p> <p>Maybe you’re just in it for the dancing, the romance, or the nostalgia, but Dirty Dancing is one of those flicks you can watch over and over because it just makes you feel good. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention its iconic line, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” But Roger Ebert wasn’t here for any of it. ‘The filmmakers rely so heavily on clichés, on stock characters in old situations, that it’s as if they never really had any confidence in their performers,’ he said in his review. Another critic, for TV Guide, felt the supporting cast was pretty unlikeable. ‘One problem with the film is that it does nothing to endear the Catskill social setting to an audience; the inhabitants seem to be competing for awards in obnoxiousness,’ wrote Sandra Contreras. That’s an interesting observation, especially as 40 years later, guests still enjoy visiting the Dirty Dancing resort where the movie was filmed.</p> <h2>The Shining</h2> <p>Released: 1980</p> <p>Director: Stanley Kubrick</p> <p>If you’ve ever read Stephen King’s novel of the same name, you know it’s one of the scariest books of all time. And director Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic take on the scary tale definitely leaves us feeling unsettled. But despite a memorable performance by Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, a man who, with his family, spends the winter in an isolated, haunted hotel, film reviewers weren’t so wowed by it. ‘Stanley Kubrick’s production of The Shining, a ponderous, lacklustre distillation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel, looms as the Big Letdown of the new film season,’ said Gary Arnold in the Washington Post. “I can’t recall a more elaborately ineffective scare movie. You might say that The Shining, opening today at area theatres, has no peers: few directors achieve the treacherous luxury of spending five years (and $12 million to $15 million) on such a peerlessly wrongheaded finished product.” Ineffective? Horror fans would disagree.</p> <h2>It’s a Wonderful Life</h2> <p>Released: 1946</p> <p>Director: Frank Capra</p> <p>We often assume that classic holiday films like It’s a Wonderful Life must have always inspired the feel-good emotions that make it prime for repeat viewing. But while this story of a disappointed small-town man’s visit from an angel is uplifting for many, it didn’t warm critics’ hearts when it first came out. ‘Indeed, the weakness of this picture, from this reviewer’s point of view, is the sentimentality of it – its illusory concept of life,’ read a line in the New York Times’ review. Meanwhile, in New York’s Daily News, Kate Cameron wrote, ‘The film is too sprawling in extent, too noisy as to background music and voices and much too obvious in the application of its social significance notes.’ We beg to differ: it’s one of the best Christmas movies that brings tears to our eyes every holiday season.</p> <h2>The Empire Strikes Back</h2> <p>Released: 1980</p> <p>Director: Irvin Kershner</p> <p>Despite that this movie is (almost) universally considered to be the best in the Star Wars  franchise, film reviewers picked at the second flick in the saga just as they did the first. In this ‘episode,’ Luke Skywalker is in Jedi training with Yoda, and the rest of the gang is still at odds with Darth Vader and Boba Fett. So what beef could critics have with The Empire Strikes Back? Oh, plenty. ‘This time out, the Star Wars enterprise isn’t anywhere as enjoyable as the original,’ wrote Joy Gould Boynum in the Wall Street Journal. “One might argue that all this represents a gain, adding to the original, sophistication, richness, depth. But truth to tell, these developments seem little more than inappropriate. To place internal struggles within one-dimensional characters who by definition have no interior is absurd.”</p> <h2>Inception</h2> <p>Released: 2010</p> <p>Director: Christopher Nolan</p> <p>Sometimes a movie is so high concept, even the critics can’t get behind its artistic gravitas. That seems to be the case with this thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, about a thief who uses dream-sharing technology to commit his crimes. The tables are turned, however, when he’s asked to actually put an idea into a dream, rather than steal from it. The film was an awards-show darling, scoring dozens of nominations and even winning four Oscars in mainly technical categories. However, Rex Reed’s review for the Observer might most succinctly sum up how many folks felt about it: ‘I’d like to tell you just how bad Inception really is, but since it is barely even remotely lucid, no sane description is possible.’</p> <p><em><strong><span id="docs-internal-guid-8aac66e8-7fff-2514-a0b8-b634871fe968">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/entertainment/23-great-movies-that-got-rotten-reviews-when-they-came-out?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>.</span></strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Movies

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Maltesers release new flavour in Australia

<p style="margin: 0cm;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">Australia has been chosen as the lucky location to debut a new Maltesers flavour. Judging from the reaction on social media, we’re pretty happy about it.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: inherit"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">Mars Wrigley, the confectionary company behind the iconic brand, has just released a limited edition popcorn variety after noticing consumers enjoy teaming a bag of Maltesers with the savory snack when at the movies.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: inherit"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">In fact, the “killer combo” is so popular, recipe videos showing how to create “Malteser popcorn” have amassed millions of views.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: inherit"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">But while making the sweet treat at home is notoriously tricky (chocolate burns easily), Mars Wrigley has stepped in to save us the effort – and the result is its famous malt balls coated in “mouth-watering” popcorn flavoured milk chocolate.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">“This is an incredible innovation by our Mars Wrigley team that was inspired by our consumers and brings about that sense of nostalgia for movie nights with family and friends,” the brand’s marketing director Ben Hill said.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: inherit"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">“Our Maltesers popcorn is proudly made in our Ballarat factory where we created the recipe formulation from scratch. It’s been a full-team effort and we’re incredibly excited to have this product on shelves for 2022.</span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: inherit"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">“After investing $30 million into our Ballarat site last year, this is just one of the many product innovations we plan to unveil this year.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;vertical-align: baseline">Reaction on social media has been strong, with one declaring the new $4.50 snack “next level” after discovering it on a Coles shelf.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;vertical-align: baseline">Fellow Australians on social media have been more positive, with one stating she had “died and gone to heaven” after trying the combo.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;vertical-align: baseline"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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9 reasons you need popcorn in your diet

<h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn could be the perfect healthy snack</h2><p style="font-size: 16px;border: 0px;margin: 0px 0px 20px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: 26px;color: #444444;background-color: #ffffff">When you wonder “Is popcorn healthy?” you have to narrow down the type of popcorn you’re munching on. If it’s air-popped popcorn – not the fatty, butter-drenched stuff you get at the movies – then you’ll be happy about the answer.</p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">It has few kilojoules – if you pop it the right way</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">The healthiest type of popcorn is air-popped, which only has 125 kilojoules per cup.</span></p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn could be healthier than fruits and vegetables</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">Yep, you read that right. According to a 2019 analysis in the journal </span><em style="border: 0px;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444;background-color: #ffffff">Antioxidants</em><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">, popcorn is loaded with polyphenols, compounds found in plants that act as antioxidants and reduce inflammation. Polyphenols are heavily diluted in fruits and vegetables, which are 90 per cent water. Yet popcorn is made up of about 4 per cent water, so the polyphenols are more highly concentrated, especially in the hulls (the hard shells that get stuck in your teeth). One serving of popcorn can contain up to 300 mg of polyphenols, according to a prior study from the University of Scranton, which would account for 13 per cent of the average daily intake. Fruit accounts for 255 mg of polyphenols per day, and vegetables bring in about 218 mg per day. That said, popcorn doesn’t have many other vitamins and nutrients, so it can’t completely replace fruits and veggies in your diet.</span></p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn may help fight cancer</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">One of the many powers of polyphenols, like those found in popcorn, is their ability to block enzymes that cancers need to grow and, in doing so, regulate the spread of cancerous cells, notes the American Institute for Cancer Research. The traditional way to reap these health benefits is by eating fruits and vegetables, but the high concentration of polyphenols makes eating popcorn a healthy alternative. Since they can also prevent inflammation and plaque buildup, foods rich in polyphenols may help prevent cardiovascular disease.</span></p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn gives you your fill of whole grain</h2><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none"><span style="font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400;background-color: #ffffff">Popcorn is one snack that is 100 per cent unprocessed whole grain. Just one serving of popcorn contains more than 70 per cent of the recommended daily whole grain intake.</span></h2><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn may help relieve constipation</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">Since popcorn is all whole grain, its insoluble fibre helps keep your digestive tract in check and prevents constipation. A 3-cup serving contains 3.5 grams of fibre, and a high-fibre diet can help promote intestinal regularity.</span></p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">It’s the perfect dieting snack</h2><p style="font-size: 16px;border: 0px;margin: 0px 0px 20px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;line-height: 26px;color: #444444;background-color: #ffffff">High-fibre foods take more time to digest than non-fibrous foods, so they can keep you fuller longer. Snacking on air-popped popcorn in between meals can make you less tempted by sweets and fatty foods. Just don’t load up on butter and salt.</p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn is diabetic friendly</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">Even though fibre is listed on food labels under total carbohydrates, it doesn’t have the same effect on blood sugar as refined carbs like white bread. High-fibre foods don’t contain as much digestible carbohydrate, so it slows the rate of digestion and causes a more gradual and lower rise in blood sugar, according to 2015 research in the journal </span><em style="border: 0px;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444;background-color: #ffffff">Circulation</em><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">.</span></p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444">There are endless options for popcorn toppings</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">You can put way more on popcorn than just butter and salt. Add cinnamon or apple pie spice for a sweet treat, or go spicy with hot sauce, wasabi, or curry. You can also give your snack an Italian flair with grated Parmesan and a dash of olive oil. Basically, anything in your spice rack can add more flavour without very many kilojoules when you’re eating popcorn.</span></p><p> </p><div class="slide-image" style="border: 0px;font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial;font-size: 16px;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #444444"> </div><p> </p><h2 class="slide-title" style="border: 0px;font-size: 24px;font-style: normal;font-weight: bold;margin: 0px 0px 15px;padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;vertical-align: baseline;clear: both;line-height: 1.3;color: #444444;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none">Popcorn has more iron than spinach</h2><p><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">Not by much, but it’s true: 28 grams of popcorn contains 0.9 mg of iron, while 1 cup of raw spinach has 0.8 mg. These numbers seem small, but adult men only need 8 mg of iron in their diet each day. Adult women, on the other hand, need 18 mg per day (because of the blood they lose during menstruation). Up to 18 per cent of women are low in iron, according to a new research paper by the University of Western Australia.  So get your fill of iron however you can.</span></p><p><em><span style="color: #444444;font-size: 16px;background-color: #ffffff">Image: Getty</span></em></p>

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Cheeky toddler pinches Prince Harry’s popcorn

<p>Prince Harry found himself the unwitting victim of an adorable, pint-sized popcorn thief as he attended an event at his Invictus Games in Toronto.</p> <p>The 33-year-old, who was sat next to Hayley Henson, the wife of Invictus athlete Dave Henson, had a hilarious reaction when he turned around to find the Hensons’ 2-year-old daughter Emily stealing a couple of pieces of popcorn.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <p dir="ltr">A toddler takes popcorn from Prince Harry during the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InvictusGames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InvictusGames</a>. What happens when he realises what's going on? <a href="https://t.co/XKV051JCx8">https://t.co/XKV051JCx8</a> <a href="https://t.co/SX975rSipp">pic.twitter.com/SX975rSipp</a></p> — ITV News (@itvnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/913282142720970752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>It takes the young royal a solid 30 seconds to realise, having been in deep conversation with the man sitting next to him. After bonding with the tot over their shared love of the food, Harry proceeds to make a number of funny faces at Emily, who had no idea the eyes of the world were on her. Too cute!</p> <p><strong>Take a look through the gallery above</strong> to see their sweet interaction and tell us in the comments below, what’s the cheekiest thing you’ve ever seen a little one in your life do?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images.</em></p>

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Savoury macadamia popcorn

<p>Don’t settle for plain old buttered popcorn when you can liven up movie night with this macadamia popcorn recipe.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Makes</span>:</strong> 16 cups or 1 very large bowl</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>2 tablespoons macadamia oil</li> <li>2 teaspoons smoked paprika</li> <li>1 ½  teaspoons river salt</li> <li>½ cup popping corn, popped</li> <li>4 tablespoons macadamia dukkah (ingredients and recipe below)</li> </ul> <p><strong>For the macadamia dukkah</strong></p> <ul> <li>75g unsalted macadamias, roasted</li> <li>50g sesame seeds</li> <li>1 tablespoon coriander seeds</li> <li>1 tablespoon cumin seeds</li> <li>1 teaspoon ground mountain pepper berry</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon salt flakes</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon dried chilli flakes (optional)</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method</span></strong></p> <p>To make the dukkah (approximately 1 cup)</p> <ol> <li>To make the dukkah,place the macadamias in the bowl of a food processor and process until almost ground. Take care not to blend too much or it can become gluggy. There will be some bigger pieces and some powder, which is normal. Place into a large bowl.</li> <li>Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat and dry roast the sesame seeds until golden and aromatic. Add to the bowl of macadamias.</li> <li>Place the coriander seeds and cumin seeds in a frying pan over medium heat, stirring frequently for 1-2 minutes until the spices are aromatic and begin to pop. Transfer to a mortar and pestle and pound until finely crushed.</li> <li>Add the crushed spices, pepper berry, salt and chilli flakes (if using) to the macadamia mix and combine well. Serve with crusty bread and macadamia oil.</li> <li>To make the macadamia popcorn, combine the macadamia oil, paprika, salt and dukkah in a small bowl. Place the popped corn into a large bowl. Pour over the spiced dukkah mixture, combine well and serve.</li> </ol> <p>TIP: Macadamia dukkah can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. You can also use it sprinkled over salads, to coat fish or chicken or added to your favourite stuffing. Popcorn can also be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.</p> <p>Recipe courtesy of Australian Macadamias – <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.australian-macadamias.org/consumer/en/taste/recipes" target="_blank">visit their site for more yummy food ideas. </a></strong></span></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/australian-dips/">Trio of Australian-style dips</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/chocolate-bush-honey-slice/">Chocolate bush honey slice</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/baked-banana-chips/">Baked banana chips</a> </strong></em></span></p>

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Caramel popcorn

<p>Make movie night special with a naughty but oh-so-delicious caramel popcorn treat.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients</span>:</strong></p> <ul> <li>¼ cup vegetable oil</li> <li>½ cup popping corn</li> </ul> <p><strong>Caramel sauce</strong></p> <ul> <li>125g butter, chopped</li> <li>½ cup sugar</li> <li>2 tablespoon golden syrup </li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method</span>:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add popping corn and cover pan. Remove from heat when corn stops popping. Transfer to bowl, discarding any unpopped corn.</li> <li>To make the caramel, combine butter, sugar and syrup in saucepan over medium to high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, for five to seven minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Bring mixture to boil and uncover pan. Cook, without stirring, for three to four minutes or until mixture turns golden.</li> <li>Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and stir until popcorn is coated. Set aside to cool. Serve.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/iced-vovo-slice/">Iced VoVo-inspired coconut and jam slice</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/bombe-alaska/">Bombe Alaska</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/cinnamon-baked-apples/">Cinnamon baked apples</a></span></strong></em></p>

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