Origin

• A farmer, botanist or cook, for example, would each categorize corn differently. Sweet corn harvested before fully ripening and eaten fresh is considered a vegetable because the plant is cultivated for its edible parts. Dry corn seeds, on the other hand, are more starchy than moist and therefore yields grains such as corn flour.

Preparation

• Popcorn is the result of heating dry kernels until the water inside turns to steam and forces them to turn inside out. Their original moisture is then lost and only the starchy parts remain. In spite of the corn's original vegetable form, the resultant popcorn more closely resembles a starchy grain.

Nutrition

• While popcorn is high in fiber and vitamins C, B1 and B5, dieters should eat it in moderation. One cup of corn before popping contains almost 200 calories and 32 grams of carbohydrates, not to mention the extra butter and salt that often comes on it.