When the Oscar winners wrap their mitts around those little gold statues Sunday night, viewers won't have to be empty-handed themselves. One appropriate way to watch is by munching on fistfuls of popcorn, that longstanding movie theater staple.

Popcorn first hit theaters around the mid-1920s, and its wafting aroma has become as much a part of the filmgoing experience as trailers and overpriced sodas. But according to the Popcorn Institute, out of the 17 billion quarts of popcorn Americans gorge on annually, around 70 percent of it is eaten at home.

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Popcorn flavors are ready for their closeup (clockwise from top): Pesto, Buttered, Milk Chocolate, Cinnamon and Five-Spice.
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It can be whipped up in a popper or rat-a-tatted to life in a microwave. And whether it's packaged in a bag, box or tin, expect to find corn running the gamut from sugary-sweet to lip-burning spicy. Today, popcorn is seemingly available in more flavors than Baskin-Robbins ice cream.

Inside we offer some ways to dress up those kernels for the big night other than the usual butter and salt — with cheese, nuts, dried fruits, marshmallows and even chocolate. We even offer an irresistible popcorn cake.

Or you can let someone else do the popping and check out some of the more distinctive incarnations of the fluffy, crunchy treat that deserve their own nod on Oscar night.

Kernels to chew on

Believe it or not, whole grains are hot.

Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture food advisory panel suggested Americans put away three servings of whole grains daily, it's become a buzzing food trend.

The manufacturers of Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop recently surveyed Americans and found that only 10 percent were aware that popcorn was a whole grain. Naturally, the company was happy to set the record straight by announcing in a press release that three cups of popped popcorn equals one whole-grain serving.

"It's true, it's a whole grain," said Dr. Lonny Horowitz, an Atlanta bariatrics specialist. "But I don't see the average American replacing popcorn with a bowl of cereal."

While it may not be the perfect cornflake replacement, it's low in calories, according to the Popcorn Institute. One cup of air-popped corn accounts for 30 calories, while a cup of oil-popped weighs in at 55.

As a low- to no-sugar food, it gets kudos from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Both the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association approve popcorn (hold the butter) for weight-control diets. Horowitz often recommends to certain dieting patients one-half a bag of popcorn per week as filler.

And as a source of fiber, Horowitz is a strong believer in the power of the pop. "I recommend it to patients for regularity," he said. "And if you really want to grease the engine, add butter. That'll move things along."