New tests reveal that a medium-popcorn-and-soda combo at the country’s largest movie-theater chain contains as many calories as three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with 12 pats of butter. Do you indulge in fattening snacks at the movies?
Do you eat popcorn and fattening snacks at the movies?
Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:00 AM EST
Background reading
- Movie popcorn = 3 burgers + 12 pats of butterIsn’t popcorn supposed to be a healthy snack? It can be, but one medium-popcorn-and-soda combo sold at a popular movie-theater chain has the equivalent of three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders wit
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I never have the butter added to the popcorn! we get it plain, and we think it tastes better that way, and aren't grossed out with watching the server pump fat all over the popcorn.
Dear Today Show,
You're discussion of the movie popcorn is totally inaccurate! I suggest your "nutritionist" and "doctor", look into the properties of coconut oil. While it is high in saturated fat, coconut oil melts at 76 degrees. Since our body is 98.6, there is no way it can harden and clog our arteries. In addition, it is full of medium chain triglycerides (not enough in the American diet), Caprylic acid (antifungal) and Lauric acid. It also has anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties. I would certainly rather digest coconut oil than canola oil which is high in inflammatory omega 6's. Of course we need them in our diet but not in the quantity that they occur in SAD (Standard American Diet).
Karolyn Kloepping
Go Karolyn! I don't understand why all these so called "nutritionists" continue to encourage Americans to follow out-dated information regarding our good health. I have been using coconut oil for the past few years as it is one of the few oils that remains unharmed when heated at high temperatures, in addition to all the health benefits you mentioned. It was one study, decades ago that gave coconut oil a bad name. Turns out it was WRONG. Please, Today Show...the continued spread of incorrect information with regard to health is simply irresponsible. Joy, you're a doll but update your research. On that note, please re-visit SOY, also a detriment to good health!
Sheesh, I don't go to the movies often enough to worry about eating popcorn the ONE time I go!
I go about every other year, when ever there is a really good movie. I doubt the popcorn will kill me. If there were more good movies, it might be a problem, but until that happens, the popcorn is the best part.
The lines are awful long at the movies for popcorn, candy, ect for 37% of the people not eating it!!! someones not telling the truth!!:)
I have about had it with all of the negative reporting. We don't watch the Today show to find out that an occasional tub of popcorn at the movies is going to kill us. Do you honestly think that people who eat buttered popcorn at the movies think it is healthy? We can't eat carrot sticks and celery all of the time. I think I will quit examining my breasts, go to a good movie and consume some buttered popcorn. Maybe I will die fat and happy!
Yeah, no kidding..the beginning of the article said the popcorn was supposed to be a healthy snack...who made that rule? Bring on the butter! (or the nacho cheese...)
I'm sick of all you experts taking the fun out of everything! my grandchildren are active and healthy. On a normal basis they eat a healthy diet. If i take them to the movies occasionally and they want popcorn and candy, I'm going to let them have it! If they want extra butter on it, they can have that, too. Stop making fun a sin!
YES
butter and grease and salt and seasonings with msg slathered all over my 1000+ calorie 50+ fat gram snack
top it off with milk chocolate candies and caramels and tall frozen sugar grenades-- err I mean Cherry Icees
OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM
I always share my popcorn with my girlfriend. Then her and I work it off after the movie with some heavy necking. Not a problem.
If we follow the experts advice all the time, we'd be boring robots without any imagination or sense of fun. What's the problem with a few snacks once in awhile while you're enjoying a movie. Movies and popcorn go together.
I avoid the popcorn at movie theaters not because of the calorie/fat count but because it costs $6-$8 for a damn bag of stale popcorn that probably cost $0.06-$0.08 to make. I prefer to sneak in my own snacks and drinks!
As a Registered Dietitian, movie lover and consultant to the food and beverage industry, I would like to comment on this article. In my meetings with clients, I always remind them that by using moderation and portion control and incorporating plenty of physical activity, they are able to include all foods and beverages as part of a balanced diet. The large combo of popcorn and soda at the movie theatre may provide a lot of calories for one person, but when it is shared amongst a family of four, the numbers become more realistic. It is important to remember that certain foods that we enjoy at special times during the year are part of our lifestyle. Any “diet” that excludes these items tends to be unsuccessful as it does not allow people to enjoy some of their favorite activities. Rather than harping on the higher numbers of calories and fat, why not suggest options for popcorn lovers to enjoy one of their favorite treats. Planning for special occasions and treats may mean that people choose to have a lighter meal prior to arriving at the movies, budget their calories throughout the day to allow for a higher caloric snack later in the day, and of course watch your portion sizes.
Julie Feldman MPH RD
No wonder the American public is obese and still getting fatter. People actually associate eating this gross crap with FUN!!!! Eeeew
Yeah....not all of us are obese....just like all posters on Newsvine aren't total idiots.....
My husband and I are both very active, fit, and when we do get to the movie theatre we both snarf down a large popcorn and diet soda.... no need for all that sugar on top of the butterlike substance on our popcorn you know....we have FUN......
You on the other hand sound like a real fun killer...... Ewwwwww!!
Are you kidding me, Karolyn, with the "coconut oil is healthy"?? It's 91% saturatated fat! More than any other oil or fat, like butter, lard, palm oil. Joy Bauer did make a mistake, though, in not verbally mentioning that the large Cinemark popcorn (cooked in heart-healthy canola oil) is only 4g of saturated fat vs. Regal's large popcorn (in coconut oil) which is 57g of saturated fat. It's in the written article on this site. Sat fat is bad news for heart health...can't argue that.
The point is dear, saturated fat, such as coconut oil, has been the main staple of the Pacific Rim population since time immorial. They didn't start getting CAD and diabetes until introduced to the joys of western nutrition. You really do need to bone up on your knowledge base...
i don't understand what the big deal is, i bring my own stuff anyway, there is no way I'm paying $10 for popcorn, not even if i had the money would I do this, what a waste
who cares!
I go to maybe 4 movies a year and it's a night out, I have a nice meal before hand and I'm not that hungry at the movie any way, so I usually get the smallest size of popcorn, (as a desert), no candy and a small drink, or a bottle of water.
You know I think these nutritionists and others are making money from their anti-depressent stocks and want us all on that and having no fun or enjoyable things in our lives. This is silly, no one is going to live forever no matter how great your diet and exercise routine is. I mean if you are going to two-three movies every single day and eating a super large bucket of popcorn with candy and cotton candy and hugmongous soda then that's going over board, but just going 4-6 times a year to one movie at a time as a treat with the accompaning food treats, there is no problem with that. Just watch it the rest of the week and walk a little further.
Common sense and a bit of moderation mixed with some fun will make us happier and healthier, and without the implied guilt that this attitude of "never ever indulge" has most of the US in.
I'm sorry but I don't want to pay for the $8 to $12 a bag for popcorn. I can enjoy a movie just fine without the added expense. I'm glad there are richer people out there who can afford it. But I guess if they took out the conession stand they would just end up charging a hefty amount in ticket sales unless they cut way back on their staff.
Have you ever smelled that STUFF they put on popcorn? It is not
BUTTER at all. I can't even sit next to someone who is eating it.
Another comment: In Paris moviehouses no popcorn is sold. It makes
too much noise for the movielovers to sell food there! And, I cannot imagine the
French serving that awful stuff they put on US popcorn.
The French would be goosestepping around Europe if it weren't for the USA. They've embraced dictators. They're the European embodiment of the opposite of what US citizens hold dear. Freedom and Liberty mean less to them than buildings and art. You love France so much....C-Ya.
Add me to the list of people who are not stupid or hungry enough to pay the prices they ask for the items they sell. I don't go very often & when I do I wait for senior citizen's day because the ticket price is way too high also.