Binged at the movies yesterday. [/rant about portion sizes]
So I went to the movies yesteday to see that crappy new Affleck film. Anyway, I was with a friend, so of course you are going to get the large popcorn, since it's only 50 cents more than the medium popcorn which is half the size. I loooove movie theater popcorn, and it's not the WORSE (very occassional) treat *IF* you control the portion.
But that's a big damn if. A decent portion of it would be 2-4 cups. How many cups in a large popcorn? About 16. And to make matters WORSE -- why, there's a free refill after the movie! So you can binge anew on your way home. My mouth is literally swollen from all the salt.
Why are portion sizes so ridiculous? Of course I could get a child-sized one, but they make it seem so much more advantageous to "super-size" it. It's like fountain drinks larger than your head, an over-flowing mountain of french fries or sandwiches literally to tall to get your mouth around. Behold the marvel of an ABSURD amount of food. Am I supposed to feel lucky to have so much more than I need?
The answer lies, of course, in the general culture of excess and gluttony and getting "more for your buck" that comes from the right-leaning developed world. Same reason the word "capitalist" got linked the word "pig". Our Wal-Mart-Fast-Food-Chain Western world is just obsessed with basking in everything large, because the bigger your house, the bigger your car, and the bigger your food, the more successful you are and the more you have triumphed over uncivilized socialism or something.
It's as though large portions are some kind of trophy for your cleverness or success.
Of course, this is a mindless rant because when it comes down to it, I, like everyone, am ultimately and solely responsible for what goes into my mouth, and no unseen capitalistic hand was driving continually into that popcorn. That was MY hand. *I* chose to get the damn thing layered with "topping". So I guess I just have to take note of how physically crappy it made me feel, forgive myself, and get back on the bandwagon!
[/end rant]
Mmm... movie theatre popcorn...
Yes, ultimately everyone is responsible for their own intake. But still, encouraging the consumer to eat way too much of the wrong foods because its cheap to get more... sucks. That said...
Got any more popcorn? I want...
I ate the whole thing :(... I swear I was still lugging around all that hydrogenated crap in my bloodstream during my jog today and it weighed me down!!
Junk should be like alcohol. They should only be allowed to serve one person so much at a time...
I remember reading somewhere that all movie theater's are going to offer fruits vegetables and more healthy options in the future, not really sure when though. That alongside with them posting all their calorie counts on the menu.
The movie theater by me has a starbucks, so I usually treat myself to a skinny latte. The popcorn doesn't really interest me anyway, I hardly ever have it at home. I don't care for salty things especially things drenched in butter (eeeww). Though I do miss the days when I could down a whole movie sized bag of reeses pieces & M&M's. :)
Sorry about your movie experience...it happens to the best of us! This is the very reason why I can never walk down the ice cream isle, if I dare see my favorite ice cream available the whole pint will be gone by next morning! 
I havent been to the movies in forever but I used to be frustrated with the prices more than portion sizes. I just stopped eating anything there at all. I mean, it is a couple of hours at most usually so we could go out for something afterward or just go home.
I'm totally a salty/savoury person so I'm always tempted by movie popcorn. And re: the prices, I always rationalize it by considering that if I go out for thai food, or pizza, or any other relatively cheap/fast dinner, I'll probably spent at least $7 anyhow. So the popcorn is like a meal in itself (it certainly has enough calories :P ) .. I won't feel like dinner after the popcorn, that's for sure.
not the best meal replacement, but at least dollar wise I can justify it
I concur. But I think from a consumer's standpoint, we like to think we're getting more value for our money so it is ultimately a whole mindset that isn't necessarily about food. If I can get 25 towels for $100 or 10 of the same towels for $100 I want the 25, even if I have no use for 25 towels or space to store 25 towels. It is ridiculous. I think you could almost blame it on places like Sams and Costco where you can get a million rolls of toilet paper for like 12 cents. Right? :)
For years and years I have only gotten the 'kid's pack.' I love it! For me, I'll never eat the whole bucket anyway so it always pissed me off to spend 7 - 8 when I can get the kid's pack for $5 and it includes a small drink and a teeeeeny weeeeeny candy. (usually fruit snacks actually). It is a waste issue to me. I know I won't eat it and then I have to throw the excess away or feed it to squirrels or whatever. And that just pisses me off.
