Movie theater Popcorn

Hey guys...I need some help. I am thinking of taking the kids to see a matinee...which means i will be encountering the snack bar.  Anybody have any idea the calories in movie theater popcorn?  Don't wanna blow it but geez its hard to avoid that popcorn, maybe it would help if I knew what I was up against. There isn't anything on this in the browser or at least not that I could find.

THANKS!!!

calorieking.com has info about movie theater popcorn.  Even without butter, it seems pretty high.  

That is a major danger zone. I hadn't had movie theater popcorn for years and finally had some again two weeks ago. Lets just say I felt in heaven while I was downing it but sick as a dog afterwards. It's hard to have self control when you are mindlessly munching on the stuff during the flick.

I've read that a small with butter is around 600 calories and 47 grams fat, but it will vary from place to place like everything else. I guess that the calories aren't too bad if it's a rare treat, but the fat content is enough to clog anyones arteries.. ;).

OMG!  That is a huge part of daily calories. So...hmmm... If I don't eat much else today.....besides the popcorn (small w/o butter) and I come in under my cal. count. , Is that acceptable?

I don't recommend you taking up most of your cals for a day with just popcorn - it's supposed to be a snack, not the main source of your nutrition for the day.

You would be better off taking a roomy purse and taking your own snacks (baggies of pretzels, dry cereal, whole wheat crackers, healthy popcorn, etc.).

Roughly 60-80 calories per CUP.  Lots of fat and sodium, too,.

We have gotten to the point where we don't buy any snacks at the theater.  I made the decision that it encourages mindless snacking.  We watch the film, and then can eat air popped corn at home while talking about it. 

Original Post by hoping975:

OMG! That is a huge part of daily calories. So...hmmm... If I don't eat much else today.....besides the popcorn (small w/o butter) and I come in under my cal. count. , Is that acceptable?

Well, without butter, the caloric values would be much less. I'd look it up. If you had room in your daily allotment and have done a fairly good job at getting all of your nutrients and whatnot, I don't see a problem with that.

I mean, you have to live a little. If it's a rare treat that will be worth it to you, go for it! Enjoy.

yeah u are all pretty much (totally) right. I think I needed a kick in the butt so I would land back in reality. LOL. I think I will do the smuggle in thing  so I won't be tempted to "share" with kids.  That and a diet coke should make it less torture. I wonder if all of us who are trying to be more healthy started a petition or something if the theaters would help us out?  Dare to dream huh? LOL

I just looked up no butter...400 cal. for a small. Wonder if that is accurate?  Wouldn't that be great if it is. I mean it is still on the high side but not to horrible for a treat.  Maybe i don't have to smuggle afterall. I have 600 cal so far today. Special K w/ 1% milk, turkey sandwich, baby carrots and FF ranch dip. So I am doing deecnt on nutrition .. I think.  What do u guys think?

oh how i love movie theater snacks!! they make me so happy :)

i know this sounds counter intuitive, but i usually buy a box of chocolate snacks at the movies, heres why- when i have popcorn, i mindlessly stuff my face and dont even really enjoy the popcorn while i am eating it.  i also convince myself that its mostly air and i dont feel so guilty eating it, when i am probably consuming 600 cals

but if i get a box of candy (i love the nestle bunch a crunch) i savor ever little tiny piece of chocolate b/c it tastes so good.  every now and then ill take a little bite of my boyfriends popcorn to give it a salty/sweet taste.  but seriously even if i ate the entire box of chocolate it would probably come out to about the same amt of calories, and i usually can only eat 1/2 a box before i feel sick of the chocolate!

LOL not counter intuitive at all kinda makes sense ...I am not sure I would have the will power to stay out of my hubby's PC if i started on it. I would mindlessly eat most his. I am so weak!!!!

Original Post by hoping975:

I just looked up no butter...400 cal. for a small. Wonder if that is accurate? Wouldn't that be great if it is. I mean it is still on the high side but not to horrible for a treat. Maybe i don't have to smuggle afterall. I have 600 cal so far today. Special K w/ 1% milk, turkey sandwich, baby carrots and FF ranch dip. So I am doing deecnt on nutrition .. I think. What do u guys think?

Pretty good, yeah. As far as your nutrition today, i'd try to get in a bit more protein and maybe a few more servings of vegetables/fruits if you can, but if not, its no biggie to not do perfect for one day. Have fun at the movies!

Stay away from ANYTHING at the movie theatre, except maybe diet coke, lol. If it's too tempting, don't go to the movies :)

Fill up on some healthy snacks ahead of time, so that you aren't even mildly hungry when you get there. And just in case you do get hungry, sneak in some food.  Almost anything is healthier than movie popcorn.  and by bringing it in with you, you will know exactly how many calories you'll be eating.

You could pop yor own at home and bring it with you?

It will be better for you and your kids and save you money :)

xXx

Eat before you go i always do then if im a bit hungry i reach over and just get enough popcorn to satisfy myself. We dont ever get butter on ours at the movies.  But here lately who can afford to go to the movies with gas so high?? We have one more free movie pass provided to us by my hubbie's employer thats the only way we can go to the movies or if its amatinee.  I take my own snacks into the theater in my purse.

Clarice

My daughter works at the local theater (she is working 12 hours today). She said that when she works the popcorn and snack counter she knows that the butter they squirt out of the machine contains about 20 grams of fat per squirt. So, one lady hollered at her when she only put three squirts in and said, no I want 20. This woman ate 400 grams of fat in one setting. Amazing.

 (Radar)

The stuff at the theaters is so bad!!!

I bring a large bag, or back pack with either home made popcorn or pretzels.  I have also been known to bring zip lock bags of veggies and/or fruit.  That way I am less tempted by the snack bar and or the items my friends or family purchased.

I would pop one of those 100-calorie bags of microwave popcorn and bring it with me.

Wow!  Bringing a bag of veggies to the movies is a great idea!  Why have I never thought of that?? 

take yourself a water bottle and 100 calorie pack.  Is that popcorn at the movie threater really WORTH IT???