Can someone please explain popcorn?

So... The Orville Redenbacher mini bags are only 100 calories... But why are the SmartPop popcorn over 100 calories and contain less popcorn (the snack bag popcorn that comes in white cheddar flavor)? Can a mini bag of popcorn really be 100 calories? o.O Seems almost too good to be true.

Yeah it can, but if you really want a whole boatload of popcorn for 100 or so calories, get an airpopper.  I just bought one and I may be trying it for the first time tomorrow (popcorn for breakfast sounds lovely).  From what I hear the calorie content in air popped popcorn is pretty low.....

The SmartPop has cheese on it.  That ups the calories way over the Orville Redenbacher mini bags (I love this stuff :)).

yay good to know =) thanks

I looked at my Orville Redenbachers "100 calorie bags" package and the nutrition label said 1 bag is actually 110 calories. Not a big difference, I guess it's just convenient for them to call it a 100-calorie bag.

I use my airpopper for my popcorn.  I also use a little olive oil spray instead of  butter.  It cuts out a lot of calories, and is tasty.  It doesn't taste the same as yummy buttery popcorn, but its a good substitute. 

Original Post by swna1001:

I looked at my Orville Redenbachers "100 calorie bags" package and the nutrition label said 1 bag is actually 110 calories. Not a big difference, I guess it's just convenient for them to call it a 100-calorie bag.

 It's 110 before popping.  After popping it is 100 calories.  I don't know why the 10 calories go away, but they do.....

I love that popcorn. I eat it probably 4 times a week.

the calories go away because you never pop all the popcorn in a bag! all those kernels at the bottom = calories you're not eating.

Original Post by swna1001:

I looked at my Orville Redenbachers "100 calorie bags" package and the nutrition label said 1 bag is actually 110 calories. Not a big difference, I guess it's just convenient for them to call it a 100-calorie bag.

The 110 is for the popcorn unpopped -- it is only 100 for the popcorn once it is popped -- it is more because of the small amount of fats+water in the bag before popping.  The popping changes the popcorn and the fats.  If you get out your magnifying glass you can read the small print on the box:

cals.........fat gram........total carbs........fiber.......protein

Unpopped    110........2.0g...................24g........ ........4g.............3g

Popped       100........1.5g...................23g........ ........3g.............3g

If you don't have an airpopper, you can pop your own popcorn without any oil by putting the dry kernels in the bottom of a small (lunch size) brown paper bag and putting it in the microwave for about 3 minutes.

Times on the microwave vary, so just keep a watch on it as the popping starts to really slow down, check on it.  Once you know the right amount of time for your microwave, you can adjust accordingly in the future.

You can add spray butter, salt, etc. if you'd like, but I like mine plain.