Popcorn is a crunchy snack that can add to the enjoyment of your favorite movie or munched to quell hunger at work. The nutritional content of a small bag, around 3.5 cups popped, can vary widely depending on the flavor.
Do It Yourself
A mini bag of low-fat microwave popcorn contains around 165 calories, with 3.7 g of fat and 0.5 g of saturated fat. Popping your own will run you 109 calories and 1 g of fat for air-popped, or 193 calories and 11 g of fat, 2 g saturated, if you go the old-fashioned route and use an oil popper.
Commercial Snacks
The same volume of prepopped cheese-flavored popcorn will net you 203 calories, 13 g of fat, with 2.5 g of that saturated. Caramel-coated popcorn with peanuts clocks in at a whopping 599 calories, 12 g of fat, and 2 g of saturated fat for the same serving size.
Extras
If you do choose to pop your own, be careful about adding too much butter. Each tablespoon of melted butter brings 102 calories, 12 g of fat, and 7 g of saturated fat to the party.
References
- The Calorie Counter: Calories in Popcorn
- The Calorie Counter: Calories in Snacks (oil-popped)
- The Calorie Counter: Calories in Snacks (air-popped)
- The Calorie Counter: Calories in Snacks (cheese flavor)
- The Calorie Counter: Calories in Snacks (caramel with peanuts)
- MyFitnessPal: Calories in Butter - Salted
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