One cup of air-popped popcorn only has 31 calories and less than 1 percent fat, making it a healthy snack. This fact can be mislead you into ordering popcorn at a movie theater. Movie theater popcorn is very unhealthy. With an excessive amount of calories and saturated fat, you might want to eat before you go to the movies instead.
Calories
Regal, the largest movie theater chain in the United States, claims that there are 720 calories in a medium-sized popcorn and 960 calories in a large. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said it tested Regal's popcorn and found that the numbers were closer to 1,200 calories for each size, as the large only looked larger due to its container. Even the small size contains an excessive amount of calories, with 670 calories. The reason for these high numbers is the coconut oil most theater popcorn is made with. CSPI explains that these numbers are without the "butter" topping added, which gives 130 calories more for each tablespoon.
Saturated Fat
Both the medium and large sizes contained a whopping 60 g of saturated fat in CSPI's research. The small size had 34 g of saturated fat. For a 2,000 calorie diet, you should consume no more than 20 g of saturated fat each day, according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As you can see, movie theater popcorn is well over that amount. The medium and large sizes contain three days worth of saturated fat, and that is without the "butter" topping that can add up to 9 g of saturated fat for every tablespoon.
Nutrients
Your movie theater popcorn does not provide a significant amount of any healthy nutrients, as one cup of popcorn has less than 1 percent daily value of most vitamins and minerals. The most significant nutrients it provides are fiber with 4.6 percent DV, protein with 2.1 percent DV, phosphorus at 2.9 percent DV and manganese at 4.5 percent DV. These numbers are without the coconut oil and "butter" topping.
Considerations
The Center for Science in the Public Interest explains that each movie theater company has different nutrition levels regarding popcorn, although the major chains all seem to have negatives in one way or another. Cinemark theaters pop their popcorn in canola oil instead of coconut oil, so it only has 4 g of saturated fat in a large serving. However, it still contains 910 calories and more sodium than the other companies, at 1,500 mg.
Alternatives
Unfortunately, the other food options at movie theaters are not much better than the popcorn. The candy is sold in excessive portions which are easy to eat during a two-hour movie. CSPI notes that the 5 oz bag of Twizzlers you find at a theater has 460 calories and 16 tsp. sugar and an 8 oz. bag of Reese's Pieces contains 1,160 calories and 35 g saturated fat. Your best bet is probably to eat before you go to a movie.
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