Movie Theater Popcorn Nutritional Information

A large tub of movie theater popcorn is the perfect snack to enhance your enjoyment of the latest box office thriller. Popcorn, removed of added fat and salt, is in itself a healthy, nutritious snack. However, a 2009 report issued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, suggests that the number of calories and amount of saturated fat in movie theater popcorn can be even scarier than what you see on the screen.

Popcorn Nutrition Basics

Popcorn gets a thumbs up from the American Dietetic Association as a nutritious snack. One serving, or three cups of popped popcorn, contains around 93 calories, if air-popped. Popcorn lightly popped in oil has slightly more calories, around 165 per serving. Popcorn, a whole grain, is rich in fiber and a good source of complex carbohydrates. However, the popcorn served in movie theaters is anything but a nutritious snack, notes the CSPI.

Calories and Fat

In November 2009, the CSPI released findings of a study conducted on popcorn served in three major movie theater chains. The study found that the medium- and large-sized popcorn in one major chain had 1,200 calories and 60 g saturated fat, due to the snack being popped in coconut oil -- an oil notorious for being rich in saturated fat. According to the CSPI, you'd get the same alarming number of calories and fat if you ate three large fast-food burgers with 12 additional pats of butter. Yet another movie theater chain that came under the CSPI's scrutiny served smaller popcorn portions -- but the numbers still weren't impressive. A large tub of popcorn contained 1,030 calories and 57 g saturated fat, while the medium-sized tub contained 590 calories and 33 g saturated fat.

"Healthier" Choices

Movie theater popcorn popped in canola oil is slightly less threatening to your arteries. According to CSPI, one movie theater chain that popped its corn in canola oil served a large-sized popcorn that had 910 calories and only 4 g saturated fat and a medium-sized tub that contained 760 calories and 3 g saturated fat. However, although far lower in saturated fat, the CSPI points out that servings were still very high in calories. And they also contained 1,500 mg sodium. According to the American Heart Association, you should limit your sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg a day.

Conclusions

A November 2009 New York Times article summed up the CSPI's conclusions, noting that air-popped popcorn is indeed a nutritious, low-calorie snack when consumed in the right portions. However, the coconut oil in which most movie theater popcorn is popped, as well as the giant portion sizes -- which can make up 75 percent of your allotted daily calories -- turns this healthful treat into an ill-fated indulgence.

Keep It Healthy

If you're keeping an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels or just your waistline, the CSPI suggests bringing your own air-popped treat to the theater. If you're adverse to sneaking in food, ask management to switch to the air-popped variety or request that your portion be popped in liquid corn oil. Hold the salt -- you'll save yourself from 207 to 378 mg of unneeded sodium. Alternatively, you can simply opt to enjoy your film without eating a snack.