The Summer Movie Experience: Which Snacks Are The Healthier Choice?

The Summer Movie Experience: Which Snacks Are The Healthier Choice?

Memorial Day weekend heralded summer, and many of us plan on going to movies. To keep your waistline in check and not blow your hard work getting in shape for the season, SignatureMD found some eye opening information on the caloric landmines that await you at the theater concession stands.

Movie popcorn is often stale, as concession managers can pop the corn off-site or buy it ready-popped, but they have, mainly for show, popcorn poppers going when people are coming in through the door. The chemically enhanced smell is the trigger for people to stand in those long lines. AMC and Regal, two of the largest movie chains, use coconut oil to pop their corn, which is why the fat content is so high.

You may ask: is it okay to sneak snacks into the movies? This is a grey area, as theaters make money on their overpriced offerings and would prefer you purchase them once in the venue. It’s not surprising that movie theaters forbid outside food: Concessions are their single biggest revenue stream, says Professor Richard McKenzie, author of “Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies and Other Pricing Puzzles”.

All the sale-able snacks and sodas have a very high profit margin.

Processed hot dogs, bright orange cheese nachos, and corn syrup–laden sodas are sad choices for almost everyone. Many people must resort to bringing their own healthy options, especially diabetics or those with weight issues. There is, though, some common sense in smuggling in your own snacks. Do not be disruptive, and avoid hot foods with stronger odors. For those bringing in their own popcorn, pack your popcorn in a small plastic container and take your refuse with you. Bring a bar of organic dark chocolate so you can have a few squares to share and sate the sweet tooth.

As you can see below in the calorie tally, the notion that a business can dictate an unhealthy menu or offerings that are inferior or not allowable for those with allergies (gluten) is ludicrous. As long as you are discreet, a large purse can house a box of raisins, bottled water, and healthier food choices. These are all perfectly fine, especially if you are considerate and manage your trash by not leaving it behind.

Now if you throw caution to the wind and wish to snack on those concession goodies, SignatureMD has compiled a list of common movie theater food items along with their respective caloric damage. Bottom line? Movie snacks are high in calories, bad fat, sodium and more. Without mincing words, they will make you fat.

Large Buttered Popcorn with Butter is equivalent to 4.5 cheeseburgers. That’s over 1500 calories or 116 grams of fat!

Medium Buttered Popcorn is 910 calories and 71 grams of fat.

Small buttered popcorn is 630 calories and 50 grams of fat.

Reese’s Pieces (8 ounces) is equivalent to 26 slices of bacon at 1200 calories.

Large Coca Cola is 10.8 tablespoons of sugar at 521 calories.

Peanut M&M’s has 763 calories and 40 grams of fat.

Twizzlers (6 ounces) 567 calories and a mere 4 grams of fat.

Goobers (3.5 ounces) 508 calories and 34 grams of fat.

Raisinets (3.5 ounces) 380 calories and 16 grams of fat.

Skittles (6.75 ounces) have 765 calories and 16 grams of fat.

Best in-house purchase choices:

Small popcorn, hold the butter.

Junior Mints 360 calories and 7 grams of fat.

Mike & Ike Candy 320 calories and 0 grams fat.

 

Source(s)

I. http://diettogo.com/blog/scary-truth-about-movie-theater-snacks-infographic

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