Perfect Treat for the Perfect Movie

When going to the movie theater, most people like to snack on some foods while watching their movie. Movie theatres tempt their costumers, since movie theaters actually make more money from their concession stand than money from admissions. There are lots of different types of candy and all kinds of food sold at the concession stand. The snacks often featured at most movie theaters are pop-corn, usually saturated with a butter substitute, hotdogs, nachos with cheese, soft pretzels, cotton candy, Junior Mints, Milk Duds, Raisinets, Gummy Bears, , Twizzlers, M&Ms, Skittles, Reese’s Pieces, Starburst, Sour Patch Kids, and more. But of all those foods to choose from, which ones are the healthiest and which ones have the most calories and amount of fat?

All of the foods at the movie theatre are somewhat unhealthy, but there is a way to manage it. The most unhealthy food, by virtue of number of calories and fat is a large buttered popcorn with 1500 calories and 116g fat per 170 oz bucket. The most unhealthy candy is a crowd favorite, Reese’s Pieces, with 1200 calories and 60g of fat per 8oz box. Not far behind is the large, 4 oz nachos with cheese, coming in with 1101 calories and 59g of fat. Portion size adds to the poor nutrition. At movie theatres they super size everything for you. The popcorn buckets are enormous, and the drinks are often 32 ounces or more. If you want to snack on something at the movies, get it in a reasonable size. Also be nice and share your snacks with others so you yourself don’t eat too much. The foods that you eat at a movie theatre can be called “sometimes foods”, foods to eat occasionally. They are clearly not “everyday foods”. If you eat the buttered popcorn, eat something healthier for the rest of the day since you have easily filled your daily required intake for fat with a bucket of buttered popcorn. Enjoy your fatty, sugary food while watching your movie, but just make sure you eat your fruits and vegetables. Enjoy a snack occasionally, but compensate that day or the next for your candy and popcorn choices.

If you are looking for a fool-proof way to compensate for movie snack choices, consider eating something at home before you go to the movies. Eat a healthy snack before you leave so you aren’t as hungry when you get to the movie theatre. You won’t be as tempted to eat as much. Or, choose a sometimes food and a healthy food at the movies. Instead of a Coke with your popcorn, choose water. If you want to stay healthy, but get a little sweet in your diet, you could try apples with caramel dipping sauce. Most movie theatres won’t let you bring food or drinks from home into the theatre, but if they do, you could bring along your own healthy snack from home. There’s nothing wrong with having a little treat once in a while. When you’re at the movies go ahead and buy yourself a little snack, but don’t forget to get it in a reasonable size, share it with others, get rid of eating other unhealthy foods for the rest of the day, and enjoy a nutritional snack before you leave to see the show.