6 Healthier Alternatives to Movie Popcorn

By Yumi Sakugawa, Intent.com

Recent studies have shown that eating a medium-sized bag of buttered popcorn with soda at the movies is pretty bad for you. Just how bad exactly? According to an article published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “You MAY be eating three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with 12 pats of butter while watching a movie–that food is nutritionally comparable to what you’d find in a medium popcorn and soda combo at Regal, the country’s biggest movie theater chain: 1,610 calories and three days’ worth–60 grams–of saturated fat.”

Yikes.

What about microwavable popcorn? Not the best alternative. According to this Care2 article, the chemical coating found in microwavable popcorn bags breaks down into a substance called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), which has been labeled by the Environmental Protection Agency as a “likely carcinogen.”

What should we do when we want to watch a movie and get our munchie fix without setting ourselves up for future obesity or heart failures? We’re not saying you should give up popcorn and movies forever–but we do suggest considering these five healthier alternatives to popcorn the next time you are vegging in front of the big screen.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Debbie C.

7:03AM PDT on Apr 5, 2012

We don't go to the movies. We would rather be comfortable in our own home. It's not crowded, and we can put on our P.J.s if we want to!!!

We rent a couple of DVD's on Saturday (It is our "Date night"). We like chips and dip, grapes, apple slices with peanut butter, or microwave popcorn.

send a green star

Erica R.

7:54AM PDT on Apr 1, 2012

I don't go to the movies much as I find it easier and cheaper to wait for anything I want to come out on DVD. When it does, my favorite snack is to get some frozen edemame, nuke them, and then season them with a little salt and pepper.

Ruth P.

4:30AM PST on Mar 7, 2012

This article is unintentionally hilarious.

Lika S.

12:13AM PST on Mar 6, 2012

Okay, excuse me, but, if you are at the movies, what other choices do we have? I'm sorry but none of these other choices are available at my local movie theater, and if they were to catch us bringing those in, we are likely to get kicked out by the movie nazis for breaking the rules about not bringing anything in...

When we are at home, we don't have access to movie popcorn. I make my own guacamole, with baked chips, thank you.

Charity B.

11:55AM PST on Mar 5, 2012

Sorry, nothing fulfills my popcorn craving but popcorn. But, I have two microwave poppers that do not have the chemicals. I buy white hull-less popcorn in the grocery store and you can add as much or little butter and salt as you wish.

Samantha M.

3:35PM PST on Mar 4, 2012

thanks!

scarlett g.

12:01PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

COME ON!! don,t be a spoilsport.....one doesn,t sit around scarfing pop corn on a daily basis

Everything in moderation works too!!!

C.M P.

9:57AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

These are fine if you are watching a movie at home, but I do not think one would be able to sneak these into a movie theatre...

Jim R.

12:04AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

I love popcorn!