There's nothing like going to the movie
theater and paying for a box of movie snacks that cost as much as
dinner for two at a restaurant; it's just part of the movie theater
experience. Unfortunately, the high prices of movie snacks aren't the
only problem - most of these foods being offered at the concession stand
are loaded with sugar, saturated fat and calories. If you were ever
curious about how many calories you consume whenever you head to the
theater to catch a flick, let this list of the 5 worst movie snacks give
you an idea:
1. Buttered Popcorn
Have you ever wondered what the total calories were in a medium or
large bag of popcorn? Studies and surveys have shown that a whopping
1,200 calories can be found on average in a large bag of popcorn from
major movie theater chains. To top it off as one of the worst movie
snack foods, adding pumps of butter can easily bump that 1,200 closer to
1,500 calories. That's ridiculously close to the 2,000 calories
recommended for the average person, just from a bag of popcorn!
To make matters worse, the Center for Science in the Public Interest
(CSPI) found 60 grams of saturated fat in one movie chain's medium bag
of popcorn, which is roughly three days' worth of saturated fat in
something that isn't even considered a meal. The center attributed the
high saturated fat content to the coconut oil being used to cook the
popcorn. Stacked with the butter, salt and high calorie content, a bag
of popcorn can bring you one step closer to a heart attack or stroke.
2. Nachos with Cheese
Many movie theaters offer larger snack items that can be looked at as
meal alternatives for those looking for something heavier to munch on.
The problem is most of these foods have no real nutritional value, and
are only being sold to make a profit. Movie nachos are a prime example
of just how bad movie snacks can be. With generic chips and a molten,
yellow liquid that is supposed to pass for cheese, you can expect to
find close to 1400 calories in one serving. Add a soda, and maybe a
small bag of popcorn or candy, and you've got a day's worth of calories
just from one trip to the movies. That definitely crosses nachos with
cheese off of the healthy movie snacks list.
3. Reese's Pieces
Many people love the delectable, chocolate covered peanut butter with
the candy coated shell that makes up a bag of Reese's Pieces, but that
little bag of candy has enough calories to make up an entire meal. In
the same study as the calorie content of movie popcorn, CSPI found that
eating an eight ounce bag of Reese's Pieces was equivalent to eating a
16 ounce steak with a baked potato on the side. Wouldn't you rather
enjoy the steak and potato instead of a little bag of candy?
4. Hot Dog
The hot dog is quite common at just about every entertainment venue, from the ballpark
to the movie theater. They require little to no cooking experience to
make and only require two ingredients: a hot dog and the bun. Out of all
the movie snacks available at most theaters, hot dogs are the only real
substitute for a meal as they offer protein and aren't entirely based
on carbs. While the calories aren't as bad as you would think after
reading this list (movie hot dogs average about 300 to 600 calories on
average), it's the lack of healthy options that make them such a bad
choice for a movie snack. Most theaters only offer one size, with one
type of bun and one type of meat. There's no whole grain bun or vegetarian
hot dog to choose from. Plus, there's still a chance that the hot dog
contains monosodium glutamate (MSG), which can increase a person's risk
of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
5. Large Soda
A large soda is the most common beverage at the movie theater, and
has just as many calories as a small meal at roughly 500. The 132 grams
of sugar are no laughing matter either. While most people are well aware
of the health risks associated with this sugary, calorie-filled
beverage, it remains a mystery why so many are willing to partake in a
movie theater setting. Again, it is a part of the phenomenon of the
movie theater experience, the same as shoveling loads of popcorn into
your mouth, even when you're full.
