Movie Popcorn: The Godzilla of Snacks

Popcorn during a movie is like leftover sandwiches after Thanksgiving. Sure, you don't really need to continue stuffing yourself, but doesn't it just feel right? Well, hold on to your hats -- you may never stop at the cinema snack counter again after this study from the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest.

According to CSPI's research, a medium popcorn and soda combo at Regal -- the country's biggest movie theater chain -- contains 1,610 calories and three days' worth of saturated fat. For that amount of fat and calories, you may as well scarf down three McDonald's Quarter Pounders (1,640 calories) or slam 16 pats of butter at 1,632 calories.

CSPI analyzed popcorn samples from three of the largest movie theater chains in America -- Regal, AMC and Cinemark. Out of the three, Regal and AMC fared the worst.

"Regal and AMC are our nominees for Best Supporting Actor in the Obesity Epidemic," said CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley. "Who expects about 1,500 calories and three days' worth of heart-stopping fat in a popcorn and soda combo? That's the saturated fat of a stick of butter and the calories of two sticks of butter. You might think you're getting Bambi, but you're really getting Godzilla."

While all three chains serve up a healthy heap of salt, the "healthful" difference between Cinemark and the rest can be attributed to popping popcorn in heart-healthy canola oil instead of coconut oil.

"The two largest chains use the worst possible oil -- coconut oil," said Hurley. Compared to lard, which is 40 percent saturated fatty acids, coconut oil is 90 percent, she says. Coconut oil can be healthy when used in moderation, but not when it's used to pop up a tub of popcorn.

Portion sizes at some theaters seem to also be to blame. But while buckets of popcorn look gluttonous all by their lonesome, you may be shocked to know that even a small at Regal has 670 calories -- as many calories as a Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pepperoni Pizza -- and 34 grams of saturated fat, three time as much as the pizza. If that's not enough, each squirt of extra butter adds another 130 calories.

While the healthiest of the three chains, Cinemark, has the lowest calorie count for a large -- at 910 calories and 4 grams of saturated fat -- it's also home to a whopping 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Sure, your arteries may be less likely to be clogged by the lower amount of saturated fat, but your blood pressure will probably go through the roof.

If you think you might save your waistline by heading to the candy counter instead, think again. "Reese's Pieces sold in an 8-ounce bag -- about a cup -- adds up to 1,200 calories," says Hurley. "It's essentially like eating a T-bone steak and a buttered baked potato."

So what's the answer? The go-to response may be to bring your own snacks or pop your own popcorn, but every theater CSPI called didn't allow outside drinks or food. Which means, you're kind of stuck unless you're breaking the rules.

"The answer is, no snack at the movie is good for you," Hurley said. "Don't get one."

That's easier said than done in a culture that equates a satisfying cinematic experience with the crunch of a perfectly popped kernel. So if you're really jonesing for a salty snack, make sure to ask your local theater what kind of oil they use. If it's coconut, you may want to pass, but if it's canola, convince your movie partner to split a small. It might not be as satisfying as plopping a heaping bucket of golden popped goodness on your lap, but it might be just enough to quell your craving.

For advice on what you can eat at the movies without destroying your diet, check out more from That's Fit.