Yet Another Reason To Stop Going to the Movies

The L.A. Times reports that movie theater popcorn is really, really bad for you:

A medium-sized popcorn and medium soda at the nation's largest movie chain pack the nutritional equivalent of three Quarter Pounders topped with 12 pats of butter, according to a report released today by the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The group's second look at movie theater concessions -- the last was 15 years ago -- found little had changed in a decade and a half, despite theaters' attempts to reformulate.

We typically enjoy microwave kettle corn (a bit less evil) while watching movies at home -- what do you snack on during movies?

via Consumerist.

Comments

[exploitationfan]

Makes me want to eat movie theater popcorn even more so. I enjoy eating trash popcorn while viewing trash cinema. Butter = YUM!!

[Ben]

LOL, this is not a reason to stop going to the movies, it is a reason to stop eating the popcorn.

[Fred Fredrickson]

Oh my god, I got myself a kettle popcorn maker because I just love movie theater popcorn. Netflix + popcorn maker + big screen tv + quality surround sound = BETTER than movie theater.

So here's a quick tip for anybody looking to undertake true movie theater popcorn:

1. You need a kettle cooker. I prefer the automatic ones, so your popcorn is consistent. They're selling a beginners kit at target for $100, which is the one I own, I just love it- "Waring Pro Popcorn Maker" it's in stores and on their site. It's small though, only makes 4 cups per cycle, so if you want faster cooking popcorn, get a real one.

2. Ingredients. Movie theaters try to keep this a secret: Popcorn kernels, Coconut Oil (most popcorn coconut oil comes colored yellow) I prefer flavorless coconut oil, and Flavacol. Mix all three together in the kettle to cook.

If you use the warring pro, it's 1/3 cup seeds, 1 tbsp of oil, and 1/4 tsp of flavacol.

Top with butter topping (not real butter though).

[Chris O.]

I'm a little flabbergasted that 2 of the 3 comments so far have been pro-movie popcorn. I guess what they say about America's obesity rate is true.

[CJBATX]

I'm spoiled with what I can get at the movie theater: http://www.originalalamo.com/publish/menu/downtownmenu.pdf

[Mitch]

I sent that info to Cinemark and they sent me this back.

We pop our popcorn in heart-healthy Canola oil which is the lowest in saturated fats and trans-fat free. Because of this, our large popcorn has only 3.5 grams of saturated fat. In contrast, a large popcorn prepared with coconut oil would have 60 grams of saturated fat.

[Tom]

CSPI wants everyone eating tofu, they are a front organization for people who think meat is murder.

I don't eat movie popcorn because the price is absurd.

[boss]

No problem. I won't eat the popcorn. As long as movie theatres exist I will keep going. Nothing beats watching a film projected on a big screen.

[BoB]

I'm reminded of the SNL skit in where Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest made fun of movie popcorn butter by mopping the floor with it during one of their "Don't you hate it when..." Willie & Frankie skits!

Yes, I'm showing my age!!!

[Katie Jane]

I will just keep bringing in the salmon in my sweater. Last time I had theater popcorn, it was greasy and I ended up throwing most of it away. Do you even really go to the movies anymore and buy popcorn, when the movie is over $12 a ticket? No thank you!

[John Nicholson]

look, people. the original way to make movie theater popcorn is to use white popcorn, not the yellow stuff(aka Japanese hull-less) and pop in a kettle popper with coconut oil. white coconut oil. You can get it at Walmart. the yellow coconut oil is not the same and causes a yellow tint to the popped corn. use REAL butter and lots of salt. Sea salt is the best. Why anyone would buy microwave popcorn or not use real butter or coconut oil is a mystery to me. I grew up in a movie theater family and used to make the popcorn, etc. in addition to running the projectors. Movie theater popcorn is supposed to be good and tasty. And a treat. Not some health food nonsense.

[Jenna]

I always get popcorn when I go to a movie, and I'm not about to stop now. Of course, I only go once or twice a year. At home I don't usually eat anything when watching a movie.

[Phillip]

I don't go to the movies too often but I almost always get popcorn when I do. And I have popcorn at home quite often but it's not from the microwave and my main topping for it is yeast flakes with a bit of butter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritional_yeast

[From the Right]

The absolute best popcorn is cooked in coconut oil.

[maubs]

I'm allergic to corn, and by extension, popcorn. Damn, I miss movie theater popcorn.

[david]

Movie popcorn is great. When i watch a movie at home I'm like "What is this movie missing?" "Oh, yeah, the sound of a swarm of locusts while I watch it."

[wizzack]

what in the hell does 3 cheeseburgers worth of fat look like in popcorn form? I can't even imagine this. These servings must have 2 inches of butter in the bottom.

I call BS.

[Moonchakka]

Movie theatre? WTF is a movie theatre? Oh, yeah, I think I remember those from back in the 90's.

[Thanatos]

Stop going?! Hell, that death in a bucket is the ONLY reason I go!! Give me the biggest honking bucket of popcorn they have with more butter (REAL BUTTER) than a cow can churn out in a year with enough salt to melt snow in most of Maine during a bad winter!!! And I want a 55 gallon drum size Coke to wash it all down with!! I don't give a damn about the movie.....can't hear it for my arteries clogging up anyways! VIVA LA BUTTER!!!!!!