Put Down the Popcorn!
A recent study shows that movie popcorn and soda can total near the total number of calories meant to be eaten in an entire day.
Movies and popcorn go together like peanut butter and jelly, or Sunny and Cher. But there is one difference: the first pairing could be a dangerous combination.
A study released by the Center for Science in the Public Interest outlines in detail the extreme unhealthiness of snacks offered at movie theaters. ABC News provided a lengthy explanation of many of the group's findings.
CSPI used the three top movie chains for their investigation. Popcorn, soda, and candy sold at cinemas under Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Theaters, and Cinemark were studied for calorie, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium content.
Regal Entertainment cinemas offer the most sizable snacks. A medium popcorn and medium soda has 1,610 calories.
"That's like eating six scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, four bacon strips, and four sausage links before the lights come up," according to authors who contributed to the study.
The numbers should be frightening for a society that has been continually warned about the dangers of obesity. Statements released by spokesman for the big three, however, indicated that consumers favor these fattening alternatives.
"We frequently test market additional concessions alternatives, including trail mix and other low-fat snacks
" Cinemark representatives said, "nonetheless, our popcorn, fountain soda, and candy offerings are by far our patrons' most popular and expected offerings."
Out of the three groups, Cinemark does provide the smallest portions and the healthiest choice of popcorn. They cook the tasty treat in canola oil as opposed to coconut oil like the other two. Even still, Cinemark's seventeen-cup buckets have 910 calories and 4 grams of saturated fat.
