I love going to the movies this time of year (just went to see Blind Spot). And, well, movies just aren’t movies (for me, anyway) without popcorn. But, have you seen the latest calorie counts from CSPI? They’re pretty scary (read below)…then again, so are the prices for popcorn. So, if I stop eating popcorn at the theatre, will it be because the calories or the price? Hmmm.

CSPI (Centers for Science in the Public Interest) just released their analysis of popcorn at the three top movie theatre chains. Regal and AMC both use coconut oil, a highly saturated (unhealthy) fat. Cinemark is now using a much healthier oil – canola.

 According to CSPI:
  • Regal’s medium and large popcorn has 1,200 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat. Ya, I know…I was shocked, too, but supposedly they are the same size…it’s just that the large comes with a free refill. Its small size popcorn has 670 calories and 34 grams of saturated fat.
  • AMC’s large popcorn has 1,030 calories and 57 grams of saturated fat. The medium has 590 calories and 33 grams of saturated fat. A small has 370 calories and 20 grams of saturated fat
  • Cinemark’s large has 910 calories and 4 grams of saturated fat. the medium contains 760 calories and 3 grams of saturated fat. A small has 420 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat. 
  • Just one tablespoon of “buttery” oil topping adds 130 calories.

To read more on their website, click here.