Popcorn Breakdown

Popcorn is delicious, satisfying, crunchy, and fun to eat.  It's nature's snack food.

There are so many different ways to make and flavor popcorn, but unfortunately, some of those tasty methods turn this healthy snack into one loaded with sugar and sodium.

So let's look at the nutritional breakdown of 1 cup of each to see how they compare.

Want to see, then

Air popped popcorn:  31 calories, 0g fat, 1mg sodium, 6g carbs, 0g sugar

Stove-top with oil & salt:  55 calories, 3g fat, 97mg sodium, 6g carbs, 0g sugar

Orville Redenbacher's Microwave popcorn (ultimate butter):  55 calories, 3g fat, 40mg sodium, 3g carbs, 0g sugar

Orville Redenbacher's Microwave popcorn (light, butter):  40 calories, 1g fat, 35mg sodium, 4g carbs, 0g sugar

Newman's Own Organics Microwave popcorn (butter):  46 calories, 2.6g fat, 54mg sodium, 4.9g carbs, 0g sugar

Popcorn Indiana Kettle corn:  60 calories, 1.8g fat, 48mg sodium, 11g carbs, 5.5g sugar

Movie theater popcorn with butter:  83 calories, 7g fat, -, 4g carbs, -

Smartfood (cheddar cheese flavored):  162 calories, 10g fat, 294mg sodium, 14.2g carbs, 3g sugar

Cracker Jack with peanuts:  240 calories, 4g fat, 140mg sodium, 46g carbs, 30g sugar

Crunch and Munch (buttery toffee with peanuts):  128 calories, 4.6g fat, 147mg sodium, 21g carbs, 12g sugar

Poppycock (cashew lovers):  280 calories, 12g fat, 180mg sodium, 42g carbs, 24g sugar

Fiddle Faddle (Honey nut):  260 calories, 7g fat, 480mg sodium, 48g carbs, 30g sugar

Caramel Corn:  243 calories, 12g fat, 357mg sodium, 34g carbs, 26g sugar

Fit's Tips:  The sodium and sugar content of movie theater popcorn was impossible to find, so that makes me think it's even worse than I imagine.  So the next time you go to the movies, forget about buying over-priced, unhealthy snacks — why not bring your own?  I always pop my own popcorn and bring it along in my purse with a water bottle.  That way I won't be tempted to buy the movie theater popcorn when I smell the fake, yet mesmerizing, buttery aroma.  I also like to pack some dark chocolate, almonds and dried cranberries.

Since movie theaters make most of their profits by selling overpriced snacks, you gotta keep your homemade treats on the down low.  Wait until the lights go dim before enjoying your tasty snacks.

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