Some of your favorite movie theater snacks could be detrimental to your good health.
Adapted from an article by O2 Max
Now that the marching band off-season is in full swing for many of you, you may find yourself with slightly more leisure time on the weekends. And, of course, going to the movies is a popular activity.
However, as you catch up on the Oscar winners and look forward to this summer’s blockbusters, we encourage you to consider moderation when hitting the concessions.
Before taking your seats, you may be tempted to glance over the wide array of snacks, including, but not limited to, popcorn, candy, sodas, hot dogs, nachos and a whole lot more. But those very snacks can be quite harmful to your body.
Analyzing Popcorn
Popcorn, one of the more popular movie snacks, is low in calories and high in fiber when it’s air popped at your home. However, popcorn served in movie theaters becomes a greasy mess!
Despite efforts by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) to get movie theaters to switch to healthier oils, most still use the unhealthier oils because they are cheaper and give the popcorn more flavor. Because of this fact, one large bucket of popcorn averages 100 grams of fat with 1,300 calories (almost a day’s worth for most dieters).
Although the larger buckets of popcorn may seem like a great deal, it isn’t worth the amount of calories and fat your body will take on. Stick to the child-sized buckets of popcorn. While still unhealthy, a smaller portion will be less harmful.
Trying Alternatives?
Even though most theaters prohibit outside food, bringing your own snacks could be one way to eat healthy while watching a movie.
You could bring bottled water, trail mix, string cheese, dry cereal, baked chips or any number of other healthy snacks.
Or save yourself the trouble and eat before you go to the movies, eliminating the temptation to visit the concessions stand.
Going to the movies is a fun experience, but is it really worth adding inches to your waistline? Next time you go to the movies, think before you snack!
About the Author
Karen Jashinsky is the founder/CEO of O2 MAX, a fitness club for teens, in Santa Monica, Calif. Karen is a certified fitness trainer and earned her MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in 2006. For more information about O2 MAX, visit www.O2maxfitness.com.
