Making Healthier Choices at the Movie Theater

When many of us go to the movie theater, we often enjoy snacking during the movie. Unfortunately, you may not realize exactly how unhealthy many of the movie theater snacks that are made available to you are. Luckily, there are a number of different things that you can do in order to make healthier choices at the movie theater.

Avoid that Delicious Tub of Buttery Popcorn

Even though popcorn can be both buttery and delicious, the truth is that it is worse for you than you probably thought. A large tub of popcorn contains about 70 grams of fat and between 1,000 to 1,500 calories, depending on how much butter has been added. Though you may not know it, this is equal to more than four McDonald's cheeseburgers! When you ask for extra butter, you are only increasing the amount of fat and calories that your popcorn contains. The best way to walk away from the movie theater feeling guilt free is to avoid getting popcorn at all. If you cannot resist the temptation, however, there are several things that you can do in order to reduce the amount of fat and calories which you are consuming. One of these things is to opt for no butter - which you may not want to do, as it is not very tasty. Another one of these things that you can do is order a smaller portion, even if you are going to be sharing it with someone else.

Candy is Not Always the Healthiest Option Either

Depending on what type of candy you get when you go to the movie theater, it is not the healthiest option either. On average, a box of candy from the movie theater has between 400-450 calories. This is actually a lot less than the amount of calories that can be found in popcorn, though much more sugar can be found in candy, of course. If you want to eat candy at the movie theater, the healthiest way to go about doing so is limiting yourself. Though it may be pretty tempting, it is in your best interest to not eat the entire box of candy.

Consider Ordering Nachos With Cheese Instead

If you enjoy nachos with cheese, you may want to consider opting for this movie theater snack choice instead of popcorn. There are a few main reasons that this is a healthier choice. One of the main reasons is because tortilla chips, which are often the type of chips that you will be given when you order nachos with cheese, are a lot healthier than popcorn or candy - though there is no doubt that the nacho cheese can be very fattening. The biggest reason that nachos with cheese are a healthier choice is because the portion sizes are not so large. Even the largest size of nachos with cheese is usually a lot smaller in portion than the size of a small popcorn.

Choose a Water Bottle Instead of Soda

With all of the calories that you will be consuming from your tub of popcorn, nachos with cheese, candy or anything else that you choose to order at the movie theater, you probably do not want to add even more calories to your daily intake by drinking soda. As it is, depending on your height, weight and gender, a 1,500 calorie tub of popcorn is probably already over your daily calorie requirement. If you want to cut down on the amount of calories that you will be consuming at the movie theater, you may want to consider getting a water bottle rather than soda.

Don't Order the Value Combo

Most people order the value combo at the movie theater because the prices are very reasonable. The main thing that you need to ask yourself is if you are really going to want to eat all that food. Sure, a box of candy may look appealing for only a dollar more, rather than four dollars, but do you really need it? If you do decide to order the value combo, you may want to put the box of candy in your purse for another time instead of eating it right then and there when you probably will feel full after eating popcorn.

Think About the High Cost of Movie Theater Snacks

The high cost of movie theater snacks is enough to discourage many of us from buying them at all. In many cases, the cost of movie theater snacks is actually a lot higher than the cost of the actual movie. The healthiest thing for your body, and probably the best thing for your wallet, is to avoid movie theater snacks altogether.

Bring Your Own Snacks to the Movie Theater

One of the best ways to eat healthy at the movie theater is to bring your own healthy snacks. Whether you choose to bring carrot sticks, celery, grapes, graham crackers or anything else that you enjoy, you can help out both your diet and your wallet. Keep in mind that many movie theaters do have a policy which says that you cannot bring your own food or drink into the theater. If you want to break this rule, the best way is to bring a large purse where you can easily hide your own food. If you are not the type of person who enjoys breaking rules, you may want to think about eating a snack or meal before you go to the movie theater so that you're not hungry while you are at the movie!