For a TV night, choose popcorn based on the portion you weigh out and how it’s prepared, rather than assuming that light, fluffy popcorn is low in calories. According to the European Commission, the nutrition claim ‘low calorie’ can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g; a small portion doesn’t change this limit for the product. Loose popcorn kernels give you more control over added ingredients, while microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn need less preparation.
To find out how much energy is in your own bowl, weigh your portion and check the nutritional information for the exact product. Voedingscentrum gives 154 kcal for a generic 40 g bowl; before choosing, check the label on the popcorn you’re buying too.
Loose popcorn kernels are a good choice if you want to decide how much corn to use and what to add, and don’t mind preparing it yourself. Remember to include any ingredients you add during preparation when calculating the nutritional value of the dried corn.
If you want to keep preparation to a minimum, compare ready-to-eat popcorn with microwave popcorn. Be sure to distinguish between a portion, the whole pack and a bag that still needs to be cooked.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in your portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the amount for the weight you’re serving. Voedingscentrum gives 154 kcal for a 40 g reference bowl. | If I want to keep track of my portion during a film, I look at both its weight and energy value. Around 42% of consumers prioritise the energy in a portion. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat, needs to go in the microwave or is made from loose kernels. Follow the instructions on the pack for microwave popcorn. | If I want to do as little as possible before the film starts, the preparation method is key. Around 25% of consumers make convenience their first-choice criterion. |
| Sweet or savoury flavour | Compare varieties by weight. Jumbo lists 406 kcal and 48.6 g of sugars per 100 g for its sweet popcorn, compared with 481 kcal per 100 g for the salted variety. | If I’m mainly looking for a sweet or savoury flavour, I want to compare options within that flavour category. Around 17% of consumers prioritise taste. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack. AH Organic Popcorn Maize may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. | If I want to choose which ingredients to add myself, the ingredients list matters. Around 16% of consumers prioritise control over what goes into their food. |
A smaller portion contains less popcorn, but it doesn’t make the product eligible for the nutrition claim. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to carry the claim ‘low calorie’.
Calculate the energy in your weighed portion, rather than using the product claim as a substitute for that calculation.
Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn is sold as three 90 g bags; the product information also gives a 30 g portion. A cooking bag and a serving portion aren’t the same thing.
Decide how many portions you want to serve before cooking, then compare the nutritional information on the same basis.
For the Jumbo varieties reviewed, the sweet popcorn contains less energy per 100 g than the salted variety, but also has 48.6 g of sugars per 100 g. This applies to these specific products and isn’t a general rule for all popcorn.
Compare the nutritional information for the exact varieties, using the same weight, and choose based on what matters to you.
The nutritional information for dried corn doesn’t automatically reflect the finished snack. The pan-cooking method described by AH uses oil.
Calculate the energy for the whole recipe and the portions you actually serve.
For the pan-cooking method described, you’ll need vegetable oil as well as the corn. Remember to include all the ingredients in your preparation.
Relevant AH products include ready-to-eat salted popcorn, salted microwave popcorn and loose organic popcorn kernels.
The product range reviewed includes loose popcorn kernels, microwave popcorn, and ready-to-eat salted and sweet popcorn.
Lidl Netherlands lists salted and sweet popcorn under Snack Day; the product information for its sea salt popcorn gives a pack size of 200 g.
Dutch product information identifies SUN SNACKS Salted Popcorn in a 100 g pack.
These popcorn options from Joybuy are suited to a TV night.
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Salted popcorn for anyone who enjoys a savoury flavour.
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Ready-to-eat sweet and savoury popcorn for a film night.
The product description on Joybuy lists 541 kcal per 100 g.
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Microwave popcorn for anyone who wants to prepare their snack during a TV night.
The product description on Joybuy lists 510 kcal per 100 g.
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Ready-to-eat caramel popcorn for anyone who enjoys a sweet flavour.
The product description on Joybuy lists 502 kcal per 100 g.
No. A small portion doesn’t change the limit for the product claim. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to carry the claim ‘low calorie’. Also assess your own portion based on its weight and the label.
Add together the energy from the dried corn and all the ingredients you use, then divide it between the portions you serve. The value per 100 g of dried corn doesn’t automatically equal the value per 100 g of prepared popcorn.
No, that’s not a general rule. For the sweet Jumbo popcorn reviewed, the product information lists 406 kcal and 48.6 g of sugars per 100 g; the salted variety lists 481 kcal per 100 g. Compare the labels for the specific varieties and consider any other nutritional values that matter to you.
No. Don’t assume they are suitable just because the ingredient is corn. AH Organic Popcorn Maize may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Check the allergen information on the pack of the exact variety.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the microwave variety reviewed, Albert Heijn advises staying nearby, stopping when there are 1–2 seconds between pops, and opening the bag carefully because of the heat and steam. Jumbo warns that you shouldn’t restart its microwave variety after an interruption, and that children should not prepare it without adult supervision.
