Mindful portion-watchers
You want to join in while keeping track of the calories in what you actually eat. Weighing your portion and checking the nutritional information for the exact variety can help.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hosts without access to a kitchen
You’re looking for popcorn you can serve straight away and want to divide a pack into several portions. Ready-to-eat varieties can be a practical option.
Those making it themselves
You can prepare popcorn in advance and choose which ingredients to add. When working out the calories, keep the dry corn, the full recipe and the final portions separate.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve it without a kitchen or can prepare it yourself. Then compare the nutritional information on the same product basis and weigh your portion.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g on the same product basis and weigh your portion. | If I want to keep track of my calories during drinks, I use the weight of my portion and the value for that exact variety. Around 39% of consumers say calories per portion are their top priority. |
| Preparation and serving | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat, needs a microwave or is cooked in a pan. | If I don’t want to use a kitchen at the venue, I look for something that suits the time and equipment available. Around 23% of consumers prioritise ease of serving. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Read the ingredients and nutrition table for the exact variety. Sweet or salted doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much energy it contains. | If I’m looking for a particular flavour, I also check sugar, fat and salt as separate figures. Around 23% of consumers put flavour and ingredients first. |
| Allergens for guests | Check the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statements on the packaging. | If a guest has a food allergy, I check which ingredients and possible traces are listed before serving. Around 15% of consumers prioritise suitability for guests with allergies. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming salted popcorn is always lower in calories than sweet popcorn
Of the two ready-to-eat AH varieties compared, sweet popcorn contains less energy per 100 g than salted popcorn, but it also contains 45 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the exact products on the same basis and consider calories and sugar separately.
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Using the nutritional information for dry corn for prepared popcorn
The nutrition table for dry popping corn doesn’t describe the full recipe. Albert Heijn’s pan recipe also uses vegetable oil.
Calculate the ingredients for the whole recipe, then divide the total by the number of portions you actually serve.
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Counting a whole pack as one portion
For the sweet and salted varieties checked, Albert Heijn lists portion sizes of 25 g, so one pack may contain several portions.
Weigh out the amount you want to serve in advance, rather than treating the pack size as a portion.
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Assuming organic means allergen-free
AH Biologisch Popcorn mais states that the product may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
If guests have a known allergy, check the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statements on the packaging.
Popcorn brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s product pages describe ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn, as well as dry popping corn.
- The product information gives nutritional values and portion details for specific varieties.
- The 374 kcal per 100 g applies to dry corn and isn’t directly comparable with prepared popcorn. The pan recipe described uses oil.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers both ready-to-eat and microwave popcorn.
- The microwave variety comes in individual bags, and the product page includes a preparation warning.
- For Jumbo Popcorn Zout 100 g, the ingredients list states 3% salt, while the nutrition table gives 1.05 g per 100 g. Check the current packaging when comparing salt levels.
Lidl
Lidl’s Dutch product information lists Snack Day popcorn in sweet and salted varieties.
- The product page for Snack Day Popcorn zeezout describes a 200 g pack.
- The flavour and pack size alone don’t tell you how many calories are in a portion.
Aldi
Aldi’s Dutch product information lists Sun Snacks Zoute popcorn as a specific ready-to-eat variety.
- The product listing gives a pack size of 100 g.
- A salted flavour doesn’t mean a variety is lower in calories. Compare the nutritional information for the exact product.
Popcorn at Joybuy
Here you’ll find popcorn varieties to suit different flavour and serving preferences. Check the portion size, nutritional information and any preparation instructions for each product.
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SNACK MAZE Popcorn Cinema Butter, 240 g
The product name suggests a cinema-style flavour. Check the nutritional information and weigh your portion if you want to work out the calories.
Pack size: 240 g.
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LYFEN Popcorn, 180 g
The product information describes popcorn that can be eaten straight from the tin, making it a handy choice when you want to serve it without any preparation.
Listed energy value: 530 kcal per 100 g. Use this figure to calculate the calories in a weighed portion; it doesn’t support a ‘low calorie’ claim.
Pack size: 180 g.
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Pop Corn microwave popcorn, 3 x 100 g
This variety needs a microwave, so check that one will be available where you plan to prepare the popcorn before you buy.
The product information lists three 100 g bags and 510 kcal per 100 g. It doesn’t clearly state whether this nutritional value applies before or after preparation, so don’t use it as the calorie count for a weighed portion of prepared popcorn.
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Yousmai Pengranxindong Popcorn, caramel, 120 g
The product information describes ready-to-eat caramel-flavoured popcorn, so you won’t need to prepare it at the venue.
Listed values per 100 g: 502 kcal and 35 g of sugars. Weigh your portion and check both figures if you’re keeping an eye on them.
Pack size: 120 g.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g
The title describes a salted variety. Compare the nutritional information and portion size if you want to estimate the calories in your portion for drinks.
The product information lists 543 kcal per 100 g.
Pack size: 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the calories in a portion of popcorn for drinks?
Multiply the number of grams you’ve weighed by the kcal per 100 g, then divide by 100. Using the values listed by Albert Heijn, 25 g of sweet popcorn contains 104.75 kcal, while 25 g of salted popcorn contains 135.75 kcal. These are examples for calculation, not recommended portion sizes.
Does a small portion of popcorn make the product low calorie?
No. A small portion doesn’t automatically make a product eligible for the ‘low calorie’ nutrition claim. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that nutrition claims must meet European requirements. Assess the claim for the product itself, not just the portion size.
Can you compare the nutritional value of dry popping corn with prepared popcorn?
Not without taking the preparation method and any added ingredients into account. The nutritional information for dry corn describes the product before preparation; oil and toppings should also be included when calculating the finished recipe.
Can you restart microwave popcorn if the cooking process is interrupted?
For Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout, the product information warns against restarting the cooking process after an interruption. Always follow the instructions on the packaging of the variety you’re using.
Is organic popping corn automatically suitable for guests with a gluten allergy?
No. AH Biologisch Popcorn mais states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Check the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statements on the packaging, and choose an option that’s suitable for your guest.