If you want to eat fewer calories during a movie night, start by weighing your portion and comparing products’ nutritional information on the same basis. Loose popcorn kernels give you more control over what you add, while microwave popcorn and ready-to-eat popcorn offer different kinds of convenience. Flavour alone doesn’t tell you how much energy a portion contains.
If you mainly want to know how many calories are in your bowl, compare the nutritional information for the exact product and calculate it using the amount you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 40 grams of popcorn as a bowl-sized portion, but your own portion may be different.
Loose popcorn kernels let you decide how much oil and seasoning to use. Bear in mind that you’ll need to account for the preparation method and the nutritional information for all the ingredients yourself.
Ready-to-eat popcorn can be enjoyed straight away; microwave popcorn still needs to be prepared, following the instructions on the pack.
First decide how much you want to eat, then choose between making it yourself, using the microwave or buying ready-to-eat popcorn. Finally, compare the flavour and nutritional information for the exact variety.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g on the same nutritional basis and calculate it using the amount you eat. | If I want to keep track of the calories in my bowl, I weigh my portion; around 36% of consumers prioritise the energy content of their portion. |
| Added ingredients | Read the ingredients list and include oil, sugar and seasonings in your calculations when preparing it yourself. | If you want to decide how much is added to your snack, choose the ingredients yourself; around 29% of consumers prioritise having this control. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs heating, and follow the instructions on the pack. | If I want to keep things simple during a movie night, I choose a preparation method that suits me; around 21% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Flavour and nutritional information | Compare the exact varieties: sweet or savoury doesn’t, in itself, tell you how many calories or how much sugar they contain. | If you’re mainly looking for a sweet or savoury flavour, you can also weigh up the nutritional information; around 14% of consumers prioritise their favourite flavour. |
A weighed bowl may contain fewer calories than a larger amount of the same product, but that doesn’t automatically make the product itself low in energy under the rules for nutrition claims.
Compare the nutritional information for the exact product per 100 g. Only use the claim ‘low energy’ when the relevant conditions are met.
The two Albert Heijn varieties reviewed show why the flavour name isn’t a reliable way to compare products: AH Popcorn zoet lists 419 kcal per 100 g and 45 g of sugars, while AH Zoute popcorn lists 543 kcal per 100 g. This applies to these varieties, not all sweet or salted popcorn.
Compare the energy and other nutritional information for the exact products on the same weight basis.
The 374 kcal per 100 g on Albert Heijn’s product page applies to dried corn. It doesn’t include oil or any other ingredients you add during preparation.
Add up the ingredients in your recipe, then calculate the nutritional value based on the amount you actually eat.
The options reviewed include corn to prepare at home and ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn.
The range reviewed includes ready-to-eat and microwave popcorn, including Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout 3 x 90 g.
According to Lidl Nederland, Snack Day includes sweet and salted popcorn; one variety reviewed is Popcorn zeezout.
ALDI Nederland lists SUN SNACKS Zoute popcorn as a popcorn option.
This selection at Joybuy includes ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn, as well as microwave popcorn. Compare the nutritional information with the portion you eat, and follow the pack instructions for microwave popcorn.
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Ready-to-eat popcorn; the product information lists butter and sweet flavours.
Listed nutritional value: 530 kcal per 100 g.
Contains soya.
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For anyone who likes their popcorn hot; the product information specifies microwave preparation.
Listed nutritional value: 510 kcal per 100 g. Check the pack to see whether this applies to the product as sold or as prepared.
Open with care: the product information warns that hot steam may escape.
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For anyone looking for ready-to-eat popcorn with a caramel flavour.
Listed nutritional value: 502 kcal and 35 g of sugars per 100 g.
Contains milk.
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The product title describes cinema-style popcorn with butter flavour.
Pack weight: 240 g.
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Salted popcorn for anyone looking for a savoury flavour.
Pack weight: 100 g. Use the nutritional information on the pack to work out the values for your portion.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g for the exact product by your portion weight, then divide by 100. For homemade popcorn, include the corn, oil and any other ingredients. First check whether the nutritional information applies to the product as sold or as prepared.
No, the flavour name alone doesn’t tell you. Albert Heijn lists 419 kcal per 100 g for AH Popcorn zoet and 543 kcal per 100 g for AH Zoute popcorn; this is a comparison of those two specific products. The sweet variety also lists 45 g of sugars per 100 g.
According to the European Commission, a solid food must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to make a ‘low energy’ claim or a claim with the same meaning. A claim that a product has reduced energy value requires at least a 30% reduction in energy, and the reason for the reduction must be stated. A small portion doesn’t automatically make a product low in energy.
Follow the instructions on the pack for your exact product. For the salted microwave popcorn reviewed, Jumbo warns that children should only prepare it under adult supervision and that you shouldn’t restart the cooking process if it has been interrupted.
Don’t assume this is generally allowed; check the rules for your visit. The official Pathé Business-school FAQ says that food and drink brought from home may not be consumed in cinemas during school visits. This rule applies to that specific type of visit and isn’t a nationwide food policy.
