For a birthday get-together, choose popcorn based on the portion you weigh out and the nutritional information for the product as served; popcorn isn’t automatically low in calories. The European Commission defines ‘low energy’ for solid foods as no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. So don’t compare plain popped corn directly with ready-to-eat popcorn, and remember to include any extras in a homemade recipe.
You fancy popcorn with your drinks, but want to keep track of the energy in what you actually eat. Compare the labels and weigh out your portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides general nutritional information about popcorn; values may vary between products.
You’re looking for something that’s easy to portion out while you entertain, without having to pop it first. Jumbo’s product information covers both ready-to-eat and microwave popcorn.
You want to choose your own toppings and see preparing the popcorn as part of getting ready. Albert Heijn sells popcorn kernels for popping at home; remember that the energy from oil and other extras is part of the total recipe.
Start with the product type and the portion you plan to serve. Nutritional values per 100 g are only comparable when the products are in the same state.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 154 kcal per 40 g serving for generic popcorn. Don’t use this as the value for a branded product or homemade recipe; check the product information, and include the ingredients you use when popping your own.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Check the kcal per 100 g and weigh the portion you serve. Compare products in the same state. | If I want to know how much energy is in my portion, I weigh it and work it out using the label. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the energy in their serving. |
| Easy serving | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs preparing. A cooking bag doesn’t automatically count as one serving. | If I don’t want to pop popcorn while entertaining, I look for something I can serve straight away rather than something that still needs preparing. Around 29% of consumers prioritise ease of serving. |
| Choosing your own flavourings | Read the ingredients and preparation instructions. Include the oil and any other extras you use in your recipe. | If I want to choose the flavour myself, I opt for a plain product and keep track of what I add. Around 21% of consumers prioritise choosing their own flavourings. |
| Ingredients for guests | Check the ingredients and allergen warning on the exact pack; information may vary between products. | If a guest has a specific allergy, I check the packaging of the exact popcorn I plan to serve. Around 14% of consumers make suitable ingredients for guests their top priority. |
A smaller portion may contain less energy than a larger portion of the same product, but it doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g. The European Commission defines ‘low energy’ for solid foods as no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g.
Weigh your portion and use the nutritional information on the label. Don’t judge a product’s nutritional claim solely by the size of the bowl.
The value for dried corn isn’t the nutritional value of a complete recipe containing oil or other extras. Albert Heijn lists 374 kcal per 100 g of dried corn for AH Biologisch Popcorn mais.
Compare products in the same state. If you pop your own, calculate the energy from all the ingredients you use and the portions you end up with.
Popping your own takes preparation, so allow time to measure out the corn and extras too.
The pack of Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout contains three 90 g bags; the contents of a cooking bag don’t automatically count as one personal portion.
Follow the preparation instructions on the pack, then divide the popcorn into the portions you want to serve.
Albert Heijn’s product range includes popcorn kernels for popping at home and a ready-to-eat salted variety.
Jumbo offers ready-to-eat salted popcorn as well as microwave popcorn, so you can factor the product type into your plans.
Lidl Netherlands describes Snack Day popcorn in salted and sweet varieties, and also lists a microwave version.
ALDI Netherlands lists SUN SNACKS Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.
These product choices are suited to a get-together where you want to plan portions, with options for popping your own and for microwave or ready-to-eat popcorn where this is stated in the product information.
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The product description mentions parties and sharing; check the pack for portion and nutritional information.
The title specifies cinema butter flavour and a pack size of 240 GR.
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These popcorn kernels are ideal if you want to pop your own and control how much you add.
The product information lists 350 kcal per 100 g of corn; when calculating your portions, remember to include the oil and any other extras you use.
The stated preparation method is to pop the corn in a pan.
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The product description says this variety is ready to eat, which may suit you if you don’t want to prepare anything during your get-together.
The declared nutritional value is 541 kcal per 100 g. Weigh your portion and check the information on the pack.
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The product description specifies microwave preparation and three 100 g bags; prepare as instructed, then divide into portions to serve.
The stated nutritional value is 510 kcal per 100 g. Check the pack to see whether this applies to the product before or after preparation.
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The product description mentions ready-to-eat caramel popcorn for parties; check the pack for the portion you plan to serve.
The declared nutritional value is 502 kcal per 100 g. Use the nutritional information for this variety when weighing out your portion.
To make a commercial ‘low energy’ claim about a solid food, it must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The European Commission sets out this requirement; portion size doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g.
No. According to the European Commission, a claim that a product has a reduced energy value requires it to contain at least 30% less energy than a comparable product, and the feature responsible for the reduction must be stated. This is different from a ‘low energy’ claim.
Add together the energy from the corn and all the extras you use. Then divide the total recipe value by the number of portions you actually serve; don’t use the value for dried corn as if it were for the complete recipe.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack, then divide the prepared popcorn into portions for serving. Jumbo advises against restarting preparation if it has been interrupted and recommends adult supervision when children prepare the popcorn.
No. Check the ingredients and allergen warning on the pack for the exact flavour and product type you’ve chosen. Don’t assume the information for another variety applies.
