Snackers who keep an eye on portions
If you’d rather weigh your popcorn than rely on words like ‘light’ or an arbitrary bowl size, this guide is for you.
Who is this buying guide for?
Students who want to pop their own
If you want to add popping corn to your shopping list and measure out the corn, oil and flavourings yourself, this guide is for you.
Snackers with limited kitchen facilities
If your choice depends on whether you have a microwave, hob or no cooking equipment at all, this guide is for you.
What should you look for in popcorn?
First decide how much you want to eat and which preparation method suits your kitchen. Then compare ingredients and nutritional information on a like-for-like basis.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g on the same preparation basis, and weigh the amount you eat. | If I want to keep track of my snack intake, I weigh my portion and compare nutritional information on a like-for-like basis. Around 34% of consumers put the calories in a portion first. |
| Pack size and food budget | Check the net weight and think about how much you’ll use per snack occasion; include any ingredients needed for preparation. | When doing my student food shop, I want to know how many portions a pack contains and what else I need to add. Around 33% of consumers pay closest attention to the space snacks take up in their food budget. |
| Preparation and kitchen | Check whether you need a pan or microwave, and follow the instructions on the pack. | If I’m short on time or have limited kitchen equipment, I choose an option I can actually prepare with what I have. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the preparation method available to them. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and, if relevant to you, check the allergen information. | When I’m looking for a particular flavour, I want to know which oils, seasonings or other ingredients have already been added. Around 13% of consumers prioritise flavour and ingredients. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a small portion means a low-calorie product
A smaller portion contains less product, but it doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g. For a ‘low energy’ claim, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g, as explained by the European Commission.
Choose a portion that suits what you want to eat and check the nutritional value per 100 g; don’t infer a product claim from the portion size.
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Counting only the corn when popping it yourself
The nutritional value of dry corn isn’t automatically the same as that of prepared popcorn. Oil and other additions are part of the finished preparation too.
Measure out the ingredients and include them when dividing the prepared popcorn into portions.
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Assuming a microwave bag is one snack portion
A bag for preparation may contain more than you want to eat in one snack sitting. The AH and Jumbo information we looked at lists nutritional values per 30 g.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack and divide the prepared popcorn according to how much you want to eat. Don’t open the bag to prepare a smaller batch yourself.
Popcorn brands for reference
The references below relate to specific popcorn products and product types; they aren’t an assessment of a brand’s full range.
Albert Heijn
The popcorn products mentioned include loose organic popping corn, microwave popcorn and ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists ingredients and nutritional values for these different product types.
- The loose corn contains only corn as an ingredient, but the pack warns that the product may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Organic doesn’t automatically mean lower in kcal.
Jumbo
The products mentioned are loose popping corn, salted microwave popcorn and ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
- The product information lists corn as the only ingredient in the loose popping corn.
- The microwave and ready-to-eat options mentioned already contain oil and salt. Check the pack of the variety you buy.
Lidl
The Lidl variety mentioned is Snack Day Sea Salt Popcorn in a 200 g pack.
- The product name and pack size tell you the flavour and net weight.
- A 200 g pack isn’t automatically one portion. Use the nutritional information and portion details on the pack.
ALDI
The ALDI variety mentioned is SUN SNACKS Salted Popcorn in a 100 g pack.
- The product page lists the product type and pack size.
- The description ‘salted popcorn’ doesn’t tell you anything about its energy value on its own; check the nutritional information on the pack.
Popcorn products at Joybuy
These product options suit different popcorn preferences, including microwave popcorn, popping your own and ready-to-eat varieties.
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SNACK MAZE Cinema Butter Popcorn 240 g
A buttery-flavoured option if you’re looking for a film-night snack.
The product name lists a pack size of 240 g; check the portion and nutritional information on the pack.
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Pop Corn 3 x 100 g
An option if you want to prepare popcorn in the microwave.
The product name lists 3 x 100 g. Follow the preparation instructions on the pack and divide the contents according to your preferred portion size.
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Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly) 900 g
For anyone who wants to pop their own popcorn in a pan.
The suggested preparation method calls for a pan and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil; include the oil when assessing the prepared portion.
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Yousmai Pengranxindong Popcorn Caramel 120 g
A ready-to-eat caramel option if you’re looking for sweet popcorn.
The listed ingredients include sugar, glucose syrup, palm oil and butter (milk). Check the allergen information on the pack.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn 100 g
A salted popcorn option if you’d rather not pop your own.
The product name lists 100 g; choose an amount that suits your own portion size.
Frequently asked questions
Can popcorn be called ‘low calorie’ in the Netherlands?
For a ‘low energy’ claim, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The European Commission explains this requirement. Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 is listed as in force by EUR-Lex and has been amended, with a consolidated version dated 13 December 2014. A small portion doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g.
Can I compare the kcal in dry corn directly with those in prepared popcorn?
Not if the preparation basis is different. The European Union explains that nutritional information may relate to a product as sold and, when preparation is required, to the prepared product. Check which basis is stated and include any added ingredients.
How should I prepare microwave popcorn according to the instructions?
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the variety mentioned, Albert Heijn advises staying by the microwave, stopping when there are 1–2 seconds between pops and carefully opening the hot bag because of the steam. Jumbo warns you not to restart preparation after an interruption.
Is loose popping corn automatically suitable if I need to avoid gluten or soya?
No. Check the pack of the exact variety. Albert Heijn lists corn as the only ingredient in AH Organic Popcorn Corn, but warns that the product may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Can popcorn replace my evening meal?
Enjoy popcorn as a snack alongside your evening meal, not as a complete meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes an evening meal as including foods from different sections of the Wheel of Five, including vegetables, a source of protein and wholegrain cereal products or potatoes.