Making popcorn yourself is a good option if you want to choose how much oil and seasoning to use; ready-made popcorn is more convenient when you want to serve it straight away. When comparing packaged popcorn, check the nutritional information on the same basis and consider how much you actually serve. For a children’s lunch, a varied diet and eating safely matter more than simply looking for the lowest possible calorie count.
You’re looking for a snack to go with a varied holiday lunch and want to know what’s in the amount you’re serving. For children, getting enough varied food is more important than generally aiming for the fewest possible calories. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains the nutritional needs of children aged 4 to 12.
You want to decide how much oil and which seasonings to use, and don’t mind preparing popcorn at home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides a recipe with measured ingredients; include the full preparation when assessing the nutritional value.
You’re looking for popcorn to take with you or a microwave option for home. Check the product type, exact variety and preparation instructions: convenience or a flavour name won’t tell you how much energy the popcorn contains.
A good fit if: you have time at home and want to choose the oil and seasonings yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare it yourself and take any additions into account when assessing it.
A good fit if: you want something you can serve straight away with lunch.
Bear in mind: the recipe is fixed, so check the exact variety and how much you’re serving.
A good fit if: you want to make popcorn at home using a pre-packed microwave variety.
Bear in mind: follow the preparation instructions on the specific pack.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Check the kcal per 100 g, the weight of the portion served and whether the figures apply to the product as sold or after preparation. | If I want to assess how much energy my snack adds, I look at both the label and my portion; around 29% of consumers prioritise the energy in a portion. |
| Children and lunch | Consider who will be eating, the risk of choking and how popcorn fits alongside a varied lunch. | When children are eating too, I want to take their lunch and safe eating into account; around 23% of consumers prioritise suitability for children. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients, sugar, salt and allergen information for the exact variety; if you’re making popcorn yourself, include the seasoning mix too. | If I want to choose what’s added to the snack, I check the ingredients; around 18% of consumers see this as their main selection criterion. |
| Preparation and convenience | Check whether you’re choosing popping corn, ready-to-eat popcorn or microwave popcorn, and follow the pack instructions when preparing it. | When I want to serve something quickly on a holiday, ease of preparation is the deciding factor; around 18% of consumers prioritise convenience. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the net weight with the number of portions you need; one pack doesn’t automatically equal one portion. | If I want to buy the right amount and limit leftovers, I consider the pack size and how I’ll use it; around 12% of consumers prioritise quantity and avoiding leftovers. |
A smaller portion may mean you eat less, but it doesn’t change the energy per 100 g or the conditions for making a nutrition claim. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for the ‘low energy’ claim.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider the amount you actually serve. Don’t call a product low in calories just because the pack is small.
For children, the contents of their lunch and eating safely matter too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of a varied diet for children aged 4 to 12 and lists popcorn as a food that can pose a choking risk.
Consider the whole lunch, and make sure children eat calmly and under supervision.
Nutritional values may refer to the product as sold or to the prepared product. Comparing figures on different bases won’t directly tell you how much energy the final portion contains.
Compare products on the same preparation basis, and include the oil and any other additions you use when making popcorn yourself.
A name or description that sounds like popcorn doesn’t prove that it’s the same type of product. Croky, for example, describes its range as crisps; a mixed bundle doesn’t automatically make the identity of an individual product clear.
Check the product description and ingredients of the exact variety before comparing products.
The product types mentioned are popping corn and pre-packed salted popcorn, making them relevant if you want to prepare it yourself or serve it straight away.
The varieties reviewed include ready-to-eat salted popcorn and salted microwave popcorn.
The Snack Day product information reviewed includes popcorn with sea salt and salted microwave popcorn.
The product page reviewed is for Sun Snacks Salted Popcorn.
This selection includes ready-made popcorn and popping corn, giving you the choice between serving it straight away and preparing it yourself for lunch.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a pack of popcorn to serve as a snack.
240 g pack; the product name specifies cinema butter flavour.
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A good fit if you’re looking for salted popcorn to serve with lunch.
100 g pack; the product name specifies a salted variety.
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A good fit if you want to make popcorn at home and choose the additions yourself.
900 g pack; the product name specifies Butterfly popping corn.
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A good fit if you want to make popcorn in the microwave at home.
Pack containing 3 bags of 100 g.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a ready-made popcorn variety with caramel flavour.
120 g pack; the product name specifies caramel flavour.
For solid foods, the ‘low energy’ claim or an equivalent claim is subject to a limit of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The European Commission sets out this condition for nutrition claims. A small portion on its own doesn’t prove that the product meets the requirement.
Treat popcorn as a possible snack alongside a meal, not as a replacement for a varied lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of a varied diet for children aged 4 to 12.
Not necessarily: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists popcorn among foods that can pose a choking risk for children. Make sure children are sitting calmly and supervise them; choose another suitable snack if there’s a risk of choking. The source does not give a universal age at which popcorn is guaranteed to be safe.
Compare nutritional values on the same basis. The European Union explains that nutrition declarations show the values of the product as sold; if you prepare it yourself, also include oil and any other additions. Compare ready-to-eat portions with one another when assessing portion sizes.
Making popcorn yourself lets you choose the oil and seasonings, but you’ll need to prepare and portion it. A microwave variety has a fixed recipe and its own preparation instructions; follow the instructions on the exact pack.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack. For Jumbo Microwave Popcorn Salt 3 x 90 g, Jumbo says not to restart preparation if it has been interrupted; don’t automatically apply this instruction to other products.
