Who is this relevant to?

People who exercise and keep an eye on their protein intake

You want to know how much protein your portion of popcorn provides and how it fits into your overall diet.

Snackers who watch their portions

You want to weigh up protein, energy and portion size together, without counting a whole bag as one portion.

People planning their grocery shopping online

You want to add popcorn to your regular shop and check in advance which supermarket delivers and what conditions apply.

What should you look for when buying?

Ready-to-eat popcorn

A good fit if: you want a portioned snack to take with you or eat straight away, with no preparation.

The trade-off: according to their product information, portions of AH Zoute popcorn and Jumbo Popcorn Zout provide around 2.08 g and 2.8 g of protein respectively.

Pop your own kernels

A good fit if: you want to choose how much oil and seasoning to add.

The trade-off: Jumbo lists 12.9 g of protein per 100 g of unpopped maize, while Albert Heijn lists 11 g per 100 g. These figures aren’t directly comparable with the same weight of popped popcorn.

Pair popcorn with another source of protein

A good fit if: you want to eat popcorn while considering the protein in your whole meal or overall diet.

The trade-off: the other foods make their own contribution; pairing them with popcorn doesn’t make the popcorn itself higher in protein.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important to?
Protein per portion Base your calculations on the portion you eat: Albert Heijn lists 8.3 g per 100 g and a 25 g portion; Jumbo lists 2.8 g per 30 g portion. These figures apply to these particular varieties. If I’m assessing how my diet supports my exercise goals, I want to know how much protein the portion I eat provides; around 40% of consumers put this contribution first.
Protein, energy and portion size Compare the labels per 100 g, then work out the figures for your own portion. For the salted popcorn varieties reviewed, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 543 and 481 kcal per 100 g respectively. When I’m weighing up a snack portion as part of my energy intake, I look at how much I actually eat; around 30% of consumers prioritise this consideration.
Preparing it or eating it straight away Check whether you’re choosing ready-to-eat popcorn or unpopped maize, and factor in any additions you use when preparing it yourself. If I’m choosing between a quick snack and having control over how it’s prepared, this is a factor; around 20% of consumers put preparation first.
Ordering online Check whether the supermarket delivers groceries and what conditions apply to your postcode and delivery slot. If I want popcorn delivered with my regular groceries, the delivery option needs to work for my order; around 10% of consumers start by checking whether it can be ordered.

Common pitfalls

  • Comparing a large bag with a small portion

    Nutrition information for a whole bag isn’t a like-for-like comparison with a smaller portion. Work out the protein and energy for the amount you actually eat.

    A larger portion also means getting more energy from the popcorn.

  • Treating unpopped maize as the same as popped popcorn

    The nutritional values for dry maize describe the product before popping, not necessarily the same weight of popped popcorn. Follow the preparation instructions and count any oil or other additions.

    When you prepare it yourself, you’ll also need to keep track of the ingredients you use.

  • Mistaking an app or online shop for grocery delivery

    Lidl Nederland says it doesn’t sell groceries through its online shop or app, and doesn’t offer grocery delivery. The ALDI app describes features such as shopping lists, offers and a store locator.

    Check that popcorn can actually be added to a delivery order; a list in an app isn’t a delivery order in itself.

    You may need to visit a shop if you can’t order the popcorn with your grocery delivery.

  • Adding extra groceries just to get popcorn delivered

    Delivery conditions may apply to your whole order and can vary by retailer and delivery slot.

    Check the terms at checkout, and it’s better to add popcorn to a shop you already need to do.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The range includes ready-to-eat AH Zoute popcorn and AH Biologisch Popcorn mais for popping at home. Official product information lists portion sizes, ingredients and nutritional values.

  • The product information lets you check portion details and nutritional values for each variety.
  • According to the allergen information, AH Biologisch Popcorn mais may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Check the packaging if you avoid any of these allergens.

Jumbo

Product information is available for ready-to-eat salted popcorn and loose popping maize. Jumbo offers online grocery orders; check the delivery conditions for your postcode and chosen slot.

  • The product information for Jumbo Popcorn Zout lists nutritional values per portion.
  • Jumbo Popcorn Zout may contain milk. Check the allergen information for the exact variety.

Lidl

Lidl lists Snack Day Popcorn zoet as an in-store product. Lidl Nederland says it doesn’t have an online grocery shop or grocery delivery, and doesn’t sell groceries through the Lidl app.

  • The product page makes it clear that Snack Day Popcorn zoet is only available in store.
  • According to Lidl, this in-store variety isn’t available for grocery delivery.

ALDI

ALDI lists 100 g packs of SUN SNACKS Zoute popcorn in its in-store range. The ALDI app describes features to help you prepare for a store visit.

  • The official product page names the variety and pack size.
  • The app focuses on features such as shopping lists, offers and a store locator; a list isn’t the same as a delivery order.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do recreational athletes need special protein snacks?

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, recreational athletes don’t need special protein shakes or bars. First, consider how the protein in your usual varied diet fits into your overall eating pattern.

How do you prepare and store AH Biologisch Popcorn mais?

Follow the stovetop instructions on the pack: heat the oil, add a layer of maize and cover the pan with a lid. Turn down the heat once the maize starts popping. Store the unpopped maize in a cool, dark, dry place.

Is popcorn automatically suitable if you have a food allergy?

No. It depends on the exact variety and the allergen you need to avoid. Jumbo Popcorn Zout may contain milk; AH Biologisch Popcorn mais may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Check the allergen information on the pack.

Which supermarket delivers popcorn with your groceries?

This varies by retailer and order. Lidl Nederland says it doesn’t offer grocery delivery; Albert Heijn and Jumbo take online grocery orders. Check whether your chosen popcorn can be added to your order for your postcode and delivery slot.

How do you check a popcorn safety warning?

Compare the product details in the warning with the information on your pack. The NVWA publishes company warnings about unsafe food; a warning about a specific variety doesn’t automatically apply to all popcorn from the same supermarket.