Snackers with a protein plan
If you want to include popcorn in your meal plan, check how much protein your weighed portion provides. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list protein values for different products and portion sizes.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Households that make their own popcorn
Loose popping corn lets you weigh out portions and decide whether to add oil, salt or other seasonings. Albert Heijn lists its 500 g pack of organic popping corn as containing maize only.
Shoppers looking for convenience for several snack occasions
You can choose between individual microwave bags and popcorn that’s already popped. Check how many portions a pack contains and how to store an opened bag.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with the portion you eat and the preparation method that suits your household. Then consider whether the pack size matches your storage space and how you’ll use it.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Compare protein per 100 g and per weighed portion; check whether the nutritional values are for unprepared or ready-to-eat popcorn. | If I include popcorn in my protein plan, I want to know what my portion provides, not just what it contains per 100 g. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the protein content per portion. |
| Value for money | Check the total weight, the number of individual bags and the stated portions. Only compare costs between similar product types. | If I’m stocking up, I want a pack that suits what my household actually uses. Around 29% of consumers give useful pack value top priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the popcorn is loose, microwaveable or ready to eat, and read the portion information and preparation instructions. | If I want to spend less time preparing my snack, I look for an option that suits the occasion and takes the right amount of effort. Around 21% of consumers prioritise ease of preparation. |
| Additions | Read the ingredients and nutritional information for oil, salt and seasonings; if you have allergies, check the warnings on the pack too. | If I want to choose what goes into my popcorn, loose popping corn may be a better fit. Around 14% of consumers give control over additions top priority. |
Common buying pitfalls
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Mistaking a value pack for a high-protein snack
A larger pack doesn’t increase the protein content per 100 g. The amount of protein you eat also depends on your portion size.
Check the protein per weighed portion and see whether the table refers to unprepared or prepared popcorn. Choosing to follow a high-protein diet doesn’t prove that a product’s on-pack claim meets the relevant requirements.
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Comparing unpopped corn and ready-to-eat popcorn by weight alone
Loose corn still needs to be prepared, while ready-to-eat popcorn already contains ingredients such as oil and salt. The weights therefore don’t represent the same type of snack.
Where possible, compare products prepared in the same way. For loose corn, take the ingredients and preparation method of your own recipe into account.
With loose corn, you’ll need to prepare it yourself and add any oil or seasonings.
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Assuming a microwave bag is one portion
A Jumbo bag contains 90 g, while the product information gives a portion size of 30 g.
Decide how much you want to eat beforehand and use the portion information on the pack as your guide.
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Mistaking a product name with ‘pop’ in it for popcorn
Croky’s range includes products such as Pop'd potatoes; the name doesn’t mean they’re maize popcorn.
Check the exact product description and ingredients before including a product in your comparison.
Brands with relevant popcorn options
Albert Heijn
The product information covers both loose organic popping corn and ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
- For its popping corn, Albert Heijn lists a 500 g pack, maize as the only ingredient and 11 g of protein per 100 g of unprepared product.
- For its salted popcorn, Albert Heijn lists 8.3 g of protein per 100 g and four stated 25 g portions in a 100 g pack.
- The nutritional values apply to different product types, so compare them with the preparation method and portion size in mind.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a salted microwave multipack containing three individual bags.
- The pack contains 3 x 90 g; the stated portion is 30 g and provides 2.9 g of protein.
- For this product, Jumbo lists palm oil, 5.1 g of saturated fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g. Follow the product-specific microwave instructions.
ALDI
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Salted Popcorn as a ready-to-eat option.
- The product listing gives a pack size of 100 g.
- Read the nutritional information on the pack before including this popcorn in a protein comparison.
Lidl
Lidl lists Snack Day Sweet Popcorn in a 200 g pack.
- The product page identifies it as the sweet variety and says it’s available in store.
- A larger bag doesn’t tell you anything about the protein per portion. Check the nutritional information on the pack before including the popcorn in your plan.
Popcorn products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the protein in my own portion?
Multiply the protein per 100 g by the weight of your portion, then divide by 100. According to Albert Heijn, 25 g of AH Biologisch Popcorn mais provides 2.75 g of protein, based on 11 g per 100 g; this is for unprepared corn, before you add anything yourself.
Does one microwave bag count as one portion?
Not with Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout: the bag contains 90 g, while Jumbo lists a portion size of 30 g. So keep the stated portion size separate from the amount in the cooking bag.
What should I bear in mind when preparing microwave popcorn?
Follow the instructions on the pack for the specific product. 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.
Is organic popping corn automatically suitable for people with food allergies?
No, you can’t tell that just from the description ‘maize’. Albert Heijn states that the AH Biologisch Popcorn mais checked may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; if you have a relevant allergy, check the pack of the product you’re buying.
Can popcorn simply be advertised as ‘high in protein’?
No, a nutrition claim can only be used if it is permitted and meets the relevant requirements. The European Commission sets out the rules for permitted nutrition claims; the NVWA also checks whether the protein content supports any claim being made. A nutritional value on the label doesn’t, by itself, prove that an on-pack claim meets those requirements.