Choose ready-to-eat popcorn for convenience, or prepare popcorn kernels in advance if you want to control the toppings yourself. Either way, weigh the portion you actually eat. A small portion doesn’t make a product legally low in calories: the European Commission sets the threshold for this claim at a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for solid foods.
If you want to limit the energy in your snack, weigh the amount you take with you and use the nutritional information for the exact variety. The name on the bag won’t tell you how much energy your portion contains.
If you want to do very little preparation before setting off, look for ready-to-eat popcorn and decide in advance how much you want to eat during the journey. Ready-to-eat and unprepared popcorn are different options for the same snack break.
If you make popcorn at home, you can decide how much oil, sugar or salt to add. Include those ingredients in your calculation too, and check the allergen information on your specific pack.
Compare the energy content of the portion you weigh out and how it’s prepared. The flavour or the size of a labelled serving won’t, on its own, tell you how much energy you’ll consume on your journey.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in your portion | Check the kcal per 100 g on the label and weigh your portion. Calculate: kcal per 100 g × grams eaten ÷ 100. | If I want to manage my energy intake during the journey, I weigh out what I actually eat. For around 36% of consumers, the energy content of the portion is the top purchase priority. |
| Ready to eat | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat, how much the pack contains and how to reseal an opened pack according to the label. | If you want a snack on the go without having to prepare it, choose something that doesn’t need a microwave before you leave. This is the top purchase priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Choosing the toppings yourself | Check the ingredients and preparation method; include oil, sugar or other toppings in your calculation of the prepared quantity. | If I want to decide what goes into my popcorn, I take the preparation time and full ingredients list into account. For around 21% of consumers, controlling the toppings comes first. |
| Flavour and nutritional information | Check the flavour variety and the energy, sugars, salt and ingredients listed for the exact product. | If you prefer sweet or salty popcorn, you can weigh up that flavour against the information on the label. For around 14% of consumers, flavour is the top purchase priority. |
A smaller portion contains less energy because you’re eating less; it doesn’t change the energy value per 100 g. For a low-energy claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets the limit at a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g.
Compare the kcal per 100 g for the exact variety, then calculate the energy in the amount you weigh out.
A pack may contain several labelled portions. For example, AH lists portions of 25 g and four portions per 100 g bag of the salted popcorn reviewed here. The energy in the whole bag is therefore not the same as the energy in one labelled portion.
Weigh out how much you want to take with you before setting off, and follow the pack’s storage advice for any leftovers.
Ingredients such as oil may be added during preparation. For pan preparation of its popcorn kernels, AH lists two tablespoons of vegetable oil; this oil contributes to the energy in the prepared quantity.
Calculate the energy in all the ingredients you use and divide it by the quantity actually prepared and eaten.
Preparing it yourself takes time and requires ingredients, such as the oil you use for your chosen method.
Microwave popcorn must be prepared according to the instructions on the pack. AH warns that the bag will be hot after preparation and contains steam.
Prepare the popcorn before setting off, following the pack instructions, and take care when opening the hot bag.
Allow time to prepare it and make sure you can use a microwave before setting off.
The range includes ready-to-eat salted and sweet popcorn, microwave popcorn and organic popcorn kernels.
The varieties listed include ready-to-eat salted popcorn, salted microwave popcorn and dry popcorn kernels.
The Snack Day varieties described are sweet ready-to-eat popcorn and sweet microwave popcorn.
The SUN SNACKS variety described is salted popcorn in a 100 g pack.
Popcorn products you can compare by pack, flavour and preparation method before weighing out a portion for your train journey.
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Worth considering if you’re after cinema butter-flavoured popcorn. Weigh out the amount you want and use the nutritional information on the pack to calculate your portion.
The product name lists a 240 g pack.
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Ideal if you want to prepare popcorn at home before setting off; follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
The product information lists microwave preparation, 3 × 100 g and 510 kcal per 100 g. This energy value is above the European Commission’s threshold for a low-energy claim on solid foods.
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A ready-to-eat option if you want to take sweet popcorn with you without preparing it; weigh out the portion you want to eat in advance.
The product information lists a 120 g pack and 502 kcal per 100 g. This energy value is above the European Commission’s threshold for a low-energy claim on solid foods.
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A salted popcorn variety to compare if you want to weigh out your own portion for the journey.
The product information lists a 100 g pack and 543 kcal per 100 g. This energy value is above the European Commission’s threshold for a low-energy claim on solid foods.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g on the label by the number of grams you eat, then divide by 100. Use the information for your exact variety and weigh your portion before setting off; the number of portions can vary from pack to pack.
No. For a low-energy claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets the limit at a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. A smaller portion doesn’t change this product threshold. Check the energy per 100 g, then calculate the energy in your own portion too.
Follow the preparation instructions on the exact pack and make the popcorn before setting off. AH advises staying by the microwave and warns that the bag will be hot and contain steam. Jumbo advises against restarting preparation if it has been interrupted.
No. AH Biologisch Popcorn mais may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; Jumbo Popcorn Zout may contain milk. If this information is relevant to you, check the current label on the specific variety.
NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in the bin. Keep the packaging and any food scraps together so you can clear them away easily.
