You probably know the popcorn at the movie theaters is far from healthy, but did you know having a medium popcorn and soda from a major national chain is like eating three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with 12 pats of butter? That’s according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

CSPI says the popular combo from Regal, the country’s biggest movie chain, has 1,610 calories and three days’ worth – 60 grams – of saturated fat.

The study is an update to research CSPI did on movie theater popcorn 15 years ago.

Here are some other movie theater popcorn stats from CSPI’s new report:

Regal
Small, 11 cups
Calories 670
Saturated fat 34 g
Sodium 550 mg

AMC
Small, 6 cups
Calories 370
Saturated fat 20 g
Sodium 210 mg

Cinemark
Small, 8 cups
Calories 420
Saturated fat 2 g [popped in canola oil]
Sodium 690 mg

Makes me want to bring my own microwave popcorn to the movies! You?

[Photo Credit: stock.xchng]

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Congrats to FatFighterTV members – Ellen Ring, wordsmoveme, Mary M, Katie, and Lance – for winning last week’s giveaway for the Kernel Season’s “Get the Party Popping!” package. Enjoy!

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[Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample of this product. I only post giveaways about products I honestly like, or those I think FatFighterTV members would enjoy.]

Mmmm… popcorn! I love the stuff! I recently got a new air popper and I’ve been trying to use it more often. Usually, I just spritz my popcorn with a little oil and a little salt and I’m good to go. But after Kernel Season’s sent me their “Get the Party Popping!” package, I’ve been getting a bit adventurous.

Kernel Season’s has 14 popcorn seasonings, most with just two calories per serving – great for adding a flavor kick to your popcorn! And Kernel Season’s also has a popcorn spritzer to help the seasonings stick.

Here’s what comes in the “Get the Party Popping!” package:

• 6 Seasoning flavors: White Cheddar, Butter, Nacho Cheddar, Parmesan and Garlic, Ranch, and Kettle Corn

• A 16 ounce bag of popping corn

• A Popcorn Spritzer

• 3 bags of microwave popcorn

I’ve got 5 packages up for grabs this week, compliments of Kernel Season’s!

To enter for your chance to win, go to the comments and tell me how you best like to eat popcorn – microwaved, air popped, stove-top popped? Got any favorite flavors? Do you prefer to eat popcorn out of a bag? Out of a special bowl? You get the idea…

A few contest details – it runs through midnight EST this Friday, June 12, you have to have a U.S. mailing address to enter… and we will use random.org to pick the winners.

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Mmmm – you know how the yummy aroma of microwave popcorn can quickly fill up a room and make you hungry for your own bag. But not all kernels are king. So I was glad to see Consumer Reports‘ (CR) take on the popular ones out there.

CR taste panelists tried 11 microwave popcorn brands. They found most of them tasted about the same with little or no difference in flavor or texture. Only two had 0.5 grams of trans fat or more per half-bag: Market Pantry had 1.4 grams; Jolly Time had 0.5 grams. All had between 3.5 to 7.5 grams of fiber per half-bag.

Here are the microwave popcorn ratings from CR listed in order of quality: (nutritional information is based on a half-bag)

VERY GOOD

• Orville Redenbacher’s Light Butter – Calories: 135 calories, Total Fat: 5.1g, Saturated Fat: 2.3g, Sodium: 211mg
• ACT ll Light Butter – Calories: 136, Total Fat: 4.6g, Saturated Fat: 2.1g, Sodium: 270mg
• Pop Secret Light Butter – Calories: 120, Total Fat: 4.5g, Saturated Fat: 3.5g, Sodium: 300mg
• Market Pantry (Target) Butter Light – Calories: 146, Total Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: .8g, Sodium: 144mg
• Smart Balance Light Butter – Calories: 147, Total Fat: 5.5g, Saturated Fat: 1.8, Sodium: 126mg
• Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop Butter 94% Fat Free – Calories: 111, Total Fat: 1.9g, Saturated Fat: .6g, Sodium: 229mg
• ACT ll 94% Fat Free Butter – Calories: 108, Total Fat: 1.8g, Saturated Fat: .5g, Sodium: 189mg
• Pop Secret Butter 94% Fat Free – Calories: 110, Total Fat: 2.0g, Saturated Fat: .5g, Sodium: 290mg
• Jolly Time Healthy Pop Butter 94% Fat Free – Calories: 105, Total Fat: 2.5g, Saturated Fat: .5g, Sodium: 210mg

GOOD

• Newman’s Own 94% Fat Free Butter – Calories: 156, Total Fat: 2.1g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Sodium: 355mg
• Newman’s Own Light Butter – Calories: 199, Total Fat: 6.6g, Saturated Fat: 2.5g, Sodium: 281mg

How did your favorite rate?

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