On a trip to the movies, it can be heard to decide between the myriad of choices that are available from candy to popcorn to nacho chips that are laden with cheese. It can be difficult to bring your own snacks to the movies and even when popcorn is not slathered in butter it is still high in sodium and full of calories that make the two hour movie just not worth it!
Fortunately, if you are on a diet – it doesn’t mean that you have to go to the movies and have nothing to snack on during the intermission! Many movie theatres are making the transition into a healthy lifestyle and offering snacks at the movie theatre that can support this healthy lifestyle. Here are some ways that can go to the movies, have your popcorn and eat it too – without the calories!
Chocolate Sweet Treats
Small packs or low calorie chocolates are available at many movie theatres. Rather than the super sized boxes of candy and chocolate available – these small choices will save you calories while saving you money. Some of the smartest snacks for sweet treats are junior mints and small packages of chocolate covered raisins.
Sweets and Candy
These packages too are guilty of coming in boxes large enough to feed everyone in the family. If you are at the theatre alone, or with your partner – these serving sizes are just too large and can increase your caloric intake significantly. For a smarter choice that is lower in fat and lower in calories choose licorice or even nibs. These small packages are one of the smarter choices that can save you up to four hundred calories per movie!
Popcorn
If you must choose popcorn at the movie theatre, it is important to realize that there are many hidden calories within the bag of popcorn in front of you. When choosing popcorn, be sure to avoid the butter as it can add up to one-hundred calories to the popcorn; and it isn’t even butter! Alternatives like seasoning can make your popcorn seem like a hot treat that can reduce the calories. Always choose the smallest portion to reduce the amount of temptation that you will face through the movie.
Portion Control
Many movie theatres offer a children’s pack which can include a drink, a small serving of popcorn as well as a small portion of candy. When you reduce the portion sizes of the regular movie snacks – it can reduce the amount of calories that you consume. In fact, these children sized portions are often less than four hundred calories (including the drink)! Choose water or diet soda and popcorn without butter to reduce the effects that the movie is going to have on your waistline!
Frozen Delights
In lieu of ice cream treats at the movie theatre go for sorbet or frozen yogurt that has been combined with fruit to create custom flavor. You can save on calories and sugar with the fruit as a natural sweetener!
When it comes to snacks, we all have our vices. Fortunately, there are healthy snacks available that can give us a taste of our favorite items without the added calories. Use this guide to reduce the caloric intake of your snacks and reduce the stress that is being placed on your waistline!
Healthy snacks on the go can be a difficult task to maneuver – but these snacks do not have to crash the diet that you have been working so hard to follow.