Enjoy the Movie & Your Snacks Without The Guilt
Movie and snacks are two things that go hand in hand since time immemorial.
As soon as you enter the movie theater, your mind is already racing on
which snacks to get, especially when you get a whiff of that unique, sweet-salt-butter
smell. If you love the movies, but always feel guilty because you can’t
help munching on snacks, why not broaden your food choices and start opting
for the healthier movie theater snacks? We list down some of our favorite
movie munchies that are low in cholesterol yet filling and completely
satisfying.
Popcorn
Popcorn is the staple movie snack, so we feel that this list should include
this. Air popped popcorn is actually one of the most healthy snacks. It’s
full of fiber and packed with antioxidants. However, movie theater popcorn
is cooked with oil and topped with plenty of salt and butter. For a healthier
popcorn, order your popcorn plain, which means no salt or butter to cut
down on calories.
Dark Chocolate
For those who have the sweet tooth, look for dark chocolate instead. Dark
chocolates have significantly fewer calories than milk or white chocolate.
They are also known to contain nutrients that can improve heart health,
aid in keeping your blood pressure and sugar low as well as potentially
prevent some cancers.
Soft Pretzel
If you have been craving for something chewy in texture and warm like pizza,
a soft pretzel is a good substitute. As long as you don’t dip your
pretzel in cheese sauce, a large soft pretzel contains around 250 calories
and 9 grams of fat. If you like, you may even drizzle this with mustard
for a more flavorful bite. However, if you’re being strict with
your diet, a plain soft pretzel is already a satisfying, healthy snack.
Nuts or Trail Mix
As concession stands strive to provide healthier options for their health-conscious
patrons, many theaters are now offering nuts or trail mix. However, you
may want to read the labels of packaged nuts and trail mix closer as some
can still be high in calories because of their sugar and salt content.
If you see a selection of trail mix in your concession stands, choose
one that has unsweetened dried fruits and unsalted nuts. Avoid trail mix
which has candies in the mix as they offer only empty calories.
For a healthier option in movie theater snacks, you may want to consider
bringing homemade snacks such as a small bag of air popped popcorn or
baby carrots instead. While many movie theaters discourage this practice,
there are some theaters that actually allow outside food to be brought
in. Just make sure to ask your local theater first if you can bring food
inside as to avoid conflict or unnecessary argument.
This article contains general information about medical conditions and
treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as
such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis
of a physician.
If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should
consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.