Movie theater popcorn has long been a favorite snack for moviegoers, but is it keto-friendly? With its low fat and low calorie content, many people are wondering if this classic treat can fit into their ketogenic diet. In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional facts of movie theater popcorn and discuss whether or not it is suitable for a keto lifestyle.
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Popcorn is something most people love to eat during movies, but what are you eating at the movies if you are on keto?
The sad truth is that there are many carbs in popcorn, roughly 70g – 75g per 100g. This is very high, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t eat any on keto.
Your macros will determine how many carbs you can eat, which will vary from individual to individual. If you are disciplined, then you can enjoy a little if you are after the taste.
But be warned, movie popcorn contains sugar, additives and a lot of salt – so be sure to check if this is acceptable to you with your macro calculations. The last thing you want is a sugary and carb filled snack like popcorn. Let’s find out more.
Popcorn Micronutrients
Popcorn contains a surprising amount of vitamins and minerals. This ranges from Vitamin B1, B3 and B6, to Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Zinc, and more. This makes it quite a healthy snack for people that are exercising, people that cook it in very little oil, and for people that are not following a low carb diet like keto.
If you are serious about following a ketogenic eating plan then you really shouldn’t be looking to eat popcorn.
Try to remember why you are trying keto, and what the health benefits are that you are after. Once you have committed to keto it is critical that you follow it as well as you can.
If you really need to have some extra carbs then you should check out your macros and see what you can move around to make you feel better.
Keto-friendly Snack Alternatives
Alternatives to popcorn are tough to come by, especially in the movies. The smell and taste of popcorn are so ingrained in the movie experience, that it is hard to think about sitting in the dark and watching a flick without any.
However, there are a few alternatives that you can enjoy.
Peanuts, pork rinds, beef jerky, and other snacks can make for tasty work arounds if you are managing carbs but still want a movie snack that you can much on during the movie.
If you want to try out some store bought keto snacks then you can find keto bars, keto friendly chocolate, and a wide variety of savory snacks as well.
If you are just getting started with keto then it is probably advisable that you don’t look at snacking options in the beginning.
Speaking from personal experience, I can say that it is a slippery slope, and it can be quite difficult to resist the urge to eat less and less keto friendly foods as time goes on.
Is Popcorn Keto Friendly?
As we have seen in the previous sections of this article, popcorn is not keto friendly unless it is consumed in the smallest of portion sizes. This is because there are way too many carbs in popcorn to be part of a low carb diet.
If you are hoping to enjoy popcorn at your local movie theatre, then you may be surprised to find that there is sugar in most flavors that are offered with popcorn, making it a double carb threat to your macro allocations.
It is better to avoid it altogether if you think you might over do it.
How Many Carbs Are in Movie Theatre Popcorn?
Popcorn is really full of carbs. There are many carbs in popcorn, roughly 70g – 75g per 100g
It is not an ideal snack for someone doing keto, so it is not really something that you should eat.
Rather look at low carb alternatives like jerky, peanuts, and pork rinds. Some jerky is loaded with sugar, so you need to do some research before you purchase.
Make sure that your snack doesn’t derail your keto efforts.
There are few things that are as demotivating as losing progress on a diet plan or eating plan because of a few moments of snacking.
Conclusion: Is Movie Theater Popcorn Keto?
We know that sometimes it is frustrating when you are getting started out with keto. Some of your ‘go to’ snacks are no longer on the menu, and that is nobody’s idea of a good time. The great thing about modern grocery stores is that there are tons of options to choose from.
There are many ways to make a keto-friendly snack, and there are also lots of foods that can help you in this process. For instance, you can try making keto bars from almond flour, sugar free peanut brittle, and much more.
If done right, these kinds of snacks can be really good because they have the right amount of protein and fat without the dreaded carbs.
We hope that you have found this useful, and that you now know what to do about eating popcorn while on keto. (If you can avoid it then rather don’t eat popcorn on keto.)
