Kansas City Food Blog

​A study released yesterday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that a medium popcorn and soda sold at the Regal Entertainment Group was the equivalent of eating three Quarter Pounders from McDonald's topped with ... wait for it... 12 pats of butter. And that's before we compulsively press the handle of the buttered topping dispenser.

Kansas City-based AMC fared slightly better in the tests, although that's mostly because of the smaller portion sizes at the chain. A Regal medium is 20 cups of popcorn (1,200 calories, 60 grams of saturated fat), while AMC's is only nine cups (590 calories and 33 grams of saturated fat). The high fat and calorie count in the popcorns is attributed to the use of coconut oil, which has a high amount of saturated fat.   

The fat content is surprising, but is also a valid explanation for why popcorn at home never tastes quite like the stuff they make at the movies. That said, the idea that movie food is unhealthy isn't exactly groundbreaking. Any place with rotating hot dog grillers and Nacho Cheese that comes in bag form is a place where I'm watching what I eat. 

At the same time, popcorn is one of the foods that is meant to be shared -- it's the classic date food. How many movie patrons actually down a medium bag by themselves? Those who do should be excited by the idea that they'd apparently be able to consume three quarter pounders with 12 pats of butter. Now, that's the way to win a bar bet.

[Image via Flickr: jakeof8bitjoystick.com]