The Worst Snack At The Movies

Consider it the FDA's version of a spoiler alert: As early as this week, the government agency hopes to mandate that theaters must disclose the nutritional value of popcorn sold at concession stands.

Naturally, lobbyists for theater owners oppose such a move—and based on what nutritional information already exists, it's easy to see why. The stats would be enough to terrify any health-conscious moviegoer. One large popcorn, for example, contains as much as 1,460 calories—the equivalent of three Big Macs—according to a 2009 study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Here's a shocker: Movie popcorn isn't even the worst popcorn in America! That award goes to a souvenir popcorn bucket at Yankee stadium, which will cost fans 2,280 calories.

And if you rationalize that most people share their buckets, or know when to quit, think again. In a Cornell study, people given large buckets of popcorn ate nearly twice as much as those given medium buckets—even when researchers filled some of those buckets with two-week-old kernels.

As with all things that involve powerful lobbies, however, this isn't just about personal health. It's about money. If moviegoers balk at such outrageous calorie counts, it'll cut deeply into every theater's bottom line. As the Los Angeles Times reported, that $6 bucket of popcorn costs the average theater about 15 or 20 cents. Combined, concession stands now account for roughly one-third of a theater's revenue. If those profits fail to roll in, it might affect prices elsewhere, such as the ticket booth, to help account for the loss.

But if theater owners need a reason to breathe deep, they need only examine the effect that publishing calorie counts on restaurant menus recently had on people in New York. In a 2011 study of children and teens that visited fast-food joints like KFC and McDonald's, only 60 percent said they noticed the new food labels, and 90 percent said it had no effect on what they ordered.

Do yourself favor and eat smarter than those foolish kids. The next time you plan a movie night, check in with our Eat This, Not That! guide to the Best and Worst movie foods. Your meal—if not your flick—will end happily.

Thanks to Mike Darling / Blogs MensHealth