Forget Popcorn; Executive Demands Healthy Treats at Movie Theaters

By Amber James Posted Mar 17th 2010 09:51AM

Instead of hearing the rustle of candy wrappers, moviegoers may be interrupted by the sound of people munching on apples and carrots. Sony Pictures Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Lynton wants theater owners to put down the popcorn and candy and start offering healthier treats, the L.A. Times reports. While there's nothing quite like a bag of popcorn smothered in butter, patrons watching their waistlines would finally have nutritious snacking options. While some movie theater managers are open to the option, patrons seem more upset about the change to an age-old tradition.

During the annual ShoWest movie industry convention, Lynton presented a poll of moviegoers commissioned by Sony Pictures, which revealed:

• two-thirds of moviegoers and three-quarters of parents are more likely to buy healthy snacks at theaters if they are offered;
• forty-two percent of parents said they would buy concessions more often if healthy options were available; and
• sixty percent of parents said having healthier snacks in theaters would enhance their overall movie-going experience.

"I don't think giant tubs of spinach or broccoli's a good idea. And nobody wants to eat cauliflower while watching 'Spider-Man,' or drink a 40-ounce cup of prune juice," Lynton said.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest conducted a recent study and "found movie theater popcorn offerings range from 400 to 1,200 calories, with one to three days' worth of saturated fat and up to 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Make it a combo and add 300 to 1,110 empty calories worth of candy and another 150 to 500 calories from a sugary soft drink to wash it all down." Both Regal and AMC popped their popcorn in coconut oil, which contains 90% saturated fat, while Cinemark popped their popcorn in non-hydrogenated canola oil, which offers contained only a fraction of the saturated fat.

Cynthia Pasquella, a board certified clinical nutritionist and holistic life and wellness coach, says Americans are constantly looking for healthier food options, and entertainment venues should offer healthier treats. "We have to be really careful about moving away from the concept of popcorn, chocolate and sodas cold turkey. Not many people are going to order a side of broccoli or a salad as they head into the theater," she tells PopEater. "Most of us associate the theater experience with buttery popcorn and yummy snacks, so the trick is to make these foods available in a healthier format."

Pasquella offers up the idea of "air popped popcorn from non-genetically modified corn." But have no fear, chocolate lovers, there's a great alternative. "Dark chocolate that's high in cacao is delicious and packed with antioxidants but doesn't contain the same amount of sugar and harmful additives."

Cinema managers aren't weighing out the option -- especially if the demand is there. According to a TIME.com's Money Blog, movie theaters make 85% of their profit at the concession stands. According to the site, $30 worth of raw popcorn can translate into as much as $3,000 in sales at the movie theaters. "Whatever sells is worth bringing into the market," a Long Island Movieland Cinemas manager tells PopEater. "There are theaters already providing alternatives like air popped and unsalted popcorn or low fat butter... But it is all about demand."

PopEater readers were split about the new options and concerned about the concession stand cost. "At the prices they charge for crap food, I would hate to see what they would charge for a healthy snack. $50 organic apple, anyone?" Whitney Russell Odabashian wrote on PopEater's Facebook wall.

"I'd feel better about taking the kids to the movies with the healthier snack options," Pearl Ramirez wrote.

But others didn't want to give up the age-old tradition of letting loose and pouring on the extra butter. "The movies have been a place for kids and adults to go and enjoy a movie... enjoy a tub of buttered popcorn, a greasy hot dog, cheese fries, ice cream and all the gooey candies that one can carry to their seat," said Escabedo Carlos.

Pasquella challenges those opposed to not be afraid to experiment and remain open-minded. "I will often switch clients from their favorite foods to a healthier version, and they actually like the taste of the healthier version better ... As long as we don't try to drastically [alter] the theater experience and stick to offering healthier versions of the foods people are used to, there is a great chance they will choose the healthier options," Pasquella advises.

Comments

(490)

Saturday 20 March

By wordman238

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Man I'm sooooo sick of people telling us what we can and can't eat!!!!!!!! If I want to eat junk that destroys my health that's NONE of YOUR DAMN business!!!!!!!!! IT is MY BODY NOT YOURS!!!!!!!! I own me no one else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I defy anyone that trys to mess with my health or lack of it!!!!!!!! Anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By kelli

The only time i eat popcorn is when i go to the movies.i do agree that they could get veggies but they shouldnt just get rid of popcorn all together.people should be smart enough that if they shouldnt be eating popcorn they should pick an alt. not all people are out of shape, some do work out and deserve to have unhealthy treats sometimes.

By King David

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You are SO RIGHT!!! I've said that for a loooooooong time! The REAL problem is that "wanna-B-butter" crap!!! Some of it has NO taste, it's just like eating some type of bland oil on the popcorn! And the stuff that actually tastes like butter is probably just as DANGEROUS to the heart BUT there really has to be something tasty to put on the popcorn -- after all, it is a TRADITION. I don't know if mixing, or ACTUALLY USING REAL BUTTER, is a choice but the GREEDY JERKS who run the theaters want every penney they can muster, so using butter, which may be a BIT more expensive than the 10W-40 that they use, may not be an option, even if the popcorn cost a few cents more to offset the cost.

By tss36

I think popcorn is fine if they would use less oil and healthy oil. Less salt or no salt version would be good. Not everyone wants to be unhealthy and overweight !

By scott

Quit trying to tell people what to do...we are able to decide for ourselves..the only time i eat popcorn is at an occasional movie.... it not like people are eating movie popcorn daily..

PS i also eat bacon and red meat.. it not up to you to tell me what to eat..If these nuts had their way we would all eat nothing but vegies and lettuce...How Boring!!

By mmantych

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No way. I admit the sat fats are unhealthy but you cannot beat the taste of popcorn popped in coconut butter with extra butter poured on it. Corn oil, canola oil and the like changes the taste and not for the better. Bring on the sats!

By gregory

actually, pure coconut oil is much lower in fat espcially the most harmful fats. The problem is that it is about 3 times as expensive as canola or other oils and that is why only a few theaters use it. (I work in the concession industry and my boss has been trying to promote coconut oil for years but its always about the bottom line.)

By kristina

yes i agree with you if the movies popcorn is to UNHEALTHY then why make less butter on it and healtheir stuff on it i totally disagree with anybody who thinks that we should not have popcorn at the movies.popcorn is what people look forward to and if they get rid of it i bet some people would NOT buy vegetables they will just buy candy at the store and bring it there or make popcorn and then bring it there i think it is very stupid

By Elizabeth

I agree with you! It seems like so many franchises nowadays are so caught up in what they have always done that they don't want to try something new.

By Nancy Thomas

Make the popcorn healthier - it's the only time I eat it (hold the "butter"), but I like having that choice.

By MandiP

What am I, in the 1980's again? They tried healthier veggie options at movie theaters then, it rotted, stunk and nobody came. When you don't sell tickets, it's end game for the entertainment biz and the movies is a fun experience. Offer less (or no) salted popcorn, real butter instead of the fake kind, no fat BEEF hotdogs and lowfat or diet JUICES instead of sodas.

By Nancy Pascale

i totally agree, and why not give the theater goers an option...continue old popcorn, but have a healthier one available.......a lot of people would make the healthy choce....i once attended a theatre where they had popcorn unsalted and you could put what you wanted on it......marvelous idea....but never found one again....no on veggies.

By jojob4

I AM SO,SO,SO SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE RUINING THE GREASY, DELICIOUS ANS FATTENING FOODS AT RESTAURANTS AND NOW THE THEATER!!!!!!!!!! You want to eat healthy, then eat at home!!!! I am not super-skinny nor over-weight, but if I want to eat healthy we eat at HOME. When my family(my husband and our four children)and I go out to eat, it is special and we don't do it for every single meal. So, we want it to be tasty,greasy and fattening is O.K.!!!!!!! All of our kids are either below average or average in weight(ages 10-17 months). So, my children eating "UNHEALTHY" foods ONCE-IN-A-WHILE(WHICH IS THE KEY!!!!), IS NOT GOING TO HURT THEM!!!!!! SO LAY OFF TELLING ME OR BUSINESSES WHAT WE CAN OR CAN NOT EAT!!!!!!!!! I LOVE GOING OUT TO EAT AND EATING FATTENING, DELICIOUS FOODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Phil Bittle

You're right. We use extra light olive oil and Iceland Sea Mineral Salt (60% less sodium than regular table salt, more salt flavor plus potassium and manganese. Excellent.

Wednesday 17 March

By hello lana

Are you kidding me, I do not buy any food at the movies, it is sooooo expensive, we bring our own food and drinks.

By Judy

I feel EXACTLY the way you do. If they offered veggies, can you imagine what they'd charge for them?? They'd probably have a 99% markup on them.

Sunday 21 March

By Terin

I agree. If theaters want to make more money...they shouldn't price us out of the option to buy. Even if they offered one healthy thing at a reasonable price I would start buying. I never, ever buy now because A) it is so rediculously priced and B)most of it would make me ill anyway.

Since I have never seen a therater allow a person to bring stuff in, I would say if you found one you are in deed very fortunate. Our theaters will through you out if they catch you breaking their rule of not bringing stuff in so we just go to watch the movie and don't even think of doing anything else.

By gobluespartyon

When I go to the theater eating healthy is least thing on my mind I like my nachos & popcorn at the movies for the record I only buy nachos or popcorn don't buy both get a water most of the time.

By spaingl

OMG U R SOOO RITE WHO WANTS TO GO TO THE MOVIES AND EAT RAW VEGGGIES? YUCK!!!!!!! popcorn every once in a while isin't guna kill anyone geese!

Thursday 18 March

By Alzaetia

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When I go to the theater I bring dried berries and nuts. They satisfy my sweet and salty movie snacking cravings without being empty calories.
Probably just as many calories as candy and popcorn, but instead of sugar I'm getting antioxidants and heart healthy omega fatty acids.
Plus it's super yummy.

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