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 krauseron7

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What an A-HOLE,how often do people actually go to the movies? maybe once a week if you got the cash and i dont believe one thing of popcorn a week or every 2 weeks is going to have that kind of affect on your health, besides that, look how long popcorn has been in the theaters and you get one JACKASS to ruin it for everybody....go screw yourself MICHAEL LYNTON..

By Mary R. Chione

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POPCORN IS A HEALTHY, HEALTHY FOOD. Two unpopped tablespoons of popcorn contains SEVEN GRAMS OF FIBER, or 27% of an individual's daily requirement. If the movie theaters would not use salt, pop it in olive oil, and not purchase that "butter" people can put on their popcorn and instead replace it with a sesame oil/olive oil spritzer, they would be providing an excellent, healthy, and very, very delicious snack.

By Deb

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Actually, Coconut oil has a very high flash point and is VERY healthy for you even though it is a saturated fat. It is one of the GOOD fats that we need more of. Olive oil has a low flash point and has unhealthy residuals when heated that high. The extra butter flavor and salt that is added is the problem. They could also use organic or non - GMO'd popcorn and it would be better for us too while still tasting the same.

By bill

as long as the theater goer still has a CHOICE, what's the problem?

By Lu

Just another way for someone to tell me what I can and cannot do. I am sick of all my choices being taken away.

By Deano

This article is mildly understandable with today's obesity "epidemic" and all. But everyday people make their own decisions. To me a theater movie without popcorn is like a ballgame without a hot dog. If an adult wants a bag of popcorn let them have the popcorn, if an adult will let their child enjoy some with them so be it. Its all part of the experience. Popcorn or apple slices? Either or.. at the movies they'll be an expensive snack.

By michael

Please go to YOUTUBE and watch THE REAL REASON WHY PEOPLE DEFEND RELIGION.........Thank You

Tuesday 30 March

By Muriel Herrick

If you watch your weight the rest of the time you can afford to splurge at the movies. How often do people attend movies? It's the rest of the time they should worry about. Why can't they do both. Offer popcorn for those of us who live for popcorn at the movies, which by the way is a healthy snack without the butter and offer apples and carrots for those who feel the need to eat those at the movies.

By Robert

This will not affect me. I stopped going to movie theaters many years ago.

By SamBlob

Me too; I'm trying to remember if the last movie I saw at a cinema was "Gone in 60 Seconds" or "Shaft" (the remakes, I mean; I'm not *that* old...)

By Darryl

What's next--no hotdogs at the ball game!!!!!!!!

By Janice

They may as well leave the popcorn alone. It's too expensive to
buy anyway. People eat what they please at home. Bad eating habits start there. Schools may offer healthier food, but if kids don't like the tasteless menu, they will just throw it out and won't get the benefit of it, then go home to eat whatever.
Popcorn and McDonalds does not make you fat,but it may keep you fat after you have stuffed yourself elsewhere.
There is a McDonalds near where I live but I don't stop everytime I go by, that would get boring.

By dean alexander

I DONT NEED some do-gooder telling me what to eat, drink or do!! Whats next, what kind of shoes to wear? stay out of my life. You vegans, vegetarians and idiots like this can do what you want, I dont care what you eat just LEAVE ME ALONE.

By jtswife

Bottom line is this, it is my choice what I put into my body no one else's. Part of going to the movies is the popcorn and junk food. I dont go to the movies to munch on carrot sticks and water.
Leave Americans alone and let them do what they want.

By Charles Koennecker

Baseball, hotdogs and apple pie...Popcorn, candy and soda....Sun, beaches & water...March Madness and GOLF...Life is good. Ah on second thought...Life is GREAT..K-Dad

By Argus

The thought that we should give up popcorn and the other treats that we get when we got to the movies is wrong.
Moderation is the key you don't need to get the biggest size of popcorn or candy,or if you do get the big orders split it with a friend.
Mr.Lynton needs to shut up!people go to the movies for enjoyment and escape and to forget the world for a bit.
There is enough other things in the world that are bad for us, taking away popcorn and candy at the movies is not really one that needs to be taken away.
So to Mr.Lynton and the people at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and anyone else that want's to suck just a little more fun out of life, go worry about something else and SHUT THE H**L up.
Bring me my buttered popcorn and a box of rasinetts please.

By SUlly

I work out and eat healthy. Going to the movies is a splurge and a treat for my fiance' and I. Healthy food choices are a personal decision. Fine, offer "healthier" foods as an option, but why should the health conscience suffer and possibly lose their one treat?

By Gia

I make home made popcorn all the time. Use Canola or Olive oil to pop it in and spray on non fat butter spray. It tastes great and it's alot healthier than microwave popcorn. The theaters could pop huge batches of healthy popcorn if they wanted to. They just want to use the cheapest ingredients, jack up the price 200% and gouge the movie goers. If they REALLY cared they would set it up to make two kind of pop corn. Healthy popcorn with butter alternative and the regular crap they use which isn't even butter. It's a heart clogging butter tasting OIL.

By boost99a4

Are you kidding me??? If you want to protect your waistline, stop eating all that junkfood you eat while you're not at the movies. If I'm going to go to the movies to enjoy myself the last thing I'm going to worry about is watching my calories. Extra butter for me!! This is the most absurd thing I've heard. It's like going out to a bar for drinks, and having them take away beer because it has too many calories! C'mon! Seriously?? Stop eating McDonalds, stop eating a million carbs at night, and take your fast ass to the gym! At the very least, give the consumer the choice to pick what they want to eat!

By Debbie

Why can't they offer both kinds of snacks? It is not like we go to the movies everyday and this is our only means of nutrition. Let the decision be up to us.

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