Why do they make calories so confusing? Help!
Replies
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If you measure 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels and pop them on the stove or in a paper bag, it only produces a few cups.
Ignore the unpopped measurement--that's where they're inconsistent and where everyone gets confused.
It clearly states there are 3 servings per bag and 17 servings in the whole box. 1 serving is 1 cup popped and only 35 calories.
The funny thing is that these "low fat" bags of popcorn aren't much lower in fat than the "regular" popcorn. It's all marketing.
All popcorn is >90% "fat free" because it's mostly air.
How are you seeing 1 serving = 1 cup popped??? :noway:
Are you looking at the photo he posted it clearly says Amount per serving then 1 cup popped
I'm looking at the image he posted that says "serving size = 2 tbsp unpopped (makes 4 cups popped), servings per bag = 3"0 -
If you measure 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels and pop them on the stove or in a paper bag, it only produces a few cups.
Ignore the unpopped measurement--that's where they're inconsistent and where everyone gets confused.
It clearly states there are 3 servings per bag and 17 servings in the whole box. 1 serving is 1 cup popped and only 35 calories.
The funny thing is that these "low fat" bags of popcorn aren't much lower in fat than the "regular" popcorn. It's all marketing.
All popcorn is >90% "fat free" because it's mostly air.
How are you seeing 1 serving = 1 cup popped??? :noway:
You need glasses.
The label is CLEAR. It CLEARLY says one cup popped is one serving.
IF you read it properly and do the CORRECT math; there are enough kernels PER BAG to make 4 cups of POPPED popcorn. However, not all kernels pop. SO, there'd be closer to 3 cups POPPED.
No bag makes 12 cups of popcorn.
You're over-complicating everything and confusing EVERYONE.
Each cup popped = 35 calories
Each bag POPS about 3 cups.
35 calories x 3 (1 cup) servings = 105 calories TOTAL for a bag of just POPPED popcorn.0 -
There are three servings per bag. Each serving is 2tbs kernels, which makes 4 cups popped. So there are 12 cups popped per bag.
You need to multiply the unpopped calories by 3, or popped by 12. This will give you the range of calories per bag which is somewhere between 420-540. I'm assuming their popped calories already takes into consideration average amount unpopped, bag residue (etc) which is why it is lower. 420 is the minimum I would log, or the 540 to be on the safe side.The front of the box should say how many grams of kernels there are per bag.
From a quick google, it looks like one bag contains 99g of kernels. (Double-check your box!)
So one bag contains 3 "servings" (lol) of popcorn.
33g of unpopped kernels has 180 calories.
Therefore each bag has 180x3 = 540 calories.
(This assumes all kernels pop... but honestly, you're hardly going to be left with that many that don't pop. Really what you should do is start with 540, then weigh the unpopped kernels at the end. Say you have 11g unpopped kernels at the end... that means that 60cals worth of kernels did not pop, so the total amount in the bag was 540-60 = 480 calories.)
This would be the most accurate method.
That would be a huge bag of popcorn - I think the estimate of 4 cups popped is more in line with the average popcorn bag size.
You'd think so but a typical bag of microwave popcorn (at least here in the UK, but they seem about the same size everywhere) fills my serving bowl, which has a 3L capacity. That is about 12 cups. 4 cups is only 1L which is quite a small bowl. Certainly wouldn't fit a whole bag in it, not even half!0 -
It's like the skinny chips at Jimmy John's. Yeah, they're skinny because they have TWO servings per bag. Let's be honest: nobody eats a sandwich and drinks the drink, but only eats half of the chips that come with it. You can call any chips "skinny chips" if you cut the serving size in half.0
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If you measure 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels and pop them on the stove or in a paper bag, it only produces a few cups.
Ignore the unpopped measurement--that's where they're inconsistent and where everyone gets confused.
It clearly states there are 3 servings per bag and 17 servings in the whole box. 1 serving is 1 cup popped and only 35 calories.
The funny thing is that these "low fat" bags of popcorn aren't much lower in fat than the "regular" popcorn. It's all marketing.
All popcorn is >90% "fat free" because it's mostly air.
How are you seeing 1 serving = 1 cup popped??? :noway:
You need glasses.
The label is CLEAR. It CLEARLY says one cup popped is one serving.
IF you read it properly and do the CORRECT math; there are enough kernels PER BAG to make 4 cups of POPPED popcorn. However, not all kernels pop. SO, there'd be closer to 3 cups POPPED.
No bag makes 12 cups of popcorn.
You're over-complicating everything and confusing EVERYONE.
Each cup popped = 35 calories
Each bag POPS about 3 cups.
35 calories x 3 (1 cup) servings = 105 calories TOTAL for a bag of just POPPED popcorn.
Fantastic then, we'll just agree to disagree.
And there are plenty of people in this thread that posted the same numbers I did, so I'm not confusing everyone.0 -
If you measure 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels and pop them on the stove or in a paper bag, it only produces a few cups.
Ignore the unpopped measurement--that's where they're inconsistent and where everyone gets confused.
It clearly states there are 3 servings per bag and 17 servings in the whole box. 1 serving is 1 cup popped and only 35 calories.
The funny thing is that these "low fat" bags of popcorn aren't much lower in fat than the "regular" popcorn. It's all marketing.
All popcorn is >90% "fat free" because it's mostly air.
How are you seeing 1 serving = 1 cup popped??? :noway:
Are you looking at the photo he posted it clearly says Amount per serving then 1 cup popped
I'm looking at the image he posted that says "serving size = 2 tbsp unpopped (makes 4 cups popped), servings per bag = 3"
The servings per bag of 3 is based on you popping the damn thing.NO bag of microwave popcorn makes 12 cups. There is only 2 tablespoons of unpopped in the bag (seriously cut open a bag and measure it). Directly under where you see the 2 tbsp unpopped is the nutrition label where it says a serving is ONE CUP POPPED0 -
Seriously, go measure out 2 tablespoons of popcorn and pop them. Unless you're using mutant popcorn in modified gravity, it will never make 12 cups. It will make about 3 cups.
Go ahead; I'll wait.0 -
zap the barcode with reader on app.simples.
if no can do,no eat.
also simples.0 -
Seriously, go measure out 2 tablespoons of popcorn and pop them. Unless you're using mutant popcorn in modified gravity, it will never make 12 cups. It will make about 3 cups.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
Exactly! Hell they could do the simple thing and pop a bag of microwave popcorn and then (gasp) measure it in one cup measuring cups. Or hell they don't even need to pop it, cut it open and find that there are only 2 TBSP of unpopped so at absolute most the calories would be 180, which it's better to over estimate than under estimate.0 -
Yeah, companies use tricks like that to make their products seem more calorie friendly. The truth is most people will eat the whole bag. We generally don't pop a bag of popcorn and save 2/3's of the bag for later. Same with a 16 oz soda. Most people drink the whole thing yet you will see the servings per container listed as 2, the 20 oz soda sometimes lists servings as 2.5. Again, most people drink the whole thing. You just have to pay attention to the serving sizes of EVERYTHING you eat.
well said0 -
12 cups of popcorn is not as much as some of you think it is. Those bags get pretty big in the microwave, and when you dump it out into a bowl, you might very well have 12 cups. If you've ever popped your own popcorn, you know that 2 tablespoons making 4 cups is not at all uncommon.
The label is misleading, and the only way you can get an accurate calorie count is to measure the number of cups of popped corn in the bag and then multiply that by 35. It should be about twelve cups, or 420 calories. The difference between that and the 540 calories calculated elsewhere is mainly in the unpopped kernels.0 -
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A Pop Secret Extra Butter popcorn bag (your 180 calories for 4 cups cooked) has 90.7g in each bag. If a serving is 33g and cooking 33g results in 180 calories of popcorn, then the number of calories for one bag is
(90.7/33)x180 = 494.8 calories per bag.0 -
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Also, poptarts. I used to think 200 calories was both poptarts in the wrapper. Nope. Just one.
Ha! i've totally made that mistake before!
Sure... "mistake"... :bigsmile:0 -
Seriously, go measure out 2 tablespoons of popcorn and pop them. Unless you're using mutant popcorn in modified gravity, it will never make 12 cups. It will make about 3 cups.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
Yes, but it says there are about 3 servings per bag so it's not just 2 tablespoons, it's closer to 6 tablespoons of kernals. Pop a bag yourself and use a dry measuring cup to count it all out, I'm guessing it will be 10-12 cups popped.
Go ahead; I'll wait.0 -
How about you just measure how many cups pop and multiply by 35 ? If it's only 4 that would be very easy. I'm guessing it's more.
The box says it's 12, that may be a little high though.0 -
It's all about marketing.0
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12 cups of popcorn is not as much as some of you think it is. Those bags get pretty big in the microwave, and when you dump it out into a bowl, you might very well have 12 cups. If you've ever popped your own popcorn, you know that 2 tablespoons making 4 cups is not at all uncommon.
The label is misleading, and the only way you can get an accurate calorie count is to measure the number of cups of popped corn in the bag and then multiply that by 35. It should be about twelve cups, or 420 calories. The difference between that and the 540 calories calculated elsewhere is mainly in the unpopped kernels.
I've opened the bag and dumped it into my 6 cup measuring bowl. It doesn't make 12 cups of popcorn.0 -
I can see where mistakes can be made. by looking at the wording quickly on the label.
But what is getting me is that reading through these post........... I had a "Princess Bride Iocane powder moment"0 -
Wow, that is confusing. I think I've always look at the unpopped by mistake and count that as the serving, meaning I would think it's 540 calories but it's not if you use the "popped" calories which is 35/cup, 12 cups in the whole bag so it comes to 420 calories like you said.
I skip all this mess and by the 100 calorie bags. They cost a bit more, but you don't have to do math and it helps with portion control
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So far we have people coming up with somewhere between 105 and 1080 calories...I'm sure it wasn't labeled for clarity
But yes, its 420 OR 540 calories (because they give two measurements that don't agree with each other). But then you have to subtract the amount that doesn't pop to be accurate...which means you have to get your scale out to weigh greasy unpopped kernels...I'd try to call it 400 cals and call it a day.0 -
Seriously, go measure out 2 tablespoons of popcorn and pop them. Unless you're using mutant popcorn in modified gravity, it will never make 12 cups. It will make about 3 cups.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
Yes, but it says there are about 3 servings per bag so it's not just 2 tablespoons, it's closer to 6 tablespoons of kernals. Pop a bag yourself and use a dry measuring cup to count it all out, I'm guessing it will be 10-12 cups popped.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
Tear open a bag and tell me if there are 6 tablespoons of kernels in there. I promise you, it's only 2. Ignore the unpopped figures because they are misleading!0 -
I tried to do the math and i got 420 calories for a bag. Is that right? So far nobody has actually answered lol
540 180x3 3 servings per bag (12 total) seems like a lot of popcorn though0 -
Seriously, go measure out 2 tablespoons of popcorn and pop them. Unless you're using mutant popcorn in modified gravity, it will never make 12 cups. It will make about 3 cups.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
Yes, but it says there are about 3 servings per bag so it's not just 2 tablespoons, it's closer to 6 tablespoons of kernals. Pop a bag yourself and use a dry measuring cup to count it all out, I'm guessing it will be 10-12 cups popped.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
Tear open a bag and tell me if there are 6 tablespoons of kernels in there. I promise you, it's only 2. Ignore the unpopped figures because they are misleading!
Not sure how much unpopped is in there because, well, I eat it popped but I can tell you I had that same popcorn a few days ago and after it was all popped, I measured 6 cups out for myself and had a little less than half the bag left. When I've had a whole bag before, it was a little over 10 cups popped.0 -
Yeah this pisses me off too. But it actually kind of has a reverse marketing effect on me. I tend to find myself leaning towards brands that display more honesty in their nutritional labeling. A lot of stuff just has 2 columns calories/100g or some other applicable whole measure and calories/bag.
There is also the trick i personally hate of printing out the nutritional info in a great big line/non table form or making it so small you would need a magnifying glass to read it. If a company feels it needs to make it's calorie info so small that it can't be read with the naked eye I automatically assume it's junk.0 -
This is why I buy the 100 cal serving bags of popcorn
This - popcorn math makes me insane. The big bags have at least 400 or more calories. The little 100 calorie bags are much much smaller. Don't fall for the illusion that your big bag of popcorn only has 100 calories.0 -
This is why I buy the 100 cal serving bags of popcorn
This - popcorn math makes me insane. The big bags have at least 400 or more calories. The little 100 calorie bags are much much smaller. Don't fall for the illusion that your big bag of popcorn only has 100 calories.
Thank you, I totally agree :flowerforyou:0 -
The pox of Pop-Secret Butter popcorn DH got has six bags. Each bag is ~3 servings. Each serving UNPOPPED is 180 calories, thus making each bag about 540 calories.
Now if you go by the POPPED serving size of 1 cup (right side of the nutrition information panel), each bag should make 4.5 servings. Then you're looking at magically only 135 calories for the whole bag.
It doesn't make a damn bit of sense. :grumble:0 -
This is one of the reasons I tell my seventh graders that they should learn math. Yes, companies are in business of making money, which often means misleading labels. But looking closely at the label information and the amount of product in the bag. . . you can figure it out.0
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