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    What to order at the movies?!?

    Posts: 19 Member
    edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
    So I'm going to the movies tonight with my friends, (which I have been cancelling on them for some time because I was afraid I would indulge in way too much junk food). The movie starts later tonight around 8:30 and was wondering what I should order fo eat at the movies? Should I just eat before I go so I don't order anything there? Skip dinner so I could have popcorn and a soda? Any help would be great!

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    • Posts: 1,411 Member
      Do you go out to the movies a lot? If so, maybe stick to a small popcorn and a diet soda. If you do not go much, and it's going to be a fun night out for you, go for it and just enjoy yourself, and maybe walk a little more tomorrow. And don't add too much extra butter. ;)
    • Posts: 10,179 Member
      edited February 2016
      It depends. Your MFP food database has calories and sodium for even movie fare. I planned my Saturday with the intention of seeing a moving and having something there.
    • Posts: 4,696 Member
      Popcorn is my favorite thing to order at the movies. I don't go to the movies often, so I know that one night and a small popcorn with a diet soda will not hinder my progress. Nor would some Raisinettes or even some nachos. Get what you want, and enjoy it. Log it. Move on.
    • Posts: 572 Member
      If you don't go to the movies often, then I would eat a big salad beforehand to give you some satiety and save calories for that yummy movie popcorn. Why do you need a soda? Unless it is diet, drink water or something with less calories, unless that soda is a special treat that you do not indulge in at any other time.
    • Posts: 214 Member
      I've never been a huge fan of eating at the movies...maybe you can find enjoyment in the film and your friends and skip the snacks :smile: totally not saying that it's right or wrong to indulge, but it sounds like this has been worrying you, so thought I'd throw that option out there. For movie treats, salted popcorn (no butter/margarine) is really low cal if they have it. Or just splurge and get a buttery unhealthy popcorn in a small serving - when it's gone it's gone :p
    • Posts: 1,149 Member
      Look up different options in the mfp database to see how many calories they will cost you. Then you can decide which, if any, will be worth it. You can save some calories for that snack, or you may decide to eat all your calories during the day before the movie and don't eat at the movies (my preference). It's really a budgeting issue.
    • Posts: 2,188 Member
      I seldom go to the movies, but when I do, I allow for popcorn, even if I eat nothing else all day.
      The last movie I went to was Mockingjay Part2 last November.
      I have plans to go to see The Choice on Saturday..................popcorn, here I come.
      To me, there is no sense in going to the movies if you can't have popcorn.
    • Posts: 1,657 Member
      I bring a lenny & larry cookie or a protein bar or two so that I can still eat something yummy and track accurately. And I'll buy a diet soda there
    • Posts: 2,018 Member
      This is a great thread!! Maybe bring your own snacks? That's what I always do.
    • Posts: 2,696 Member
      Yep! - just eat before I go so I don't order anything there
    • Posts: 2,528 Member
      I'm cheap, so I bring my own snacks and a can of diet pop or bottled water, lol.
    • Posts: 1,056 Member
      I bring my own snacks, a handful of almonds, air popped popcorn, dried fruits, veggies, etc. I always purchase water there because most theaters rely on food & drink sales to profit. I have repeatedly asked our local theater to provide healthy options but they say it doesn't sell.
    • Posts: 17,562 Member
      I went to the movies this afternoon and got a bottle of water and a box of SnoCaps. To me, chocolate beats movie theater popcorn any day of the week.
    • Posts: 699 Member
      edited February 2016
      When I go to the movies my snack spins a regular popcorn with butter layered in the middle and top. I don't do this often, so not a big deal to endulge.
    • Posts: 15,573 Member
      I don't like getting movie popcorn really because I make mine at home and can eat so much more/fit it into my day better. I usually get a big old diet soda, and maybe some pork rinds to crunch on and help meet my protein and fat macros
    • Posts: 450 Member
      Nothing - eat dinner before and smuggle in some of your own healthy snacks and a bottled water in your purse!
    • Posts: 153 Member
      I go at least once a month with my wife, and I usually eat a small unbuttered popcorn as my lunch, which for me is totally doable. It's like ~530 calories, and I bank for the weekends anyhow, and then I just get a small diet soda.
    • Posts: 18,853 Member
      chimaerandi wrote: »
      I go at least once a month with my wife, and I usually eat a small unbuttered popcorn as my lunch, which for me is totally doable. It's like ~530 calories, and I bank for the weekends anyhow, and then I just get a small diet soda.

      Yup, this is what I do - the popcorn is my meal.
    • Posts: 4,206 Member
      Why do you need to eat at the movies, specially if it is after dinner? A bottle of water and some gum should keep you busy. Or take a protein bar in your purse.
    • Posts: 356 Member
      Alatariel75 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Yup, this is what I do - the popcorn is my meal.

      Same. I love popcorn. Movie theater popcorn is the best. I would be sad to give it up entirely.

      OP, don't let trying to lose weight hinder your social enjoyment! Canceling plans with friends because of your fear of indulging in junk food sounds like a very lonely and sad way to live. A big part of success for me was figuring out how to make my food choices fit my life. Indulging once in awhile isn't a horrible thing, and neither is passing on junk food when others are partaking (it's hard, but it gets easier!).
    • Posts: 3,024 Member
      Take a big purse and bring your own snacks.
    • Posts: 427 Member
      I remember reading (and I don't know if this is true or still true) that the 'butter' they put on movie theatre popcorn is essentially pure oil, and a large movie theatre popcorn has the same amount of fat as like, 12 big macs (something ridiculous). I love popcorn, but haven't touched movie theatre popcorn since then.

      I usually sneak stuff in. I'll treat myself to SweetTarts (pure sugar, yay!) or Milk Duds. To be fair, I can only make it through three milk duds in a movie. I think I made it up to four when I saw Lord of the Rings...
    • Posts: 335 Member
      Alatariel75 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Yup, this is what I do - the popcorn is my meal.

      Me, too! Small, unbuttered popcorn and I count it as my meal.
    • Posts: 2,255 Member
      Save money AND calories and don't eat anything. Make sure you have a good dinner. Maybe take a couple of pieces of dark chocolate with you for dessert. Eating at the movies is a habit, like snacking in front of the TV. You can train yourself not to do it.
    • Posts: 573 Member
      Like others have mentioned - bring your own snacks. I cut up an apple and put it in a ziplock bag in my purse - and bring a bottled water.
    • Posts: 398 Member
      edited February 2016
      I don't quite understand eating at the cinema, it's always so expensive (over here anyway), and it just seems like people are eating for the sake of it. Fair play if you want to, I get that it's nice to eat nice things and I'm not saying that people shouldn't, but it just seems a pity to stress about your social life because you're worried about eating while watching a film. We go to the cinema most weeks and tend to time our trips so we have dinner before we go, so I will occasionally (once every six months or so) take a bag of sweets in to the cinema because I fancy something sweet after dinner and the film is starting so the timings overlap, but blimey, if I was expected to eat extra food in front of the film every week my wallet would be a lot lighter and my waistline a lot larger :p
    • Posts: 46 Member
      I believe my theater sells those big dill pickles.
    • Posts: 292 Member
      Popcorn swimming in butter and a diet soda. Always.
    • Posts: 71 Member
      Can you not share a portion of popcorn with a friend? You get all the flavour and half the calories :) itll also help control the portion. And eat something before going or you maybe tempted to order all the things you shouldnt
    • Posts: 762 Member
      How about just watching the movie? Or buy a bottle of water.
    This discussion has been closed.

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