Friday night! What do most people do on Friday nights? They go to the movies. I was actually being all journalistic and researching the percentage to impress you, my loyal reader, but alas, I found pages and pages worth of documentation on how many people were killed in each Friday the 13th movie, but alas there are no statistics on how many Americans attend the movies on a Friday night. Sans percentage, we'll just say that a lot of people will find themselves in a theater either tonight, tomorrow or on Sunday. Whilst in said theater, after the ticket purchase and before settling into those comfy movie theater chairs, you are usually titillated with the buttery deliciousness wafting from the concession stand. Sometimes, you possess the willpower to pass by without purchase, but what if, you and the concession stand could actually be friends without ruining your diet?
Shape Magazine put together a list of the best movie munchies. (Though most of their list is for half portions of each of these treats- and really, who only eats half?)
Vitamin Water makes the top of their list, because it is zero calories and essentially is nothing but flavored water. But in all honesty who ever feels satisfied in a movie theater full of popcorn noshers and candy eaters just sipping daintily on a vitamin water? If all I needed to feel satisfied was vitamin water, I wouldn't be a tub.
The next best option is an Edy's Strawberry Fruit Bar which has only 80 calories and no fat. But again, between the never ending pre-pre show commercials, and the twenty minutes of previews, this ice cream bar would be long gone before the show even started. Again thumbs down on the satisfaction front.
After that, Shape Magazine suggests drinking a slushie. A 16 ounce slushie is 220 calories. I can jump on board with a slushie- as it will probably take most of the movie to consume. However, if you are looking for something to chew, the slushie is most likely not going to satisfy, but if you're looking for something to attract your sweet tooth and also quench your thirst, the slushie may be for you.
If you are a Popcorn and really, who isn't. They say that it is o.k. for you to have a SMALL popcorn with NO BUTTER. for 225 Calories and 6 grams of fat. If you absolutely must have the butter, one serving of butter (that would be a slight coating along the top of the kernels- and not holding the butter down ensuring coating not only along the top of the bag, but shaking it a bit to make sure that it also drips along the inside corners) will tack on an extra 17 grams of fat. But in all honesty, if you're a tub- just stay away from the popcorn completely. Way too much temptation and it is way too easy to underestimate the butter and overestimate how "good" you did with your popcorn.
For the non - vegetarians, they say a Hot Dog is also a great way to go. I'll refrain from my commentary on the ole' hot dog. But I'll leave you with four words. Upton Sinclairs' "The Jungle" - need I say more? Aside from the fact that a. they smell b. the entire theater is going to be subject to the stench of your steaming meat rod c. eating a hot dog before a movie isn't exactly the sexiest thing you can do while on a date (even if it's a date with your ball and chain) and- your hot dog will be long forgotten before the movie even starts. So, I say, for these and many other reasons, pass on the meat log.
The rest of the article focuses on candies (and keep in mind, they *think* you will only eat a half of a box) but they all sit comfortably in the 150-250 range (so even for a whole box or bag you're looking at 300-500 calories- doable in my opinion). They are as follows:
Gummie Stars- 175 calories- 0 Fat
Milk Duds - 170 Calories 6 g fat
Twizzlers - 263 Calories - 1 gram of fat (These are my personal favorite- they take a long time to chew, so you still feel satisfied, they are sweet enough to curb a sweet tooth, and there are so many in a bag you feel like you're "getting something" for your money
Junior Mints- 298 Calories 5 Grams of Fat
It was a long week, and if you're headed out to the movies, you deserve a treat. Just remember that your Friday or Saturday night treat does not need to be tomorrow mornings regret!
2 comments:
I always go with milk duds, which look like a good choice. Added bonus, they last a long time. By the time you get done picking them from your teeth the movie is over. ;-)
I like those too! :) Because you can spend a good couple minutes on just one :-D but usually I'm at the movies with Mr Millie- the noisiest eater on the planet. Listening to him eat Milk Duds is enough to grate on my last nerve, so if he's with me- its Twizzlers which can be eaten QUIETLY :)
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