If the amount of protein in your afternoon snack matters, don’t choose popcorn based solely on a protein claim on the front of the pack. The popcorn varieties considered here contain different amounts of protein depending on the recipe, and your planned portion matters too. Classic microwave popcorn can be a good choice if you want warm popcorn with minimal preparation. If you’re looking for a crunchy snack with a greater focus on protein instead, you could consider protein flips or crisps, but you’ll miss out on the texture of popcorn.
If you want your afternoon snack to contribute to your planned protein intake, the amount per portion you’ll actually eat matters more than a product name containing “protein”. Energy content and portion size are worth comparing too.
If you mainly want warm or ready-to-eat popcorn, start by choosing how you want to prepare it. For microwave popcorn, follow the instructions on the specific pack. Fat, salt and sugar content depend on the recipe.
If you want to keep the texture of popcorn while comparing sugar, fat or fibre, check the nutritional information for different varieties. A recipe that suits you doesn’t automatically provide a larger portion of protein.
First decide whether protein content or the popcorn experience matters more to you. Then compare the nutritional values for the portion you actually plan to eat.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Protein content | Protein per 100 g and per planned portion; energy content to put protein claims into context. | If I want my post-exercise snack to make a noticeable contribution to my protein intake, the product name alone isn’t enough to help me decide. Around 50% of shoppers put protein content first. |
| Popcorn experience | Ready to eat or made in the microwave; preparation instructions and information on fat and salt. | For me, the most important thing in the afternoon is warm, light popcorn that doesn’t take much preparation. Around 30% of shoppers prioritise popcorn and easy preparation. |
| Recipe | Sugar, fat, salt and fibre per 100 g and per portion; ingredients and allergen information. | I want to choose a sweet or savoury variety to suit my tastes, rather than focusing only on its protein claim. For around 20% of shoppers, the recipe profile is the priority. |
Protein per 100 g doesn’t tell you how much protein is in the portion you’ll eat. As a post-exercise snack, it may therefore contribute less than you expect.
Compare the nutritional information with your planned portion size. If a product claims to be “high protein”, also check the labelling requirements that apply to that claim.
The recipes listed by EDEKA have different nutritional profiles: GUT&GÜNSTIG salted microwave popcorn contains 21 g of fat and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g, while EDEKA lists 30 g of sugar per 100 g for GUT&GÜNSTIG sweet popcorn.
As well as protein, check sugar, fat and salt per 100 g and per portion. Then decide which recipe best suits the kind of snack you’re after.
Crisps made with lentil flour and pea protein are a different product category. If you want warm, light popcorn, they won’t give you the same texture or preparation experience.
First decide whether you want the popcorn experience or a snack with a focus on protein. Then compare products within the category that suits you.
The packaging is the key source of information, especially for nutritional values, ingredients and allergens. EDEKA also notes that its product information may differ from the packaging and that availability can vary between stores.
Before buying, check the current variety, pack size, nutritional table and ingredients list.
Protein Chips Barbecue Style are a savoury alternative for snacking, not popcorn.
More Chunky Popcorn is worth considering when comparing popcorn recipes, particularly if fibre matters as well as protein.
The sweet and savoury popcorn varieties considered here make it easy to compare different recipes.
The sweet microwave popcorn listed by REWE is for shoppers who want to prepare their own popcorn.
If you’re looking for a ready-to-eat snack with a focus on protein and don’t mind choosing something other than popcorn, protein flips are another product category to consider. The information on the current packaging is still important when making your choice.
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A ready-to-eat, crunchy snack for when popcorn texture isn’t essential.
According to the product name, the tray contains six packs of 50 g each. The protein information in the title, description and nutritional table doesn’t match, so check the current packaging before you buy. These are protein flips, not popcorn.
No. The fact that it’s popcorn doesn’t tell you how much protein your portion contains. For the sweet and savoury varieties considered here, EDEKA lists 6.4 g and 8.1 g of protein per 100 g respectively. Check the nutritional information on the specific pack and the amount you plan to eat.
The German Nutrition Society (DGE) gives a reference value of 0.8 g of protein per kg of body weight per day for adults aged 19 to under 65. This isn’t an individual recommendation for a snack or for what to eat after training.
Follow the preparation instructions on the pack of the specific popcorn and stay by the microwave while it’s cooking. Before you buy, also compare the portion size and the fat, sugar and salt content of your chosen variety.
No. Ingredients and allergen information vary from product to product. funny-frisch says its Protein Chips Barbecue Style may contain milk. The cream caramel popcorn described by EDEKA contains milk ingredients and may contain traces of cereals containing gluten. Always check the current packaging.