Planning how much to snack on when you’re out
If you want to take popcorn with you without treating a larger bag as a single serving, check the pack size and the nutrition information for the amount you’ll actually eat.
Who should pay particular attention to bag size?
Sweet popcorn fans keeping an eye on sugar
If you prefer a sweet variety, compare the sugar content per 100 g and consider it in relation to the amount you plan to eat, rather than choosing on flavour alone.
Savoury popcorn fans keeping an eye on salt and fat
If you’re looking for savoury popcorn, check the salt and fat as well as the energy content for the amount you plan to eat from the pack.
What should you look for when buying?
First, decide whether your popcorn needs to be ready to eat while you’re out. Then you can compare the pack sizes and nutrition information for different products, using the values per 100 g.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and energy | Check the pack size in g and the energy in kcal per 100 g; relate the figures to the amount you plan to eat. | When I take popcorn with me, I want to decide in advance how much I’ll eat from the bag. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Sugar in sweet popcorn | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g with the amount you plan to eat, and read the ingredients list. | I want to be able to consider a sweet variety without overlooking its sugar content. This is the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Salt and fat | For savoury varieties, check the salt, fat and saturates per 100 g. | If you prefer salty popcorn, you won’t want to base your choice on the sugar content alone. That’s why around 20% of consumers prioritise salt and fat. |
| Preparation and taking it with you | Check whether the pack contains ready-to-eat popcorn, microwave popcorn or popcorn kernels. | For a snack on the go, I need either something ready to eat straight away or time to prepare the popcorn and portion it beforehand. For around 20% of consumers, this practical consideration is the deciding factor. |
What common mix-ups can make choosing difficult?
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Assuming the whole bag is one portion
The serving size shown on a pack doesn’t have to match its total contents. Lebensmittelklarheit documented this with a 40 g bag of crisps that advertised a 30 g serving. Although the example is about crisps, it shows why it’s worth checking the weight on the pack.
For popcorn, check the pack size and the nutrition information per 100 g. If the bag contains more than you plan to snack on, portion some out before you take it with you.
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Comparing only the sugar content
Sweet and salty recipes differ in several nutritional values. EDEKA lists its salty GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn as containing 1.1 g of sugar per 100 g, but also 21 g of fat and 2.5 g of salt. So a single lower figure won’t tell you the whole nutritional story.
Compare energy, sugar, fat and salt using the same reference amount, and take into account how much popcorn you plan to eat.
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Packing a microwave bag as a ready-to-eat snack
EDEKA’s sweet and salty microwave popcorn products each come with three 100 g preparation bags. They need to be cooked in a microwave; a bag isn’t ready to eat and isn’t necessarily a small snack portion just because it’s individually wrapped.
If you want something to eat straight away while you’re out, choose ready-popped popcorn. You can prepare microwave popcorn in advance and portion out the amount you want.
Brands and ranges to help you choose
EDEKA / GUT&GÜNSTIG
EDEKA provides product information for ready-popped sweet popcorn in a 200 g bag, as well as sweet and salty microwave popcorn in packs containing three 100 g bags each.
- The published ingredients lists and nutrition information make it possible to compare energy, sugar, fat and salt per 100 g.
- Don’t assume that the 200 g bag or the 100 g preparation bags are small portions to take with you just because of their packaging. EDEKA also notes that information on the pack may differ from the details shown online.
Lidl
Lidl explains how to make popcorn at home and suggests using a microwave to prepare smaller amounts.
- Making popcorn yourself means you can choose the amount and what you add to it.
- To take it with you as a snack, you’ll need to prepare and pack it in advance. Remember to include any oil and seasoning you use when considering the nutritional values of your finished portion.
funny-frisch
The funny-frisch snack range includes crisps, lentil snacks and popchips, among other products.
- These product types are useful to consider if you’re also looking at other savoury snacks.
- popchips aren’t popcorn. The name shouldn’t be taken to mean that they’re a portion of popcorn.
Lorenz
Lorenz’s product range includes Crunchips, Saltletts and NicNac’s, among other products.
- These product ranges are worth considering if you’re comparing other salty snacks instead of popcorn.
- Different types of snacks can’t be treated as equivalent to bags of popcorn. Check the pack size and nutrition information for each individual product.
Popcorn at Joybuy
This 150 g bag of sweet popcorn could be a good choice if you want to take ready-to-eat popcorn with you and portion out the amount you plan to snack on.
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Cinema Sweet Popcorn, 150 g
A handy option for when you’re out and fancy sweet popcorn, as you can portion some out of the bag beforehand. The pack contains 150 g, so don’t assume the whole bag is a suitable single serving.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bag of popcorn automatically one portion?
No. The amount in a bag isn’t automatically the amount you’ll want to eat as a snack. Check the weight on the pack and use the nutrition information per 100 g to work out the values for the amount you’ll actually eat.
Should I choose sweet or salty popcorn?
What matters is the amount you plan to eat and the nutritional values of the specific recipe, not just the flavour. EDEKA lists its ready-popped sweet GUT&GÜNSTIG popcorn as containing 30 g of sugar per 100 g; its salty microwave popcorn contains 21 g of fat and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g. As these are different types of product, check the other nutritional information and any preparation requirements before buying.
Are microwave bags small snacks to take with you?
Not necessarily. An individually wrapped microwave bag is first and foremost a unit for preparation. The EDEKA products listed come in 100 g bags and need to be cooked in a microwave. If you want to take the popcorn with you, you’ll need to prepare it beforehand and portion it out if needed.
Which pack details are useful when comparing products?
Start with the pack size, ingredients list and nutrition information per 100 g. According to Lebensmittelverband Deutschland, using the same reference amount makes it easier to compare products, even when values per portion are also shown. Also check the specific pack for allergens and its best-before date.