If you want to control the fat and ingredients yourself at a children's birthday party, popcorn kernels are a good starting point: the fat content of the popcorn you serve will also depend on the oil and toppings you use. Ready-made sweet popcorn saves time, but can contain a lot of sugar. With microwave popcorn, it's also worth checking the fat and salt content on the specific pack.
With popcorn kernels, you decide which oil and seasonings to use when you prepare them. This gives you more control, but you'll need to allow time before the party and have a suitable appliance or container.
Ready-to-eat popcorn or microwave popcorn takes less preparation to serve. Even so, check the fat, sugar and salt per 100 g: a description such as “lightly salted” tells you nothing about the fat content.
If sweet popcorn is going on the buffet, the amount of sugar matters as well as the fat content. GUT&GÜNSTIG sweet popcorn, listed by EDEKA, contains 30 g of sugar per 100 g.
A good fit if: you want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself.
Bear in mind: preparation and supervision take time; adding oil changes the fat content of the finished popcorn.
A good fit if: you want to serve sweet popcorn without having to prepare it.
Bear in mind: the recipe is fixed. GUT&GÜNSTIG sweet popcorn, listed by EDEKA, contains 30 g of sugar per 100 g.
A good fit if: you want to make popcorn in the microwave shortly before serving.
Bear in mind: GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn, listed by EDEKA, contains 21 g of fat and 2,5 g of salt per 100 g.
First decide how much preparation time you can set aside. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g, remembering that the fat content of unpopped kernels doesn't tell you how much fat will be in the popcorn you serve.
| Criterion | What to check when buying | Who it's particularly important for |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and control over ingredients | Check the fat per 100 g and the ingredients list. With popcorn kernels, also factor in the oil and toppings you'll use. | I want to choose what goes into the bowls besides corn, and can set aside time to prepare it. Around 42 % of consumers might put control over fat and ingredients first. |
| Preparation time | Check the preparation method, as well as the wattage and cooking time on the specific pack. | If time is short just before serving, I want to keep the effort to a minimum. For around 25 % of consumers, serving something quickly might take priority. |
| Sweet flavour | Check the sugar per 100 g and the ingredients list, and take other sweet foods on the buffet into account. | I want to serve sweet popcorn without overlooking the sugar content and portion size. A sweet party treat is likely to be the main buying priority for around 33 % of consumers. |
GUT&GÜNSTIG sweet popcorn, listed by EDEKA, contains 4,5 g of fat, but also 30 g of sugar per 100 g. One nutritional value alone doesn't tell you everything about a recipe.
Compare fat, sugar and salt on the same basis. If you make popcorn yourself, you'll also need to factor in the ingredients you add.
The salted GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave option listed by EDEKA contains 21 g of fat and 2,5 g of salt per 100 g. The flavour description is no substitute for nutritional information.
Check the fat and salt content, as well as the ingredients list, for the variety you're actually buying.
At a children's birthday party, popcorn may be served alongside cake and other sweets. The Verbraucherzentrale's guidance on quantities covers sweets and snacks overall, not popcorn alone.
Serve popcorn in smaller bowls and plan it as part of the overall snack spread.
EDEKA points out that the information on a pack may differ from what's shown on product pages. For ingredients and nutritional values, always refer to the labelling on the product you buy.
Before buying, check the current pack for ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and preparation instructions.
REWE provides information about popcorn kernels, as well as sweet and salted popcorn varieties. This makes it easier to compare different preparation methods.
The product information for two GUT&GÜNSTIG varieties shows why it's important to consider fat, sugar and salt separately.
Lidl's guide to making popcorn is useful when choosing how to prepare it, but it isn't nutritional information for a particular popcorn product.
When products vary, the labelling on the specific pack is the best place to start when choosing.
Lorenz is relevant here mainly as an example of the difference between snack types: Naturals Leicht are potato crisps, not popcorn.
popchips Red Paprika Style are seasoned potato and rice snacks, not a type of popcorn.
This selection includes popcorn kernels for you to prepare yourself and sweet microwave popcorn. If controlling fat is a priority, remember to factor in the oil you use to prepare the kernels. For the sweet variety, compare the information on the pack.
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For hosts who want to season their own popcorn and control the ingredients during preparation. The pot method described uses oil, and the amount affects the fat content of the popcorn you serve. Before buying, check the pack size and what’s included, as different quantities are listed. If you have allergies, check the labelling on the current pack.
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For hosts who want to make sweet popcorn in the microwave shortly before serving. Check the fat and sugar content on the current pack, and follow its instructions for wattage and cooking time. According to the product information, this product isn't suitable for children under three or anyone with difficulty swallowing. Hot steam may escape when you open it.
Compare the fat content per 100 g and take the preparation method into account. REWE lists 3,7 g of fat per 100 g of unpopped Ayyildiz popcorn kernels. Oil or butter added during preparation changes the fat content of the finished snack.
No, it depends on the specific recipe. GUT&GÜNSTIG sweet popcorn, listed by EDEKA, contains 4,5 g of fat and 30 g of sugar per 100 g. The salted microwave variety listed there contains 21 g of fat per 100 g.
Include popcorn as part of the buffet, and remember to factor in cake and other sweets too. The Verbraucherzentrale's guidance on quantities covers sweets and snacks overall. Smaller bowls make it easier to portion out the food.
Follow the wattage and cooking time on the pack you've bought, and check the instructions on the inner bag too. These instructions apply to that particular product and the microwave you're using; they aren't the same for every variety.