Comparing nutrition for your lunch break
If you want to take ready-to-eat popcorn with you, the nutrition information and ingredients list will help you compare fat, sugar and salt. Make sure you compare the figures per 100 g for each variety.
Which type is right for you?
Preparing it with your own ingredients
If you have time before you head out, you can make your own popcorn from popping corn and choose what to add. You’ll then need a suitable container to take it with you.
A snack that needs no preparation
If there’s no kitchen available between work, university or your journey, ready-to-eat popcorn could be a good option. Alongside the nutrition information, check that the pack size suits your break.
What to look for when buying
First decide whether you need popcorn that’s ready to eat or whether you can prepare it in advance. Then compare the nutrition information on the same serving basis.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Fat and saturates per 100 g; added oils in the ingredients list. | You want to choose a lower-fat variety, so you need nutrition information that’s easy to compare. For around 36% of consumers, this comparison is likely to be the main reason for choosing a product. |
| Taking it with you | Ready to eat or needs preparing; pack size and container for carrying it. | If you can’t prepare anything during your break, you’ll need a ready-to-eat snack in a suitable quantity. This is likely to be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sugar and salt | Sugar in sweet varieties and salt in savoury varieties, in each case per 100 g. | If you’re choosing sweet or savoury popcorn, you’ll want to know what’s in your portion besides fat. Around 21% of consumers are likely to want to compare sugar and salt as a priority. |
| Choosing your own ingredients | Preparation options and what you can add to the finished snack. | You prepare popcorn before heading out because you want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself. This is likely to be the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common pitfalls when comparing
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Assuming “organic” or “vegan” means lower in fat
These labels don’t tell you how much fat a product contains. Heimatgut Bio Popcorn salzig, listed by REWE, contains 17 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g.
If fat content is a key factor in your choice, compare the nutrition information for each specific variety per 100 g.
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Assuming the nutrition information for popping corn applies to the finished snack
The figures for unpopped corn don’t include oil or other ingredients added during preparation. For example, REWE’s product page for Seeberger Popcorn-Mais lists 3.8 g of fat per 100 g of unpopped corn and describes preparing it with oil.
Take the ingredients you use into account before packing a portion of the prepared popcorn to take with you.
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Focusing only on fat
Depending on the recipe, sugar or salt may also be important factors in your choice. The nutrition information lets you compare these values across varieties.
For sweet popcorn, check the sugar content too; for savoury popcorn, check the salt content. Compare both per 100 g.
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Overlooking ‘may contain’ warnings
Seeberger Popcorn-Mais, listed by REWE, may contain traces of tree nuts and peanuts, even though popping corn is its main ingredient.
If allergens are relevant to you, check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you’re actually buying.
Brands to help you choose
Seeberger
Popping corn for anyone who wants to prepare a snack themselves before their lunch break.
- Seeberger Popcorn-Mais, listed by REWE, contains 3.8 g of fat per 100 g of unpopped corn. You can choose the oil and seasoning when you prepare it.
- It isn’t ready to eat. Oil and other additions change the nutrition information for the finished popcorn; the product page also notes that it may contain traces of tree nuts and peanuts.
Heimatgut
An example of ready-to-eat savoury popcorn in a 60-g pack.
- The variety listed by REWE can be taken with you as a snack without any preparation.
- REWE lists 17 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for this variety. The organic label is no substitute for comparing nutrition information.
funny-frisch
Only worth considering as a crunchy alternative if it doesn’t have to be popcorn.
- funny-frisch lists 15 g of fat and 21 g of protein per 100 g for Protein Chips Barbecue Style.
- Protein chips aren’t popcorn. Their nutrition information doesn’t describe a popcorn variety and can’t be used to show that popcorn contains less fat.
Popcorn to prepare from Joybuy
These products are a good fit for a lunch break when you can prepare your popcorn in advance and take it with you: popping corn to pop yourself and sweet popcorn that needs a microwave.
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Alnatura Organic Popping Corn Kernels, 500 g
For a lunch break when you can prepare the popcorn yourself and take it with you afterwards.
500 g of popping corn. Bear in mind that you may add oil and other ingredients to the finished snack, and that you’ll need a container to carry it in.
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Chio Sweet Popcorn, 120 g
For sweet popcorn to take with you, if you can prepare it in advance in a microwave.
120-g pack. For sweet varieties, compare the sugar content as well as the fat in the nutrition information.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell which popcorn is lower in fat?
Compare the fat per 100 g on the nutrition table for several popcorn varieties. Check the saturates and ingredients list too; marketing claims alone don’t give you nutrition information you can compare.
Is homemade popcorn automatically lower in fat than ready-to-eat popcorn?
No. The fat content of the finished popcorn also depends on how it’s prepared. With popping corn, you can choose the oil and other ingredients yourself, but you’ll need time and somewhere to prepare it before your lunch break.
What should I check for allergens on a pack of popcorn?
Read the highlighted allergens in the ingredients list and check for any ‘may contain’ warnings on the specific pack. For example, Seeberger Popcorn-Mais, listed by REWE, may contain traces of tree nuts and peanuts.