Who this choice matters to

Calorie-conscious rail commuters

If you want to snack with your coffee and keep track of how much energy you’re consuming, you need two pieces of information: kcal per 100 g to compare products, and the amount you eat while travelling.

Sugar-conscious fans of sweet popcorn

For a sweet variety, it’s also worth checking the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. That way, you can compare the recipes rather than relying on taste or calorie content alone.

On-the-go snackers

If you want something to eat on the train without any preparation, ready-to-eat popcorn is an option. Microwave popcorn needs to be prepared before you set off, and you shouldn’t rely on being able to buy food on the train. According to Deutsche Bahn, catering is available on ICE trains, but not on IC or regional trains.

What to look for when buying

First, decide whether you can prepare the popcorn before your journey. Then compare the nutritional information and the amount you want to take with you and eat.

Ready-to-eat popcorn

A good fit if: You want to snack with your coffee during the journey.

The trade-off: There’s no preparation involved, but the recipe and pack size are already fixed.

Microwave popcorn

A good fit if: You prepare it at home before setting off and pack it for the journey.

The trade-off: You’ll need a microwave beforehand; an unopened bag isn’t a snack you can eat straight away.

Popcorn kernels prepared at home

A good fit if: You have time to prepare them before your journey and want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself.

The trade-off: To compare them with ready-made popcorn, consider the ingredients you actually use and your portion size.

Criterion What to check when buying Who it matters to
Energy and portion size Compare kcal per 100 g and use the pack size to estimate how much you’re likely to eat. If I want popcorn with my coffee, I want to know how much energy is in my portion. This is the main concern for around 31% of consumers.
Ready to eat Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs to be prepared before your journey. On the train, I want to be able to open my snack easily rather than having to plan its preparation. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.
Sugar For sweet varieties, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list. Sweet popcorn goes well with my coffee, but I also want the sugar content to influence my choice. Around 25% of consumers say this is their first consideration.
Fat, salt and ingredients Check fat, saturates and salt per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergen information if needed. For a salty or oil-based variety, the recipe and labelling are especially important to me. These details take priority for around 19% of consumers.

Common misconceptions

  • Fewer kcal than another variety doesn’t automatically mean ‘low calorie’

    The difference between two types of popcorn doesn’t tell you whether either one qualifies as ‘low calorie’. According to EDEKA and REWE, the examples covered here contain between 406 and 442 kcal per 100 g.

    Compare kcal using the same measure, then take your portion into account. Don’t assume that a difference between two products means one has a particular general quality.

  • Looking only at kcal in sweet popcorn

    Chio Popcorn Sweet and Salty, listed by REWE, contains 406 kcal and 51 g of sugar per 100 g. Calorie content alone therefore doesn’t tell you enough about the recipe.

    If sugar matters to you, also check the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the ingredients list for the specific variety.

  • Assuming a microwave bag is ready to eat

    GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn, described by EDEKA, needs to be prepared before you eat it. An unopened bag isn’t the same as a ready-to-eat pack to take on your journey.

    Prepare microwave popcorn before you set off and transfer it to another container, or choose popcorn that’s ready to eat.

  • Assuming organic or vegan tells you about all the nutritional values

    These labels don’t tell you about energy, fat, sugar or salt. For example, Heimatgut organic salted popcorn, listed by REWE, contains 442 kcal, 17 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information on the specific pack. If allergens are relevant to you, also check how they’re listed in the ingredients.

Brands as examples for comparison

GUT&GÜNSTIG

EDEKA’s salty microwave popcorn is an example of a variety that needs to be prepared before your journey.

  • EDEKA gives this product’s nutritional values per 100 g as 430 kcal, 21 g of fat and 2.5 g of salt.
  • The microwave bag isn’t ready to eat; the preparation method doesn’t mean it has a lower energy content.

Heimatgut

The 60 g pack of organic salted popcorn listed by REWE is a ready-to-eat example for comparison.

  • The nutritional values given for this product allow you to compare it without preparing it first.
  • REWE gives its nutritional values per 100 g as 442 kcal, 17 g of fat, including 13 g of saturates, and 1.5 g of salt. ‘Organic’ alone doesn’t tell you anything about these figures.

Chio

The Popcorn Sweet and Salty listed by REWE shows why sugar and salt matter alongside kcal in a sweet-and-salty variety.

  • The product is ready to eat; REWE gives its energy content as 406 kcal per 100 g.
  • According to REWE, it also contains 51 g of sugar and 1.8 g of salt per 100 g. So you shouldn’t look at the kcal figure in isolation.

Popcorn products at Joybuy

Products to suit you are coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is popcorn with around 400 kcal per 100 g a low-calorie choice?

A figure of around 400 kcal per 100 g doesn’t make popcorn ‘low calorie’ just because another variety contains even more kcal. Compare specific products per 100 g, then base your decision on the amount you actually plan to eat.

Should I compare popcorn kcal per portion or per 100 g?

Start by comparing kcal per 100 g so that different pack sizes are measured on the same basis. Then check the pack size or portion information and think about how much you’ll eat on your journey.

Can I take microwave popcorn on a train journey?

Yes, if you prepare it before your journey and pack it to take with you. An unopened microwave bag, such as the product described by EDEKA, isn’t a snack you can eat straight away.

Do ‘vegan’ or ‘organic’ tell me anything about the calorie content?

No, these labels don’t replace the nutritional information. For example, Heimatgut organic salted popcorn, listed by REWE, contains 442 kcal per 100 g; the figures on the specific pack are what matter when choosing.

What should I check on a popcorn pack if I have an allergy?

Check the ingredients list and any allergens highlighted on the specific pack. Also look for precautionary allergen statements where relevant; EDEKA notes that these may appear below the ingredients list.