If you’re looking for a healthy snack that’s low in calories, you might think of popcorn. But just how many calories are in a serving of popcorn? And is it really as healthy as people say?
Here we’ll take a look at the calorie content of popcorn. Using our Popcorn Calorie Calculator, you can uncover how many calories there are in this tasty snack.
Popcorn contains more than just empty calories! Eating popcorn can provide you with a number of different nutrients too.
Contents show
How Many Calories Are in Popcorn?
As a rule of thumb, there are generally around 375 calories per 100g of popcorn. But it depends. It depends on the topping and how you popped your kernels.
Use our Popcorn Calorie Calculator to find the specific number of calories in your popcorn.
Popcorn Calorie Calculator
This handy popcorn calorie calculator will help you figure out how to calculate popcorn calories.
The results from the calculator are not exact and should be used as a rough guide.
How Many Calories are in Microwaved Popcorn?
For those who enjoy the occasional bag of microwave popcorn, it’s important to know how many calories are in a serving. Most brands of microwave popcorn contain between 100 and 150 calories per serving, which is around 350 per 100gs.
While this may not seem like a lot, it’s important to remember that popcorn is a high-calorie food and if you’re munching away whilst watching a movie, you can eat quite a lot of it!
The topping can also have a big effect on the calories in your microwaved popcorn with sweet toppings like caramel bumping up the calories per 100g to over 600!
Here are the calories in popular microwave popcorn products:Microwave Popcorn Calories Per 100g / 3.5oz Preferred Popcorn Natural Microwave Popcorn 500 Preferred Popcorn Butter Microwave Popcorn 500 Preferred Popcorn Jalapeno Popcorn 454 Quinn Real Butter Microwave Popcorn 515 Quinn aged Parmesan & Rosemary Popcorn 515 Quinn Vermont Maple Popcorn 515 Quinn White Cheddar & Seasalt Popcorn 515 Jolly Time Simply PoppedMicrowave Popcorn 441 SkinnyPop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn 433 SkinnyPop Butter Microwave Popcorn 468 Pop Weaver Microwave Popcorn (extra butter) 406 Orville Redenbacher’s Ultimate Butter Popcorn 457 Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theatre Butter 470 ACT II Butter Microwave Popcorn 400 ACT II Movie Theatre Butter Popcorn 441 ACT II Extreme Butter Popcorn 444 ACT II Llama Party Cotton Candy Popcorn 483 Newman’s Own Organics Butter Popcorn 393 Newman’s Own No Salt, No Butter Popcorn 263
All calorie values are taken from the manufacturers
Which Microwave Popcorn Has the Lowest Calories? Lowest Calorie Popcorn
Newman’s Own No Salt, No Butter Popcorn has the lowest amount of calories. This is probably because it’s just pure popcorn without any toppings.
Which Microwave Popcorn Has the Most Calories?
All varieties of Quinn popcorn have 515 calories per 100g / 3.5oz which out of all the brands listed, is the highest amount of calories in microwave popcorn.
How Many Calories in a Bag of Ready-to-Eat Popcorn?
The amount of calories in ready-to-eat bagged popcorn varies considerably between brands.
However, as a general rule of thumb, you should assume that your 3.5oz single bag of ready-to-eat popcorn will contain around 500 calories but could contain over 600!
600 calories is nearly more than a third of an average adult’s recommended calorie intake! And that’s not even counting any additional toppings or dressings you may add. So if you’re looking to keep your calorie intake in check, it’s best to enjoy bagged popcorn in moderation. How many calories does popcorn have in ready-made bags?
Here are the calories in popular bagged popcorn products:
Bagged Popcorn | Calories Per 100g / 3.5oz |
---|---|
SkinnyPop Original | 555 |
SkinnyPop White Cheddar Popcorn | 535 |
SkinnyPop Seal Salt & Pepper | 535 |
YOLO! White Cheddar Popcorn | 400 |
YOLO! KISS (Salted) Popcorn | 388 |
YOLO! Original | 476 |
YOLO! Pure Maple | 476 |
Smartfood Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn | 496 |
Smartfood White Cheddar | 567 |
Smartfood Movie Theatre Butter | 567 |
Lesser Evil Himalayan Pink Salt | 384 |
Lesser Evil “Himalayan Gold” Organic Popcorn* | 392 |
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Sweet and Salty | 500 |
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Sea Salt Popcorn | 535 |
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Dark Chocolaty | 548 |
Colby Ridge Gourmet White | 500 |
Live Love Pop Salt Truffle Popcorn | 500 |
Pipcorn Heirloom Mini Popcorn Sea Salt | 428 |
Pipcorn Heirloom Mini Popcorn Truffle | 482 |
State Street Snacks Popcorn Pecan Caramel | 428 |
State Street Snacks Popcorn Sea Salt Caramel | 457 |
State Street Snacks Popcorn Old-Fashioned | 428 |
Oogie’s Gourmet Wisconsin Cheddar Popcorn | 535 |
Oogie’s Gourmet Movie Time Butter Popcorn | 535 |
Oogie’s Gourmet Original Kettle Corn Popcorn | 500 |
Cheetos Cheddar Popcorn | 564 |
Cheetos Flamin Hot Popcorn | 564 |
Cheetos Jalapeño Cheddar | 564 |
Popcorn Indiana Movie Theater Butter Popcorn | 600 |
Pop Daddy Butter Flavor Popcorn | 500 |
Popcornopolis Caramel Corn Popcorn | 464 |
PRO POP Protein Popcorn, Salted Caramel | 571 |
PRO POP Protein Popcorn, Cheddar Jalapeno | 571 |
Funky Chunky Gourmet Sea Salt Caramel | 464 |
Funky Chunky Gourmet Peanut Butter Cup | 500 |
Funky Chunky Gourmet Chip Zel Pop | 500 |
Funky Chunky Gourmet Chocolate Pretzel | 500 |
POPSALOT Gourmet Southern Pecan Caramel | 428 |
POPSALOT Hawaiian Macadamia Caramel | 432 |
POPSALOT Brazilian Cashew Caramel Popcorn | 428 |
POPSALOT California Almond Caramel | 366 |
POPSALOT Saigon Cinnamon Kettle Corn | 400 |
POPSALOT Moroccan Harissa Kettle Popcorn | 400 |
POPSALOT London Kettle Corn | 433 |
POPSALOT Costa Rican Cocoa Kettle Corn | 433 |
POPSALOT Clandestine Caramel Popcorn | 366 |
All calorie values are taken from the manufacturers
Which Ready-to-eat Bagged Popcorn Has the Lowest Calories?
Surprisingly even though they have a caramel flavoring, POPSALOT Clandestine Caramel Popcorn and POPSALOT California Almond Caramel have the lowest amount of calories.
Which Ready-to-eat Bagged Popcorn Has the Most Calories?
Popcorn Indiana Movie Theater Butter Popcorn has a huge 600 calories per 100g / 3.5oz which is the most calories in all the bagged popcorn we listed. Make sure you don’t munch too much of that one!
Check out this article for more information on calories in movie theater popcorn.
Is Popcorn Good for Weight Loss?
Yes, popcorn can be good for weight loss.
Popcorn is a whole-grain food that is low in calories and high in fiber. For these reasons, it can be a helpful part of a weight loss diet. Popcorn is also a good source of antioxidants and has been linked to several health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.
However, popcorn can also be high in sodium and sugar, so choosing healthy toppings and avoiding processed varieties is important. When eaten in moderation, popcorn can be a nutritious and satisfying snack that may help with weight loss. Moderation is the key!
How Much Protein in Popcorn
Popcorn is predominantly made up of carbohydrates but on average, contains around 11% protein.
Calories in Popcorn Toppings
Popcorn toppings can add a significant amount of calories to your popcorn so you must choose carefully if you’re trying to reduce your calorie intake.
Butter is one of the most popular choices, but it also happens to be one of the highest in calories, with 100 calories in just one tablespoon. If you’re looking for a lower-calorie option, salt is your best option as this doesn’t contain any calories.
High calories toppings to be wary of include caramel, chocolate, and sugar. Here’s a rough guide to the number of calories in some of the most popular popcorn toppings.Topping Calories per Tablespoon Butter 100 Caramel 76 Salt 0 Cheddar 30 Sugar 48 Cinnamon 19 Parmesan 22 Chocolate 90 Maple Syrup 52 Toffee 40
Calorie values are approximate and should be used as a guide only.
Which Popcorn Topping has the Least Amount of Calories?
The popcorn topping with the least amount of calories is salt. Salt doesn’t really contain any calories so it’s a good choice if you’re looking to lose weight or reduce your overall calorie intake.
Which Popcorn Topping has the Most Amount of Calories?
Butter has the most amount of calories. Butter is a popular popcorn topping, especially at movie theatres, but it contains a lot of calories. Buttered popcorn should always be eaten in moderation (easier said than done!).
What Types of Fats are in Popcorn?
Believe it or not, all types of fats are in popcorn, and these do vary in quantity depending on the topping. The main type of fat in popcorn is polyunsaturated fat, which is a “good” fat that lowers cholesterol levels.
Popcorn also contains small amounts of monounsaturated fat and saturated fat. Although saturated fat has been demonized in recent years, it’s actually necessary for good health. The body needs saturated fat to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. Saturated fat also helps to maintain cell membranes and supports the immune system.
Plain, air-popped popcorn contains the lowest amount of fat; however, movie theater buttered popcorn contains a high amount of fat.
Is Popcorn Empty Calories?
Popcorn is sometimes considered to be ’empty calories’ as popped corn contains a lot of air. This can make for a filling snack with a relatively low-calorie count. Popcorn is a delicious snack and is often considered quite healthy, especially when compared to potato chips. However, depending on the topping, it could contain a high amount of calories so should always be eaten in moderation.
Next, check out how healthy Smartfood’s white cheddar popcorn is.
Alex Cooper( Editor-in-chief )
Alex Cooper is a lover of all things popcorn. He especially enjoys the salty, buttery goodness of movie theater popcorn. In fact, he could probably eat it every day and never get tired of it. Alex also loves spending time with his friends and family, and he is always up for a good laugh.
FAQs
How do I figure out how many calories are in a bag of popcorn? ›
All food labels base the calories, fat, carbohydrate, etc. on what they have called one serving. For your popcorn example, a serving size is three tablespoons or five cups popped, or one-third of the bag. 110 calories is for any of these measures; the whole bag contains 330 calories.
How much popped popcorn is 100 calories? ›100 calories = 3 cups Air-Popped Popcorn
According to Penn State University researchers, low-calorie, high-volume snacks like popcorn will make you feel more satisfied after snacking than if you reached for a higher-calorie, smaller snack, such as chocolate.
A serving of popped popcorn is roughly 4 to 5 cups popped, which is the amount you get from 2 tablespoons of unpopped kernels. A serving of air-popped popcorn contains about 120 to 150 calories.
Is popcorn OK for weight loss? ›Because of popcorn's high fiber content, its low calorie count and its low energy density, popcorn is considered to be a food that can aid in weight loss.
How many calories are in a bag of unbuttered popcorn? ›There are 476 calories in 1 bag of Unbuttered Popcorn Popped in Oil. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
How many calories are in 1 cup of cooked popcorn? ›Air-popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 35 calories per cup. When lightly buttered, popcorn is about 80 calories per cup. Popcorn is a whole grain and provides energy-producing complex carbohydrates. Popcorn contributes fiber to the diet.
What popcorn is the lowest in calories? ›® With just 100 calories per 6 cups (and 0 grams trans fat per serving), you can snack on 94% fat free popcorn without giving up the fresh-popped taste and aroma you love.
What does a 1200 calorie diet consist of? ›A USDA 1,200-calorie meal plan consists of 1 cup of fruits, 1.5 cups of vegetables, 3 ounces of protein foods such as lean meat, seafood, soy products and eggs, 4 ounces of grains, 2.5 cups of dairy foods, 4 teaspoons of oils and 121 extra calories each day.
How much is 1/2 cup popcorn popped? ›1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 15 cups of popped popcorn.
What is the healthiest popcorn you can eat? ›Air-popped popcorn doesn't use oil and is the healthiest way to enjoy the snack, according to Cleveland Clinic. Popping it on the stovetop using oil can be a way to add healthy fats to your diet, just opt for walnut, avocado, canola, or extra virgin olive oil.
How much popcorn can I eat on a diet? ›
A healthy portion size of popcorn is about 25-30g. While plain popcorn can be enjoyed as a low-calorie snack, portion size is key to keep calories in check. Flavoured varieties are best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than as part of a regular balanced diet.
How many calories are in 4 cups of air popcorn? ›Popcorn, home popped, hot air popped (4 cup) contains 24.9g total carbs, 20.2g net carbs, 1.5g fat, 4.1g protein, and 124 calories.
What to eat when losing weight? ›- Beans. Inexpensive, filling, and versatile, beans are a great source of protein. ...
- Soup. Start a meal with a cup of soup, and you may end up eating less. ...
- Dark Chocolate. Want to enjoy chocolate between meals? ...
- Pureed Vegetables. ...
- Yogurt with berries. ...
- Nuts. ...
- Apples. ...
- Yogurt.
Popcorn is a whole grain, and increasing the whole grains in your diet is an effective constipation remedy.
Does popcorn help belly fat? ›Popcorn is a great flat-belly snack as long as you choose the air-popped version—you can eat a 3-cup portion for only 100 calories! Not only that, but popcorn is also a whole grain, and studies show that people who eat whole grains have less belly fat than those who eat refined grains.
How many carbs are in 1 cup of unbuttered popcorn? ›Unbuttered Popcorn, Popped In Oil (1 cup, popped) contains 5g total carbs, 4.1g net carbs, 4.8g fat, 0.8g protein, and 64 calories.
How much air-popped popcorn is 200 calories? ›Practice portion control. One 5-cup serving of popcorn has about 200 calories when popped in oil (or 150 when air-popped). To keep calories and fat at a minimum, use oil and butter sparingly. Salt lightly to keep the amount of added sodium at a minimum.
How many calories are in a bag of natural popcorn? ›Calories | 170 |
---|---|
Calories from Fat | 0 |
There are 15 calories in a 1/2 cup of Air Popped Popcorn. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
Do you count popcorn calories popped or unpopped? ›It depends on how you plan to consume your popcorn. If you plan to eat it unpopped, such as popping the individual kernels in your mouth, then the calories are accounted for unpopped. However, if you plan to eat it popped, you would need to count the calories based on the amount of popped popcorn.
How many calories are in 2 cups of movie popcorn? ›
Trader Joe's Movie Theater Popcorn (2 cups) contains 15g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 11g fat, 2g protein, and 160 calories.
How many calories is 1/4 cup of popcorn? ›There are 8 calories in a 1/4 cup of Air Popped Popcorn. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
Is popcorn good for weight loss at night? ›It's a great snack to munch on in the evenings because you can have a lot of it (3 cups popped) for only 100 calories if you skip dousing it in butter. It's great if you want an evening snack that will last longer than a couple of seconds. Plus, the fiber in it will help satisfy your hunger and ward off cravings.
What is the healthiest movie theater snack? ›- Popcorn. Popcorn is the staple movie snack, so we feel that this list should include this. ...
- Dark Chocolate. For those who have the sweet tooth, look for dark chocolate instead. ...
- Soft Pretzel. ...
- Nuts or Trail Mix.
You can't lose weight on 1200 calories a day because you're no longer in a calorie deficit. Your body has adapted to what it's been doing and plateaued. If you start your diet with a 500 calorie deficit per day, your body adapts to this in various way so that over time your energy requirements are reduced.
What should be daily calorie intake to lose weight? ›In order to lose at least a pound a week, try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, and reduce your daily calorie intake by at least 500 calories. However, calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional.
How many calories do I need a day to lose weight? ›In general, if you cut about 500 calories a day from your usual diet, you may lose about ½ to 1 pound a week. But this can vary depending on your body, how much weight you want to lose, your gender and activity level.
What oil is best for popcorn? ›Peanut Oil is our first choice for the most flavorful, rich, and buttery-like vegetable oil for popping popcorn. Coconut oil is a great choice as well. Clarified butter is another great choice for buttery popcorn. Regular butter will burn and smoke if used, so make sure it is clarified butter.
How much popcorn do I need for one person? ›The typical popcorn serving is 3 cups. For events, we use 2-2.5 cups per person as a starting point.
How many pieces of popcorn is a cup? ›So basically, 1 cup of popped popcorn is just two tablespoons of kernels. This is because popped popcorns do not contain the moisture that was present in their unpopped or kernel form.
Is popcorn better than junk food? ›
It's low in fat, calories, sugar, and sodium.
As long as you stick the to the appropriate serving size, which is about one cup, plain popcorn is a much better choice than junk food, such as potato chips and cheese crackers. And even if you eat three times the serving size, you'll still clock in at only 96 calories.
Yes, popcorn is generally healthier than chips. Popcorn is a whole grain food that's high in fiber and low in fat and calories. Chips are generally fried in fat and heavily salted. There are unhealthy popcorn options like movie theater popcorn or caramel corn, and there are healthy chip options.
How many calories should I eat a day? ›How many calories should I eat a day? Adult females need anywhere from 1,600 to 2,400 calories a day and adult males need anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day, according to the USDA's latest “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” report released in 2020.
How many calories are in 3 cups of air-popped popcorn? ›Like other whole grains, popcorn is highly nutritious — 3 cups (24 grams) of air-popped popcorn contain ( 7 ): Calories: 90.
How much popcorn is 2 servings? ›Each serving size is about 4 cups. The amount you'll want to serve may change depending on whether you'll be serving the popcorn after a meal, with other snacks, or to children. If that's the case, you may want to reduce the serving size to 2-3 cups per person.
Does popcorn raise blood sugar? ›Popcorn offers people with diabetes a low-sugar, low-calorie snack option. It will not increase a person's blood sugar levels by a significant amount, making it a safe choice between meals. However, people should keep toppings to a minimum and avoid eating excessive portions.
How many calories are in 2 cups of air-popped popcorn with butter? ›Ricos Air Popped Butter Popcorn (2 cups) contains 18g total carbs, 15g net carbs, 8g fat, 3g protein, and 150 calories.
How many calories are in a large bowl of popcorn? ›According to MyFitnessPal, a small popcorn, without butter, has 225 calories with 11 grams of fat. A large, without butter, clocks in at a whopping 1,030 calories and 41 grams of fat.
What foods keep you full and lose weight? ›High-fiber foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fiber. Popcorn is a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain.
What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›- Beans. “Becoming a bean lover can help you lose weight and whittle your middle,” registered dietitian Cynthia Sass told Today. ...
- Swap your beef for salmon. ...
- Yogurt. ...
- Red bell peppers. ...
- Broccoli. ...
- Edamame. ...
- Diluted vinegar.
Is popcorn OK for your colon? ›
In the past, people with small pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon were told to avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn. It was thought that these foods could lodge in diverticula and cause inflammation (diverticulitis). But there's no evidence that these foods cause diverticulitis.
Is popcorn good for your colon? ›Fiber source
As a whole grain, popcorn is high in fiber, which is good for digestive health and promoting regular bowel movements.
- Dairy. 1/8. If you get constipatedoften, do yourself a favor and take a look at your diet. ...
- Fast Or Prepared Foods. 2/8. Does your busy lifestyle have you eating on the go? ...
- Fried Food. 3/8. ...
- Eggs. 4/8. ...
- Tender Meat. 5/8. ...
- Cupcakes. 6/8. ...
- White Bread. 7/8. ...
- Alcohol. 8/8.
Because of its low calorie content, low energy density, high fiber content and increased satiety, eating popcorn may help you eat fewer calories and lose weight. However, moderation is key. Even though it is much more filling than many other snack foods, it can still be fattening if you eat too much of it.
Does popcorn slow down metabolism? ›Popcorns are made out of 100% whole grains, which contain good fiber content. This promotes easy digestion and at the same time, regulates metabolism by removing excess fat around the blood vessels. It can also keep you fuller for longer and reach satiety faster, stopping you from reaching the munchies unnecessarily.
How many calories are in a whole bag of microwave butter popcorn? ›Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Serving Size: 32g Serving Size per Case: 84 | |
Amount per Serving | |
Calories: 140 | Calories from Fat: 60 |
% Daily Value* |
Energy: 520 calories
Proportion of total calories contributed by protein, carbs and fat.
There are 480 calories in 100g bag (100 g) of Popz Microwave Popcorn Salted.
How many calories are in 1 cup of microwave popcorn? ›One cup of Popcorn gives 115 calories. Out of which carbohydrates comprise 58 calories, proteins account for 10 calories and remaining calories come from fat which is 47 calories. One cup of Popcorn provides about 6 percent of the total daily calorie requirement of a standard adult diet of 2,000 calories.
Which popcorn is the healthiest? ›Air-popped popcorn is the healthiest type.
Without a doubt, air-popped popcorn is the best type to nosh on. “It's low in calories, about 90 calories a cup and is fast and easy to make,” says Cohen.
How many calories are in a bag of 94 fat free microwave popcorn? ›
Per 1 Bag as Packaged: 120 calories; 0.5 g sat fat (3% DV); 220 mg sodium (10% DV); 0 g total sugars. 94% Fat free.
How many calories in a whole bag of Pop Secret Homestyle popcorn popped? ›Calories | 130 |
---|---|
Calories from Fat | 0 |
Partially Popped Popcorn With Butter & Sea Salt (0.33 cup) contains 18g total carbs, 15g net carbs, 6g fat, 3g protein, and 140 calories.
How many calories are in a 1 4 cup of air-popped popcorn? ›There are 8 calories in a 1/4 cup of Air Popped Popcorn. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
How many calories are in 4 cups of air-popped popcorn? ›Popcorn, home popped, hot air popped (4 cup) contains 24.9g total carbs, 20.2g net carbs, 1.5g fat, 4.1g protein, and 124 calories.
How many calories in 3 cups plain popped popcorn? ›Like other whole grains, popcorn is highly nutritious — 3 cups (24 grams) of air-popped popcorn contain ( 7 ): Calories: 90.
What is the healthiest type of microwave popcorn? ›- Quinn Snacks Just Sea Salt.
- Eliza's Organics Organic Microwave Butter Popcorn. ...
- Act II Light Butter. ...
- SkinnyPop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn. ...
- Pop Secret Homestyle. ...
- Angie's Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn. ...
- Orville Redenbacher Simply Salted. ...
- Newman's Own Sea Salt. ...
One bag is 490 calories, 32 grams of fat, 45 grams of carbohydrates, six grams of fibre, one gram of sugar, six grams of protein and 600 mg of sodium.
How many calories in a whole bag of SkinnyPop microwave popcorn? ›The front of the box says 30 calories per cup. The Nutrition Facts state 370 calories per bag.