Is There a Healthy Substitute for Nachos?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flickgrrl
Is There a Healthy Substitute for Nachos?
Carrie Rickey, Film Critic
In Las Vegas, where movie exhibitors have gathered for the semiannual conclave Showest, yesterday's Topic A wasn't better movies but better concessions fare. Sony Pictures chief Michael Lynton sensibly asked multiplex owners why, given skyrocketing levels of childhood obesity, there weren't healthier options at the snack counter.
I hope his challenge is met by exhibitors who for nearly a century have minted untold billions by exacting a huge markup on a bag of popcorn, the ingredients of which cost pennies. At some local chains I've seen buckets of popcorn (900-plus calories before the rancid butter substitute is slathered on) sell for nine or ten bucks. And nachos for not much less. Who can eat those supersized candy bars at the counter? Why aren't there sensibly-priced 100-calorie bags of treats? Why not apple chips or fruit leather?
As one who sees about five movies a week in theaters I've trained myself to drink mint tea rather than the sugary (and pricy) beverages available. I've long marveled at the concessions counters at theaters in Madrid, Tel Aviv and Sydney where respectively almonds, sunflower seeds and fresh fruit are available. As a onetime exhibitor myself, I know that fruit is perishable and some of the popcorn sold at movie theaters is older than my teenager. But still, I think American theaters can do better. In January, when local theaters were obliged to post the calories of snack food I fainted when I saw that many of the offerings were more than half of my daily caloric intake.
Your thoughts? What do you eat at the movies? What would you like to see available at the multiplex and arthouse? I'd pay a premium ticket for a dinner and a movie, like they serve at some high-end theaters in the UK, Australia and other cities in the US.
I eat buttered popcorn and drink Diet Coke at the movies and don't (but probably should) think about it. That being said, I don't attend five movies a week and it's sort of a tradition and a treat to do this, especially when I'm with my daughter. Probably one shouldn't eat anything at the movies (for diet and economy purposes) and based on some of your descriptions, that's what I'm going to try to do. Mint tea? That sounds great. Where do you get mint tea to drink?— ccjroberts- Pack in ur own stuff. Better by far and cheaper.— JDM
- So glad you raised this issue. The selections, portions, and prices of the offerings at most big movie complexes are horrifying. As a result, I am a fan of smuggling in unobtrusive snacks (small bags of homemade popcorn, juiceboxes, lollipops, granola bars) for my kids. I tend to forego refreshment for myself. But I have had it with people who bring in a full meal, which often stinks up the whole place. I was watching The Last Station about a month ago (loved it) and was forced to inhale the appalling aroma of a burger (with onions), fries and shake, as well as endure the sound effects of said repast. Even the delicious James McEvoy couldn't rescue me from that icky experience.— socialgrace
- Makes me remember the opening movie-lobby segment of "The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski" with Jean Shepherd noting "This place is so classy they serve alfalfa sprouts instead of popcorn!" The Shep must have seen this coming... http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/NTW/FA/TITLES/Star-Crossed309.HTML PBS at its zenith.— factcheck
- good point. to some extent its still up to the customer to make healthy choices. that being said, its not like they give you a choice or let you bring in something else, not really the same as a overweight person buying a triple cheeseburger at wendy's and complaining about being fat. in any event, i cant resist movie theatre popcorn with a soda even though i know its awful for me, but i usually balance it out with extra exercise or no snacks later in the day/week.— Greg S
- So true of the the big chains, but locally the non-chain theaters do a good job of providing healthier & cheaper options.— lwolfe
- I'm a Raisinets guy - unless they have Sno-Caps, which are my all-time fave. I figure the Raisinets give me my fruit for the day (or week), and the chocolate and accompanying Coke give me my sugar and caffeine, which are two of the three major food groups, along with grease.— wwolfe
- A reader asked me to post this for her: I would pay a little more at the box office to view a "food free" film. That would help to ensure a less noisy, more crunch-free experience. Denise Green,regular theater-goer Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T— carrierickey
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