FitSugar

Concession Stand Concessions

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:02:17 PST

We now know how high in calories the food we buy at the movie theater concession stand really is, so we need to find an alternative because watching a movie and snacking go hand in hand.

I have yet to really figure out how frowned upon it really is to sneak snacks into the movie theater, but as far as I'm concerned if they aren't offering healthy alternatives, it is the only option.

Healthier alternatives for snacking at the movies:

Air popped popcorn with no butter or salt added
Fruit that you can pop in your mouth (as you would Starburst) such as grapes or berries
Nutrition/energy bars like nectar bars from Cliff
High Fiber Cereal such as Kashi that you can pop in your mouth

The key is to bring items that are easy to bring in and easy to eat that won't be super distracting to you (or the other movie goers).

Fit's Tip: Make sure that the food you bring is not too messy and/or sticky.

Have you own tricks of the trade? Share them below!

Movie Theater Food Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:45:00 PST

This holiday season many of us will be flocking to the movies to see the latest and greatest hitting the theaters.

Unfortunately we may not realize that the snacks we are paying WAY too much for have WAY more calories than we may realize. So to help you through, I've broken down some movie theater favorites:

Large Buttered Popcorn (20 cups): 1500 calories, 116g fat, 90g carbs
Hot Dog (1 dog with bun): 305 calories, 4.5g fat, 23g carbs
Nachos with Cheese (large, 4 oz): 1101 calories, 59g fat, 131.5g carbs
Soft Pretzel (large): 483 calories, 4.5g fat, 99g carbs
Cotton Candy (2.5 oz): 300 calories, 0g fat, 74g carbs
Junior Mints (3 oz): 320 calories, 5g fat, 68g carbs

There's lots more, so

Milk Duds (3 oz): 340 calories, 12g fat, 56g carbs
Sno-Caps (3.1 oz): 360 calories, 16g fat, 60g carbs
Raisinets (3.5 oz): 380 calories, 16g fat, 64g carbs
Gummi Bears (4 oz): 390 calories, 0g fat, 90g carbs
Goobers (3.5 oz): 525 calories, 35g fat, 55g carbs
Twizzlers (6 oz): 600 calories, 4g fat, 136g carbs
M&M's (5.3 oz): 735 calories, 31.5g fat, 105g carbs
Skittles (6.75 oz): 765 calories, 9g fat, 166.5g carbs
Reese's Pieces (8 oz): 1200 calories, 60g fat, 138g carbs
Starburst (24 pieces): 480 calories, 10.5g fat, 99g carbs
Coca-Cola with ice (large, 3 pints, 18.9 fl oz): 353 calories, 0g fat, 88.4g carbs

How to Splurge This Weekend Without Gaining a Pound

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:49:28 PDT

For many who have stuck to their healthy ways all week long, the weekend is a time to loosen up the reigns a little, ignore weight-loss rules, and indulge in some high-calorie Cinco de Mayo goodness. If you're not careful though, an entire weekend of living it up could make you gain the pounds you've worked so hard to keep off all week. Here are some ways to splurge a little this weekend and not feel guilty on Monday morning.

Sip on this: If you're starting the Cinco de Mayo festivities a little early tonight, pass on the margaritas made with premade sugary mix and go for a glass made with real lime juice and a splash of simple syrup to save calories (opt for no salt on the rim). Or you can skip the margarita altogether and whip up a batch of this low-cal sangria-inspired cocktail made with heart-healthy red wine, unfiltered cranberry juice, and fresh strawberry puree.
Skip this calorie-loaded app: Ordering an enormous plate of nachos topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, seasoned ground beef, and avocado means devouring a huge amount of calories before your entrée even arrives. Start with a small taco salad instead made with fresh greens, peppers, tomatoes, corn, black beans, a few crushed tortilla chips, and sprinkled with an avocado vinaigrette.

Keep reading for more calorie-saving tips.

Tips and Tricks For Avoiding Weekend Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:17:13 PST

When Friday rolls around, my weekend begins. I often celebrate by having friends come over for dinner or meeting them for a bite to eat. It's a great way to unwind from the busy week, but constantly letting loose on the weekends also means you might need to buy looser pants! Here are some tips for enjoying the weekend without derailing your diet.

Weigh yourself twice a week - either Friday and Monday a.m. or Thursday and Monday a.m. There's nothing better to keep you on track than knowing that you have to face the scale come Monday morning.
Eat healthy throughout the day if you know you'll be splurging at night. Focus on eating meals that are packed with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. Then you can feel good about going overboard for dinner.
Don't starve yourself to save calories for later. It'll not only mess up your metabolism, but by dinner time, that famished feeling will likely cause you to eat more than you would if you weren't starving.
Have a healthy snack before heading to a big brunch or dinner. It'll take the edge off your hunger.
Know what you're going to order before you go out to eat. That way you're less tempted by the plethora of choices.
Limit the martinis and cosmos. Alcohol is a diet double-whammy; it’s not only rich in calories itself, but it also reduces inhibitions and increases appetite. So stick to the one-drink-a-day rule.

There are other great tips, so read more.

6 Weekend Weight-Loss Tips to Slim Down

Shape — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:44:06 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

After a week of spartan lunches, rigorous workouts, and sleep-depriving presentations, it's easy to feel you've earned a happy hour margarita and a plate of cheesy nachos. But topping off a tough week in this way can undo all your hard work and even pack on the pounds. According to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, women consume about 115 more calories on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday than they do on weekdays. "Those extra 300 to 400 calories can leave you nine pounds heavier by the year's end," says Barry Popkin, Ph.D., the study's lead author. Fortunately, when armed with the right advice, it's possible to avoid the most common dietary traps while savoring that delicious downtime. And you may even wake up on Monday a little slimmer. Not a bad way to start the week!

FRIDAY

Overdoing It at Happy Hour
Alcohol isn't only high in calories, it also diminishes resolve - making it harder to keep your hands out of the pretzel bowl.

Keep reading to see the solution to this and many more weekend dilemmas!

AMC Healthy Snacks Bundle Saves Calories at the Movies

Leta Shy — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:59:05 PDT

If you're in the mood for a comfortable night out, nothing beats going to see a movie. But chances are if you're eating healthfully, there's nothing at the theater's concession stand that will pass the test.

AMC Theatres, however, is looking to change that. The movie chain has just debuted its new Smart Movie Snacks bundle. The snack pack, which will cost a surprisingly affordable $7, will contain fruit chips, trail mix, popped corn chips, and a bottle of water (which can be substituted for Diet Coke or Coke Zero).

Sounds healthy, but want to know how this new snack pack compares with your normal go-to movie snacks? Find out after the break!

How to Break Your Bad Snacking Habits

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:57:25 PDT

Who can go out to the movies and not buy a tub of buttery popcorn? A recent study appearing in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin shows that your environment can be a powerful trigger when it comes to how you eat. If you're used to noshing on specific foods in a certain place - like popcorn at the movies - you'll likely develop a habit of eating even if you're not hungry or the foods aren't that good. That's why you might grab a stale donut in the break room or if you're used to eating in front of the TV, even though you're not a fan of the flavor, you'll reach for your hubby's bag of salt and vinegar potato chips.

Since your brain starts to associate food with settings, it contributes to mindless consumption of calories. Here are some ways to break those bad snacking habits.

Bring your own snacks: If you know you'll want to hit the concession stand before a movie or game, avoid the temptation by packing your own healthy snacks. Pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, cheese and crackers, and slices of fruit are great options to keep your mouth busy. If popcorn is a must, make some at home with an air popper.
Choose healthier options: If you're used to munching on ice cream while watching your favorite sitcom, instead of denying yourself, prepare something healthier instead. There are plenty of dessert-like treats you can enjoy to satisfy your sweet tooth such as fresh fruit with pineapple ginger dip, baked apples, or smoothies, or if you can't live without something cold to spoon, go for some low-calorie fruit sorbet.

Keep reading for more tips on how to break bad snacking habits.

Top-Ranking Britney Spears Spends a Day in the Stands For Sean Preston

Allie Merriam — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 05:44:04 PDT

Britney Spears threw on a floral mini to attend her son Sean Preston's latest Little League game in LA with her boyfriend Jason Trawick yesterday. He and Britney were spotted sitting in the stands, engaging in some hand-holding PDA, before hopping down to hit up the concession stand. Britney is a familiar sight at the sporting events, which are coached by Sean's dad Kevin Federline. Kevin, who is already a father of four kids including Brit's two sons Sean and Jayden, will soon have even more daddy duty to do with the birth of his fifth child, a daughter to be named Jordan, later this year. It's an exciting time for the extended Spears-Federline clan. Britney is gearing up for her North American Femme Fatale tour with her new opening act Nicki Minaj. She also celebrated having not one but two hits ranked as the top songs on iTunes at the moment.

Guess the Calorie Count of These Popular Ball Park Foods?

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:05:44 PDT

Let's play ball! Baseball season is in full swing across the country, and with that brings cheering on your favorite team and enjoying the mouthwatering concession stand snacks. But how much can these ball park treats set you back in your Spring training? Take this quiz to find out!

Source: Flickr User M Glasgow

Take the Quiz

Beware of the Ballpark Beer Scam

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:02:15 PDT

Last Thursday, stadiums across the country opened their doors and baseball season started. With it comes the arrival of America's favorite pastime, game-day eats, and the ballpark beer scam.

What is the beer scam? It's the stadium's way to make a quick buck on beer-guzzling fans. Many places offer three sizes of draft beer: small ($6), regular ($8), and large ($10). However, the ounces are not listed, and the average concession stand worker doesn't know how much beer they hold.

After watching a video that clearly shows the small and regular sizes are almost identical - with the only difference being the shape of the glass - I decided to investigate and figure out what exactly is the distinction between these beer sizes. To find out, read more.