Many of us will be heading to the cinema this weekend to catch the latest and most spectacular Bond movie, and buy some of the snacks on offer as a bit of a treat.
But before you do, do you know how many calories you will be consuming whilst watching the film and how that can affect your health?
A large popcorn could contain as much as 1,800 calories, due to the salt, sugar and size of that snack – that’s the equivalent of a large curry with sides and two bottles of beer or a pizza, garlic bread and tiramisu.
The popcorn buckets and bags are intended for sharing but are often eaten by just one person.
Hot dogs contain about 650 calories, nachos with cheese could contain as much as 716 calories and a large Coca Cola has 328 calories. And don’t get me started on the sugar content!
But why worry about what you eat whilst watching your favourite film?
Because eight out of 10 men and almost seven in 10 women will be overweight or obese by 2020. The health risks for adults are stark; compared with a healthy weight man, an obese man is:
five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
three times more likely to develop cancer of the colon
more than two and a half times more likely to develop high blood pressure – a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease
An obese woman, compared with a healthy weight woman, is:
almost 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
more than four times more likely to develop high blood pressure
more than three times more likely to have a heart attack
So what are the alternatives?
Still eat some of your favourite snacks but buy the smallest size available
Take with you a small bar of dark chocolate instead of eating the large milk chocolate bars on sale – they have more antioxidants (good for the immune system) and less sugar
Pack a small bag of nuts and raisins
Fruit salad in a sealed box is a nice juicy treat to see you through the scary bits of a film
Drink bottled (flavoured) water
But whatever you do to curb your calorie intake, don’t go to the cinema hungry. It could cost you dear
By Susan Hart
Susan is a Nottingham-based nutritional coach, advising adults and children about the benefits of healthy eating. This is delivered on an individual, group or organisational wide basis.
For clients wishing to lose weight she offers a weekly 5:2 fast diet class. she also delivers wellbeing workshops at Maggie’s Cancer Support Centre at the City Hospital in Nottingham. As a vegetarian chef she also writes a monthly restaurant review for the Nottingham Post.
For more information – Visit www.nutrition-coach.co.uk
Email: susan@nutrition-coach.co.uk
Mobile: 07946 301338
