When going to the movies, it is easy and natural to pass by the food concession stand, with its popcorn and candies lighting up inside the glass, and follow that urge inside of you that’s begging for a snack to accompany you during the movie.  Most people know that the food provided at the movie theater is bad for you but what people DON’T realize is that there is a bigger issue upon us: we are indulging in popcorn, candy, and soda when we’re not even hungry.

Heather Fink, a registered dietitian with Indiana University Health Sports Performance, gave Medical Daily the scoop on how to stay healthy while enjoying a night out at the theater. She assures it’s possible to enjoy a movie without snacks. Even though most people associate food and movies, they do not have to go hand in hand.

“This is a problem across the board. We associate a particular event, like watching a movie, or we could be watching TV or whatever kind of scenario, we automatically assume that goes with eating. And it can, but it doesn’t have to, especially if a person isn’t hungry then there would be really no reason that you would have to be eating while you watch a movie,” Fink told Medical Daily.

The study was conducted by American professor Dr. Brian Wansink, who is also the author of the best-selling book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.  158 moviegoers were randomly given a medium or a large container of free popcorn that was either fresh or 14 days old. Following the movie, consumption measures were taken, along with measure of perceived taste. The findings indicated that people consume just as much popcorn, even if it’s stale. Also, people ate significantly more popcorn when it was given to them in a large container.

I think this study definitely shows that people are eating food mindlessly and turning it into a bad habit, especially due to the credibility of the author.  However I would have liked to see how many people ate the stale popcorn to see if there was a significant amount who fell into the trap.  Just like the sugary drinks study we talked about in class, there are many other possible third variables such as age, physical activity, etc.  One suggestion I would have for this study is to see if peer pressure has anything to do with the problem.  Many people travel to the movies in groups and when one person gets popcorn, everyone else follows.  I think that this factor would be interesting to see if it affects the results.

This study suggests that are we becoming a society that physically doesn’t know how to watch a movie without a snack. Fink recommends that if someone goes to the movies and is actually hungry that they should go for healthier salty and sweet options to carry along, like pretzels, dried fruit, or trail mix. These will satisfy their cravings while not hurting their health drastically.

Now I know that not everyone is snack dependent at the movies, but if you are, take a moment to make sure you are actually hungry!!