Cheesey Nachos
At Cinemark, the standard serving of 3 ounces of chips and 3.5 ounces of cheese sauce adds up to 550 calories, nearly 50 percent of which come from fat — and the sodium count is a sky-high 1,060 mg, nearly half the recommended daily limit.
Smarter swap: Believe it or not, that a plain hot dog on a bun is a better option. It contains half the calories (242), and also provides 10 grams of filling protein (it does contain 15 grams of fat, so it’s still not exactly a health food). Squirt on some mustard to juice up the flavor while adding a mere 5 calories.
The Cinnapretzel
With that irresistible aroma comes major calories and fat. The Cinnapretzel at Regal Theaters contains 754 calories and 6 grams of fat. Use the little tub of icing that accompanies it and you’ll tack on another 200 calories.
Smarter swap: Satisfy your cinnamon cravings with some old-fashioned Red Hots instead — 20 pieces have just 70 calories and no fat or sodium.
Pizza
Tempted by those gooey pizza pies at the movies? A 7-inch Freschetta pepperoni pizza at Cinemark theaters serves up 530 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 1,270 milligrams of sodium — not horrible if it’s serving as your dinner, but pretty substantive for a matinee snack.
Smarter swap: If you’re craving the chewiness and warmth of pizza, soft pretzel bites are a good option. Even with the cheese dipping sauce, they contain about 250 calories and 9 grams of fat. If you’re watching your sodium intake, however, skip the sauce — since the bites alone contain 890 mg.
Movie Theater Goodies: The Good & The Bad was originally published on blackdoctor.org
