Breaking up with Popcorn

[jacoblb]

Pretty much everything I wanted to state was quoted here. I eat coconut oil popcorn at home and my local theaters (Cinemark, Harkins, and AMC) only use canola oil. When I used to drink soda the butter popcorn was very eruptive inside my stomach.

Nowadays I sneak in my own Gold Peak, Arizona, or Pure Leaf tea bottles since Harkins only offers Brisk as their only tea. Good on you staying with water. It's true you can ask for unsalted, but besides chapping your lips or making you thirsty the salt most likely isn't the culprit. Also could be sour stomach from things you happen to have eaten the day before. If so, yogurt helps.

When I managed a theater in the early 90s some stupid Dateline show had gone on about how unhealthy coconut oil was. Seemed like all the customers asked. We used canola. Fast forward to today, it's been proven coconut is safest and nutritionists say there's good Fat that our bodies easily burn off.

Well, that does look good. Brian, it could also be the butter salt that we pop the corn with. If you ask a manager in advance to pop a batch without salt, they will. At least we always do. You can salt it yourself with normal salt. There will still be a little salt from the kettle, but there wouldn't be much. There are quite s few people who are bothered by the salt. There's also a chance it's the oil it's popped in. Most places use canola which is pretty safe, but some use different oils like coconut, which is really delicious BTW.

[Duncan]

Try almond milk or coconut milk; both are better than the soy stuff. They used to make oat milk that I adored, but I'm guessing it didn't develop a big enough following because I haven't see it in years...

Thanks for the advice.

[Goblin19]

Well, that does look good. Brian, it could also be the butter salt that we pop the corn with. If you ask a manager in advance to pop a batch without salt, they will. At least we always do. You can salt it yourself with normal salt. There will still be a little salt from the kettle, but there wouldn't be much. There are quite s few people who are bothered by the salt. There's also a chance it's the oil it's popped in. Most places use canola which is pretty safe, but some use different oils like coconut, which is really delicious BTW.

[Hector]

My go to movie theater, AMC Bay Street 16, in Emeryville...has a Rubio's next door...it's Mexican Baja style food...

https://www.rubios.com/menu

...last time I went, saw Rogue One...and snuck in a langostino lobster burrito...the hell with the popcorn, man, that burrito was off the hook...

https://www.rubios.com/menu/seafood-burritos/featured-langostino-lobster-burrito

[VintageMike]

Movie theater popcorn was one fo the first things I cut when I was looking to change my diet. I found it both helpful and better economically to eat lunch out prior to going to the movie. More bang for my buck and eliminated the need for popcorn. That said when I'm doing just a movie or am short on time I go for whatever variation of soft pretzel they have as a snack. The main chain of theaters here sells soft pretzel nuggets which are actually more filling AND a better buy than the popcorn to boot.

[HardyGirl]

You have my sympathies, Brian. My trips to the movies are very few and far between, but I must have some movie theatre popcorn w/ extra butter. I don't drink soda anymore, usually tea or lemonade. I love the theatres that offer popcorn flavor shake-ins. Good stuff!

[emeraldknight47]

Aside from alcohol, which I just can't physically handle any more, I've started having acid reflux issues from dairy in the last few years; generally only from large quantities. Still, that put a damper on my late night bowls of cereal or ice cream. I tried soy milk (Silk) on cereal a few times, and I can more or less live with it. It tastes OK - it's just mental: I don't want to like soy milk. In my world, milk comes from cows (primarily), not beans.

Try almond milk or coconut milk; both are better than the soy stuff. They used to make oat milk that I adored, but I'm guessing it didn't develop a big enough following because I haven't see it in years...

[Goblin19]

Hector, you guys just hit a nerve with me. But even I sneak in candy. I just make sure I buy something else to help out the theatre and managers. Trust me I get that it is way too expensive. I have s family. Of course, my tickets are free so I don't have that expense. Unfortunately, at the theatre level we just don't make a lot of profit. If they searched you a few years ago, I get your sentiment. Sadly, a lot of theatres, including mine, now feel the need to do it. We specifically don't enforce the food rule when searching bags, though. Even you're loaded up.

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

I live in this zone! I dont eat popcorn but once in a blue moon but microwave, or two nights in a row, and I am toast. Started in my late teens with milk, tea, peanuts, and worst of all, onions. Used to be able to eat them all with no issues but now they all cause me problems. Onions can give me a violent reaction. At least you know what it was, Brian. I ate onions for years and didnt know that was the problem.

[Duncan]

Aside from alcohol, which I just can't physically handle any more, I've started having acid reflux issues from dairy in the last few years; generally only from large quantities. Still, that put a damper on my late night bowls of cereal or ice cream. I tried soy milk (Silk) on cereal a few times, and I can more or less live with it. It tastes OK - it's just mental: I don't want to like soy milk. In my world, milk comes from cows (primarily), not beans.

The other thing is Doritos / corn chips. The last few times I've eaten way too many corn chips I've felt a bit off. My solution of being less of a pig appears to work, though.

[Nostalgiabuff]

dairy products do that to me if I eat more than a little. case in point, I love cheese its, but the other day I was gobbling some down while playing video games and then the cramps set in, not pleasant, getting older sucks

[4NDR01D]

Funny, I've just sworn off movie theatre popcorn (and drinks) as well. What always happens to me is i get the burps that bring up regurgitated popcorn into my throat/mouth. Never happens at home with microwave popcorn. Never happens with smartfood.

The only things i sneak into the movies is Milkduds (to add to the popcorn, its awesome, and they no longer carry milkduds) and/or sometimes a small bottle of Jack Daniels (but i buy fountain pop for mix so im still buying something from the establishment).

[Hector]

And, Hector, we search bags at our theatres not because we want to stop food. We let you in with it even if we see it, but because of several theatre attacks, including a local one in which 2 people assaulted several customers in a theatre with a pipe to rob them. It's a reflection of the times.

That part I understand...and totally sympathize with you.

I'd probably cooperate these days (as my search request was a few years ago)...I'll let them search, but if they object to my snacks...then I'll politely just ask for a refund...and head back home.

[Hector]

You guys are killing me. I have run a theatre for years. If everyone did what you guys do, we'd go out of business. Our only profit is from the food. The studios take the majority of the ticket revenue. Our cut would maybe cover the utilities.

Blame the greedy movie studios.

Look, I understand. But look at my point of view. I live in the Bay Area, arguably the most expensive area in the USA to live. The IMAX 3D show comes out at a whopping $20. If I decide to buy a large popcorn/soda combo, that's $15 around these parts. That's if I go by myself. That's a total of a whopping $35 for watching and snacking during a two hour movie. If I take someone with me, and I'm treating, that's $70 friggin dollars, downright robbery. That's totally outrageous. I'd rather go to a steakhouse, order me and my "friend" a couple of medium rare porterhouses...and have a few beers instead.

I might as well just wait for the movies to come out for home viewing.

I'm by no means broke or stingy...it's a matter of principle for me.

Again, you, Sir...are of course not to blame...it's the friggin thieves running the studios...

[Hector]

I get mine (when I do) at Wal-Mart for $.98, but a 2 cent difference certainly ain't gonna make ya or break ya! I think they have them here locally at Kroger for about a buck, too. When I smuggle in contraband, it's usually salted pistachios and raisins and maybe a handful of banana chips. If I want to feel particularly "healthy," I take in Snapea crisps in pretty much any flavor. And like you, I bypass the overpriced, watered down soft drinks AND the overpriced bottled water and just take in one of the bottles of water I can pick up at the grocery at 32 bottles for about 3 bucks.

I wouldnt go to Walmart even if you paid me...I despise that store...both customers and employees, lol.

But I hear you. I also been known to sneak in sandwiches, burritos, chips, etc...ha...

Nice stuff you take in...I'm with you all the way...