Healthy eating at the movies: is it possible?

It’s summer time, and that means summer movies. Everyone loves to take their kids to the movies, or have a fun date night, especially during summer, however; how can you avoid the delicious, but unhealthy temptations of the movie theater?

Well, the trick to maintaining a diet at the movie theater is planning ahead of time.

“People go to the movies to escape their everyday lives. Typically, they don’t want to eat everyday food while they’re indulging their need to experience something out of the ordinary. Even with the health and fitness trends, you aren’t likely to find many concession stands serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole-wheat pitas, cottage cheese cups, or bowls of mixed vegetables.”

People have become accustom to the idea of correlating food with certain locations, and when one thinks of going to the movies, he or she, also thinks of getting a huge tub of popcorn and a large soda, it’s become part of the entertainment experience. Unfortunately, a medium popcorn, box of chocolate candy, and sugary soft drink can add up to 1,000 calories.

So how can you see Brave, Magic Mike, or the Dark Knight Rises this summer without the extra calories, simply plan ahead. By planning ahead of time, this will allow you to eat healthier foods either before the movie, or during the movie. Here are some suggestions of how to manage a more healthful excursion to the theater.

• Eat a healthy meal at home before going to the movies, this will curb your appetite in the theater
• Drink a glass of water before the movie to decrease your hunger for soda and popcorn
  Buy tickets for a matinee, when you have a full stomach between lunch and dinner you’ll be less tempted to eat at the movies
• If you simply can’t resist, order a kids popcorn without butter and buy a water or diet soda
  Feed your kids before the movie so they won’t be as hungry
• Sneak in a bag of carrots, or a healthier choice that still has a crunch to it
• And don’t forget how expensive the movie theater food is, you’ll save tons if you avoid buying food

So plan ahead to avoid diet disasters, and then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Reference: Healthy Eating at the Movie Theater