The Popcorn Points Question Answered (I think)
February 1, 2007
This is one of the most asked questions on the Weight Watchers boards. Why is it so to calculate points for popcorn? Let me break down the brand I eat.
Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop 94% Fat Free Butter 2.9oz bag (regular size bag, not the mini or 100 cal pack)
According to the bag, a serving size is 3 tbsp unpopped (7 cups popped) there are 2 servings per container which means the bag contains 6 tbsp of unpopped popcorn (14 popped)
Nutritional information for 6tbsp unpopped:
- 240 calories
- 4 g of fat
- 8 g of Fiber
- 4 points
Now the bag gives the calorie count for 1 cup popped as 15 calories. If you multiply that by 14 (number of cups in the bag) you get 255 calories for the bag. This still gives you 4 points. So, no matter how you look at it the normal size bag (meaning not the mini bag) of Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop 94% Fat Free Butter is 4 points for the whole thing.
Next I looked up another brand online, 94% Fat Free JOLLY TIME® Healthy Pop® Butter Flavor. According to their site, a serving size is 2 tbsp unpopped (5 cups popped) and there are 2.5 servings per bag which means the bag contains 5 tbsp of unpopped popcorn (12.5 cups popped).
Nutritional Information of 5 tbsp unpopped:
- 225 calories
- 5 g of fat
- 22.5 g of fiber (find this hard to believe, but it doesn’t really matter because of the fiber cap)
- 4 points
They give the calories of 1 cup popped as 20 calories. 20 times 12.5 is 250 calories which still gives you 4 points.
In my opinion, most larger bags of 94% fat free popcorns are 4 points. As for the smaller or single servings bags, I don’t buy them much, but when I do I count them as 2 points. I know there are some brands out there that are 1 point, but they are usually the 100 calorie bags.
I hope that helps a little but. I think everyone has asked the popcorn question at least once. If you calculated the points for other brands let me know in the comments.
On August 5th, 2007 at 5:15 pm Emily said:
I’m an Orville Redenbacher addict! Hi, I’m Emily and I’m addicted to popcorn…”Hi Emily”. There, I admitted it ;) I absolutely love the Smart Pop 94% Fat Free Kettle Korn!
The nutritional information is the same for the Smart Pop Butter & I noticed an error in your post. There’s actually only 210 calories per 2.9oz bag, not 255! 255 calories would be for 17 cups of popcorn instead of 14! When I know this off the top of my head, I think it’s a sign I’ve eaten one too many bags! ;)
Keep it up Roni - I love your site!
On January 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm Anonymous said:
Hi. I went to the Weight Watchers page for more answers. Click on the link below. It caclulates most of the major brands as 1 point depending on how many cups. Most are 1 point for 5-6 cups.
http://www.weightwatchers.ca/util/art/index_art.aspx?art_id=12261&tabnum=1&sc=3017&subnav=Shopping+%26+Ingredients
On February 6th, 2008 at 8:51 am Robin said:
it is 7.5 cups in a serving. 15 cups total in a bag. Nutrition facts for the whole bag is as follows. You all need to read the what is next to the * lower down on the Nutrition list.
Calories = 225
Fat = 0
Sat Fat = 0
Sodium = 300
Carbs = 45
Fiber = 15
On March 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm Anonymous said:
Have you ever measured out the bag, though? There isn’t 15 cups of popcorn once it is popped.
On March 27th, 2008 at 1:22 pm Roni said:
Anon - Actually if you go by weight, it’s pretty close!
On April 5th, 2008 at 10:35 pm Anonymous said:
Hi Robin, If you read down in the fine print of SmartPop, it says that the popped popcorn contains less than 1g of fiber per serving. Which puts the whole bag at 4.5 points per serving if I’m doing the math right?
On June 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pm Laura Brandon said:
this is all too confusing for me… so i just buy the 100 cal bags!
On July 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm Anonymous said:
How about the Orville Redenbacher “Mini Smart Cakes?” They are very yummy, and only 1 pt. for 9 “cakes,” each cake being a very small version of a rice cake (except these are made from popcorn). I love the caramel flavor, but they also have butter or sour cream and onion flavors, as well.
~ Denise
On October 29th, 2008 at 1:08 am Amanda said:
Jolly Time’s FAQ, (which is new, I believe, because they are becoming endorsed by WW) says a 3oz bag is 2.5 POINTS.
http://www.jollytime.com/contact/FAQs
On October 29th, 2008 at 7:23 am roni said:
Amanda - Thanks for the update! I’ll have to hunt for it on my next grocery trip!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm Sabrina said:
I just get the mini bags…no brain pain there!!! LOL
On February 5th, 2009 at 2:01 am Jacinda said:
Thank you so much for this info, this is exactly what I was looking for. :)
On February 11th, 2009 at 1:02 pm Sue said:
I do my popcorn hot air style…no oil; butter; or salt. Any points in that?
On February 11th, 2009 at 4:07 pm roni said:
This may help…. http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-popcorn-air-popped-i19034
On April 16th, 2009 at 2:50 pm Emily said:
why does 94% fat free popcorn have less calories than air-popped popcorn with no extra additives (salt, butter, etc.) which is technically 0 fat?
On April 18th, 2009 at 3:36 pm roni said:
Emily - I’m not sure. I was only using the Nutritional Info found on the bags of popcorn. I didn’t compare it to air-popped. Sorry.
On May 9th, 2009 at 8:05 pm gerry said:
what about popcorn at the movies? a bucket or tub?
thanks!
big g