Top 10 Movie Theater Candies

On my recent trip to the movie theater I waited at the concession stand with friends while they indulged in the over-priced “value combo” of a soda and popcorn. I could not help but look down at the counter and notice a glass case containing all things sugar, chocolate, and largely forbidden from my diet. Unlike everything else behind the counter, the candy is placed in well-lit glass chambers that draw the eye downward, making it compete against the popcorn machine in the background. The candy is showcased as if I am observing a carefully placed museum artifact or jewelry counter.

In an effort to satisfy my taste buds, I often turn to the salty and sweet combination that is popcorn and candy. Unlike candy found at the checkout lanes of a grocery store or seasonal confections, movie theaters have developed their own culture of candy that involves three key elements:

• Over-sized portion. The package must be big enough to serve two people.
• Maximum sweetness. Very sweet taste to counter-balance the salty popcorn.
• Bite-size pieces. Helps to change between popcorn and candy with each bite.

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Cheat a Girl Scout out of a badge and make your own cookies!

Since the 1920s, the Girl Scouts of America have cornered the market on delicious cookie creations. The Girl Scouts started with a simple sugar cookie, leading to the expansion of a more complete line throughout the past 80 years. I’ve often wondered why the Girl Scouts don’t just sell their cookies year-round in super markets or online. The Girl Scout Counsel designed the fundraiser to teach the scouts about the value of money, community, and teamwork. I say they’re being pretty darn protective of a potentially lucrative business. Is scarcity the only leverage a Girl Scout has to sell multiple boxes to a single customer?

Well the jig is up Girl Scouts. Those tired of your cookie monopoly have liberated the public from your cookie stronghold. In fact, people have already cracked the recipe for your delicious and fattening cookies. Empowering the amateur bakers across the country, several sites have already posted recipes to many of the popular Girl Scout cookies.

Now to unveil a recipe for one of my favorites…
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“Fake” Dark Chocolate is Unhealthy

It seems like clockwork that the news media has a story about the ways a common food can help defend against heart attacks, cancer, and various other terminal diseases. Every Valentine’s Day there is a push by local media for the predictable fluff story about the wonders of chocolate for your body.

As much as I’d like to believe dark chocolate is the lesser evil of the candy world, it seems odd that the value of antioxidants can allow people to overlook the amount of sugar, fat, and calories contained in most dark chocolate.

After a little searching I discovered this article from 2007 by BBC News that confirmed my suspicion. The article cites that many manufacturers are making “fake” dark chocolate. A real dark chocolate contains a good amount of flavanols (antioxidants) from the cocoa plant. If kept in the chocolate making process, the end product is typically more bitter than other processed chocolates. The more bitter the chocolate, the less it sells. In order to still push dark chocolate, many manufacturers end up removing many antioxidants and add artificial coloring or carmelize the cocoa beans for a darker color. Once the flavanols are removed,  sugar or fat are added to the mix to help the taste. The new ingredients make the health benefits of eating dark chocolate almost non-existent. Eating some dark chocolates be just as unhealthy as chowing down on milk chocolate.
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Zeer! You are what you eat!

The other night I was talking to my dad on the phone and he told me that he drinks three bottles of Mountain Dew a day, each at 64 oz.!  He claims that since there is orange juice in “Mtn Dew,” that his consumption is almost healthy.  I’m wondering why he doesn’t just drink orange juice.

I wanted to research his claim and I found Zeer. It’s a nifty site that gives nutritional value on all the crap we shovel in our faces daily.  At first glace I was put off by the tag line: “Consumer reviews for healthy eating, organic food and green products.” It turns out this site is chock full of the quick and unhealthy snacks normal people actually eat.  I tend to eat first and think about calorie content later.  By the time I’m wondering what I’ve just consumed, the wrapper is long gone to the garbage. The product reviews and nutritional guides are pretty handy, as well as the lists of any allergens and ingredients for anyone who’s interested. You can search for products by name or UPC number (if you still saved the wrapper!).  You can add your own reviews and join different communities that will suggest new products to you.  read more