Is popcorn healthy?

For many, movies and popcorn are the perfect pair. But do you realize just how unhealthy your light and airy snack may be?

“I would think most people tend to believe all popcorn is unhealthy,” says Dr. Amar Chadaga, associate program director of internal medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.

Dr. Chadaga says this doesn’t have to be the case.

“Air-popped popcorn sans butter and salt is a low-calorie snack,” he says.

Rich in antioxidants, three cups of the air-popped (not microwaved!) kernels are just 93 calories and a single gram of fat. But a report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest found a medium bucket of movie theater popcorn can contain 20 cups of popcorn—equating to 1,200 calories and 60 grams of fat.

So should you steer clear of the snack counter?

“When you go to the movies, it’s a time to get away and detach and immerse yourself in an escape for a couple of hours,” says Dr. Chadaga. “If you want to have popcorn with a bit of butter and salt, I say go for it.”

Keep in mind, says Dr. Chadaga, the act of going to the movies can be roughly five hours of sedentary activity, between driving to the theater, sitting through previews, watching the movie and driving home.

“If you add on popcorn or nachos, that’s more calories you need to burn just to maintain fitness,” he says.

If you are a popcorn fan, don’t worry: rather than suggesting snacks in place of popcorn, Dr. Chadaga recommends getting into the habit of working out before enjoying a movie or Netflix and chowing down on popcorn. And remember that you can always order a small popcorn and skip the extra pumps of butter.

“I would hate for everyone in the theater to be eating rice cakes,” he says.