On every box of microwave popcorn I've seen, there are two different sets of nutritional information: One for Unpopped and One for Popped. The calories/fat, etc. are always significantly higher on the Unpopped.

Nobody actually eats unpopped popcorn, so I really don't get this.

Also, it feels like cheating if I use the Popped calorie info.

What is the right thing to do? Popped or Unpopped?

Omg, I've always wondered the same thing...who eats unpopped popcorn?! Why is the count so different...it's the same food right?

Lol, I guess I just posted to say "ditto" on a good question...sorry I don't have an answer!

I use the unpopped number personally. I don't use microwave popcorn, I use a whirly pop with a small amount of oil.

I think it works out to the same amount of calories if you total all the popped and the unpopped kernels?

I think they are required to list the calories for the contents of the package as they are, but since a certain percentage of the kernels don't pop and get discarded they give you the average of popped popcorn as well.

Well, the problem is in the yield and how you eat popcorn.

For example (I pulled this info online

1/4c unpopped kernels = 131 calories
1/4c unpopped kernels = 4-5 cups of popped corn
1 cup of air-popped corn = 31 calories
31x4.5 (to average) = 139 calories

Since I'm pulling this info off the web, it's not going to be quite the same as pulling it off of a bag with both labels. You can see though, that popped versus unpopped is approx the same calorie wise if you are eating the same amount of kernels. So, if you pop 1/4c of unpopped kernels and eat it all then count by the unpopped number. If you don't intend to eat it all, measure it out once popped and go by that number.

I hope this all made sense!

I just measure out how many cups of POPPED popcorn I get and count it 15 cals per cup (which is what my bag says it is for popped)

All I know is that I get to have a whole half a bag of microwave popcorn at the end of each day!! LOL! And for the purposes of the bags of popcorn, you can't measure out the kernels before they pop, so you have to go with the popped kernels. Their servings are much larger than I would expect!

I love popcorn.

I just get the 100 calorie bags, it's a no-brainer and you can eat the WHOLE bag. No way would I only eat a half bag of popcorn!