If you are bobbing down to the cinema to watch the latest and last Harry Potter movie give the popcorn a miss!  Which? magazine has worked out that a typical tub of popcorn contains a massive 1,260 calories and 79.6g of fat.  A woman consuming the tub will have consumed more than her recommended 70g maximum daily limit.  Wash it down with a cola and that will be an extra 320 calories.

Stu’s view: I feel like a ‘spoilsport’ writing this story and I don’t want my obituary to read ‘started out a nice lad but turned into a health’n’safety fascist’ but we are obliged to deliver stories that help you live longer.  Obviously it would be healthier to take your own snacks into the cinema (and cheaper on the pocket) but the cinema near me (Vue – Cheshire Oaks) checks your bags before you can get in.  Is that normal?  Charge you to get in (fair enough); charge a fortune for a load of unhealthy food (annoying) [going off topic for a second - I saw a programme recently on the TV that said the cardboard box to contain the popcorn costs more than the popcorn - ugh!]; checking you as you go in (great way to treat your customers – not!).

Written exclusively for The Life Dept| Live Longer | 2 August 2011 | providers of life insurance, critical illness insurance and income protection