Irrational Numbers: Doing the Math on Medifast Popcorn

This is not a review of Medifast's new Cheddar & Sour Cream or Sea Salt popcorn snacks. In order for me to review these new products in the Medifast food line, I would have to purchase them. And for some reason (common sense, maybe?) I can not bring myself to pay $42.18 per pound for pre-popped, artificially flavored corn kernels.

Looks delish, but worth more than $40 a pound?

Even if they are portion controlled in a pretty bag with the Medifast brand on the label.

For some reason P.T. Barnum comes to mind
when I think of Medifast popcorn

Call me crazy. Or maybe someone who doesn't like to get ripped off.

Here's how I did the math.

Each bag of Medifast popcorn contains 12 grams of product. There are 453 grams in one pound.

I divided the 453 by 12, and was shocked to discover there are 37 bags of Medifast popcorn in one pound.

At $1.14 per bag that amounts to $42.18 per pound.

That's even more expensive than movie theater popcorn, which is typically marked up more than 1000%.

In fact, for $42 bucks you can buy two or three pounds of superior quality meat or seafood or 10 to 15 pounds of organic vegetables, any of which would provide you with far more nutrition than the basically empty calories (each bag has 6 grams of carbs and only one gram each of protein and fiber) of Medifast's new snack option.

Medifast's meal replacements are arguably expensive, but they do provide a lot of protein, fiber and vitamins that allowed me to feel satisfied and healthy enough to stay on plan for almost four months to lose 35 pounds. They were worth every penny to me.

For a wonderful review of all the Medifast popcorn and chip snacks, see this You Tube video by one of my favorite Medifast vlogger, Leah a.k.a. FitAndFab ByForty.

But the Medifast popcorn is not a replacement meal. It's a snack. And it is only marginally superior to the bagged popcorns already available in the supermarkets, thanks to its slightly lower sodium profile. The calories, carbs and fiber in the Medifast popcorn are almost identical to that of Smartfood's White Cheddar Cheese popcorn, which is not only to die for taste-wise, but also has a smaller, more natural ingredient list.

No matter how good the Medifast popcorn might taste (and the reviews I have read in the blogs and seen on You Tube are very positive), I'll save my Jacksons for real food vs. empty calorie snacks I can purchase for a fraction of the cost and portion control in my own Ziploc bags.

Really, Medifast. At over a buck a bag, you could have at least included a prize.

Shop and compare: Medifast popcorn Vs. Smartfood popcorn

Nutrition facts and ingredient list for Medifast Cheddar & Sour Cream popcorn.

Popcorn, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: canola, corn, cottonseed, soybean or sunflower oil), maltodextrin, whey, salt, cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt and enzymes), onion powder, nonfat dry milk, dextrose, dry shortening (whey, soybean oil), sour cream (cultured cream, nonfat dry milk), sugar, whey protein concentrate, citric acid, lactic acid, natural flavor, paprika extract, yeast extract. Contains: milk and soy.

Nutrition facts and ingredients list for Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn. Note: Serving amount is more than double that of Medifast popcorn so per gram it contains the same 2 grams of carbs (28 divided by14).



You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for less cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast Custom Order - You Choose ANY 10 Boxes



More from Diet Skeptic:

Fruck You! Fructose

Can You Drink Alcohol on Medifast

Medifast Centers Vs. Take Shape for Life

Planned Exceptions: What Is Your Pie Policy?

Wabi Sabi Dieting & Renee Zelwegger's New Face
Follow Nancy's board Low Carb Recipes on Pinterest.