Going to the movie theaters has always been my favorite thing to do, especially when the movie I’ve been waiting for is finally released. However, there is one problem about going to the movies and that is the expense of movie theater food. With lots of new, anticipated movies coming out in the next few months, more people will definitely be heading to the theater with friends and family. Instead of spending money on popcorn and drinks, I would rather bring my own food most of the time. I’ve been sneaking food into the theater with my friends and family for a long time now, and honestly, you can have whatever food you’re craving. I have snuck in so many different types of food to the theaters, but these are some of my favorite choices of what to bring instead of spending so much money buying the same old popcorn all the time.
Homemade PastelitosÂ
You don’t always have to buy food from a restaurant to bring to the theater. From my own experience, I have always loved the idea of bringing homemade meals, especially when it’s from my family’s culture. My favorite homemade food item would have to be pastelitos, a type of flaky pastry. When I was younger, my aunt would make pastelitos before we went to the movie theater and I was always excited to eat them once we got there. They were always delicious, savory, and worth waiting for. As long as you find a homemade meal that isn’t messy, but still tastes yummy, you are good to go with an amazing meal for any movie.Â
Deli Breakfast & Dunkin’ Coffee
If you’re going to an early morning showing, who really wants to get popcorn? Early movie showings have become a fun trend, allowing people to bring breakfast and wear their pajamas. Personally, I get a bacon and egg sandwich from the deli and a Dunkin’ iced coffee because it is so much better than eating popcorn at 9 a.m. Think of it like this:, starting your morning at home, getting cozy to eat breakfast, and watching one of your favorite movies; same thing, but 10 times better because you get to be with a friend watching something new on the big screen.Â
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is definitely a top choice of mine when I want to bring an actual meal to the theater. I usually sneak in a regular chicken sandwich and waffle fries because it’s a meal I always enjoy, even outside the theater. The chicken sandwich is always crispy and buttery, while the waffle fries are always hot and perfectly salted, making it an amazing meal to have while watching a movie. I like to bring a delicious meal like this because it’s more exciting to have rather than having the same old popcorn all the time. There’s nothing worse than having to sit through a movie and eat the same food knowing that you really didn’t want to eat that in the first place.
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Most of the time, if it’s not popcorn you want, pretzels are always a classic movie theater snack alternative. Sure, the pretzels at the movie theater are good, but they don’t hit the same compared to Auntie Anne’s. How can you not think the best pretzels out there are Auntie Anne’s with how many different pretzel options they have? While you only have one choice of a pretzel at the concession stand, you can choose between cinnamon pretzels, pepperoni pretzels, regular salted pretzels, and so much more. Their pretzels are buttery and make for an amazing snack that could keep you satisfied until the movie is over without getting hungry again.Â
Wingstop Chicken & Fries
If you’re really hungry and need more food, Wingstop chicken and french fries are another one of my go-to options to bring to the movie theater, especially when it’s going to be a long movie. Even if you get the chicken or the french fries alone, you can still get full with either of those items. The best part of getting Wingstop is that you have so many different options of flavors that you can choose from like Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, Buffalo, and so many more. Yes, Wingstop can be hard to eat in the dark if you get it with seasoning, but it’s worth it in the end. I prefer to take my chances and have a messy meal if I know it will be more flavorful, delicious, and something that I will actually enjoy.
Bag of Chips
There are times when I don’t want to have a whole meal in the theater and just want something to snack on. I am perfectly fine with bringing my favorite bag of chips to enjoy. Chips aren’t messy and I could choose any flavor I want. My favorite chips to bring would be Takis or a variety of flavors from Utz. If I’m craving something salty, spicy, tangy, crunchy, or just something simple and don’t want to spend too much money at the theater, a bag of chips is always one of the best choices.
Movie theater food will always be delicious and a huge part of the experience, but buying your food at the concession stand isn’t always your only option. Whether it’s homemade food, a breakfast sandwich, fast food options, or even a basic bag of chips, I would rather bring something that I will actually enjoy and eat while watching a movie. With the holiday season right around the corner, I already know I’ll be spending plenty of time at the theater with friends and family. While I’ll always enjoy going to the movies, I’d rather bring food than spend a lot of money on concessions that I might get tired of. After all, going to the movies is about enjoying the whole experience, and having food I actually want to eat and enjoy is an important part of it all.