Between $12 tickets and $8 bags of popcorn, a simple night at the movies has become quite the expense. It’s difficult to justify paying $7 for a 20-oz. bottle of water when we could just fill up a reusable bottle or paying twice the amount for a bag of M&M’s.
As college students who are more interested in saving our precious grocery budget than wasting it on overpriced Diet Coke and candy, Netflix has become our best friend. This allows us to gather our friends and crowd around the TV to watch the newest romcom at a much lower cost.
But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on good movie food. Here are some snacks whose ingredients are affordable and still make for a fantastic movie snacking experience at home.
Popcorn & M&M’s
Photo by Rachel Livengood
The classic pairing of salt and sugar that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Use your extra dining points at the Cellar Market to purchase a $1.19 bag of M&M’s and $0.79 microwaveable bag of popcorn.
This is probably the easiest snack ever to make: pour the bag of M&M’s on top of the popcorn, close the bag, and shake it.
Nachos
Photo by Rachel Livengood
Because movie theaters don’t serve guacamole and who wants to eat processed cheese anyways? Nacho toppings can easily be personalized. Check out this tasty recipe.
Caramel Apples
Photo by Kirby Barth
This snack will cost you less than $5 and is yet another way to sneak extra fruits into your diet.
Fruit Skewers
Photo by Mira Nguyen
For less than $5, take advantage of nature’s candy and avoid processed foods and refined sugar. What better way to enjoy a snack than on a skewer? These can also be personalized with your favorite fruits.
Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Photo by Amanda Gajdosik
Last but most certainly not least, these sweet potato fries are for those who prefer savory snacks.
Looking for more movie snack ideas? Check out these articles for inspiration: