If only it were true that calories consumed in a dark movie theater didn't really count! Prevention Editor-in-Chief Liz Vaccariello sheds some light on what health-conscious moviegoers may want to avoid the next time they're at the concession stand.

Diet Soda. Liz explains that diet sodas actually have two things that complicate weight loss. "The first is that it can make you crave sweets later in the day," she says. "The artificial sweeteners trick our taste buds so when you go to have a piece of fruit it doesn't taste as sweet as it should." Liz adds that choosing diet soda often makes people justify consuming extra calories elsewhere. "We think, 'Oh, I'm making a healthy choice by ordering diet [soda],' and you actually eat more of the popcorn or the nachos than you normally would.'" Liz suggests replacing that diet soda with bottled water.

Popcorn. Popcorn goes hand in hand with the movie-going experience, but there's an easy way to make it a little healthier. "Add a handful of almonds to the bag," Liz says. "The almonds have a little bit of fat and fiber in them so they're going to fill you up a little faster and keep you fuller longer. Plus, they have a lot of disease-fighting antioxidants." For parents who go to the movies with small children who all want their own bag of popcorn, Liz suggests bringing little plastic bags and dividing one larger tub of popcorn into the smaller bags. As for the butter, Liz advises, "If you can avoid it at all costs, please do so - it's the worst kind of fat for you."

Hot dogs. While it may not seem like a healthy choice, ordering a hot dog can prove wiser than selecting other items like popcorn and a baked stuffed pretzel. "A hot dog at a movie theater is going to be about one third the calories of all of that and it's going to fill you up and make you feel like you're having a meal." If one hot dog doesn't fill you up, Liz suggests adding some peanuts to your order. "There are a number of peanut choices at the theater (like Peanut M&M's or Reece's Peanut Butter Cups) that can help enhance the hot dog. Five major studies in the U.S. this year have shown that peanuts lower the risk of heart disease and the absorption of cholesterol so they're really healthful for you."

No matter which food you choose at the theater, Liz has advice for when you finally make your way to your seats. "When you sit down to snack, snack slowly," she says. "Researchers have found that the slower you eat, you will eat less overall. Brain scans have shown that after 10 minutes (about the length of the movie trailers) the appetite center in your brain shuts off."