Are Airlines Flying Away With Your Healthy Food Choices?

To some extent, we all care about staying healthy with what we eat while traveling. None of us wants to send our blood pressure soaring or face extreme diets when we get home. When we reach our destinations, we avoid certain foods or seek healthy options which are sure to see us through. These are admirable efforts, and they can make a massive difference to our experiences.

But, have you ever thought about your health with regards to what you eat on the plane? Let’s face it; plane food isn’t exactly famed for its nutritional benefits. As such, you could do a fair amount of damage before you even touch down. This is especially the case on a long-haul flight. Get things wrong, here, and you could spend your whole holiday playing catch-up.

That’s why it’s well worth considering the food on offer before you book your flights. Each company brings different benefits. Some are far worse for our health than others. In a recent study, DietDetective.com and the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center took a closer look at what we can expect from meals on top airlines. Alaska Airlines came up top, with 4.25 stars. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Frontier Airlines got a measly 0.85 stars. That’s a significant drop and a worrying state of affairs. Lucky for you, there are a few tell-tale signs that on-flight food isn’t as healthy as you might like. Keep on reading to find out what they are.

A lack of nutritional information

Within the study, one of the main areas for concern was the nutritional information on offer. Airlines who ranked bottom had little to no info listed next to meals. That means everything from no calorie count to only basic allergy listings. This is a sure sign that you wouldn’t like the figures if you did have access to them. By comparison, high-ranking companies provided adequate listings for every meal. So, before you book up, take a look at the menu. If you’re unimpressed with the information available, look elsewhere.

Very few fresh options

For obvious reasons, fresh options are a decent indicator of health benefits. Sadly, many airlines fail to offer them because of the added costs incurred. If there isn’t an ounce of fruit on that in-flight menu, you don’t need us to tell you that you’re onto a lousy choice. But, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Plenty of airlines stock fresh food from vegetable and fruit wholesalers. All you need to do is look out for them.

Limited choices

To some extent, every airline is sure to have a limited food menu. That’s just a matter of practicality. But, if the only food available is snack-based or high in calories, you’re best off steering clear. A decent airline should offer both snacks and healthy options with fewer calories. If an airline only has three or four processed options, then, it’s a sure sign you should avoid them at all costs.