America's Healthiest and Unhealthiest Airline Meals


Let's face it: Airplanes are traumatic environments - the turbulence, the terrorists, the 2-year-olds - and we travelers are left to eat our way to comfort. (When else in life would you voluntarily eat sugar-dusted pretzels washed down with two cans of bloody mary mix?) And though we passengers tend to enjoy eating at regular intervals, airline meals often come at too high a caloric price. To add insult to injury, many airline meals, particularly the ones we'd never choose ourselves were we on the ground, are no longer included in the price of a ticket.

Click here for the 10 Healthiest and Unhealthiest Airline Meals

Not until recently did airlines begin to consider the health and dietary risks of their complimentary snacks and in-flight meals. A decade ago, the average coach dinner contained 1,054 calories! But even now, many companies fail to make nutrition one of their primary concerns.

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Luckily, there are people like Dr. Charles Stuart Platkin, better known as the Diet Detective, who, each year, surveys most of the major air carriers, requesting the nutrition facts of all the food they serve on their economy-class domestic flights. He rates these airlines from zero stars to five - five being the healthiest - and offers some interesting tips regarding nutritious sky eating. Platkin is the first to say that many of the airlines, as well as their typically overseas-based catering companies, have come a long way toward providing healthier options for passengers. Still, as evidenced from the recent lawsuit filed against American Airlines and Sky Chefs for allegedly serving a Miami passenger a chicken dinner contaminated with deadly bacteria, they've got miles to go.

Click here for the 12 Weirdest Snacks in the World

© Flickr/WordRidden
© Flickr/WordRidden

American Airlines
Boston Market may be a lot of things, but healthy is not one of them. American Airlines, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection, offers three sandwiches from the fast-casual chain, and all three have way too many calories for someone sitting in a chair for two-plus hours. The same goes for their pizza, as well as the breakfast croissant sandwich. A better choice is Marcus Samuelsson's turkey and chutney sandwich (hold the chips).

© Flickr/bradleypjohnson
© Flickr/bradleypjohnson

Delta Airlines
Calorie-wise, Delta's snacks are not snacks at all. The "Flight Delight" snack box is healthy for the amount of food you get, but should be shared or considered a meal. Speaking of which, the Delta meal choices are mostly high in calories, except for the yogurt parfait (breakfast only), or the fruit and cheese plate. Otherwise, it's straight to the chicken and turkey Cuban (estimated at 552 calories).

© Flickr/ashley or something.
© Flickr/ashley or something.

Southwest Airlines
Southwest is far better known for its in-flight humor and open seating than its food. The selection, while free, usually consists of honey- or dry-roasted peanuts, Ritz crackers, Wheat Thins, or the truly gross "Sweet and Salty Mix." If you're not allergic, the nuts are the closest thing to healthy. [Insert Southwest-ian airplane joke here.]




© Flickr/Lunchbox Photography
© Flickr/Lunchbox Photography

Spirit Air
Wholly uncooperative toward inquiries regarding the food they serve, Spirit Airlines, a "leading Ultra Low Cost Carrier," also leads the way as the least healthy major domestic airline in terms of calories. The lowest estimated calorie option on their menu appears to be animal crackers (240 calories).



© Flickr/lisaclarke
© Flickr/lisaclarke

DIY
No, this isn't some new airline you've never heard of. A little bit of careful, pre-flight food packing is the best way to ensure a healthy travel diet. Why? Because we lose 30 percent of our ability to taste while at such high altitudes, and thus, the airlines tend to over-flavor their foods, often adding unnecessary calories. Make sure to check out the latest TSA regulations, though, before loading up on yogurt.

Click here for 5 more healthy and unhealthy airlines meals.

- Joshua Morrison, The Daily Meal

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