Here’s Which Airlines Have The Healthiest And Unhealthiest In-Flight Food
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If you’re going to eat airplane food, know what will make your body happy and what to skip.
An annual review of airlines’ in-flight food offerings revealed the best and worst options for plane dining. The survey, conducted by Charles Platkin, Ph.D., director of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College, gave each of 12 major North American-based airlines a health score from 1 to 5. No airline hit the high score of 5 – no surprises there, TBH – but some did shockingly okay.
Here’s how they stacked up, based on what kind of foods they offer, how many calories are in each item and the nutrition of the options.
1. Delta (tied for first)
Health Score: 4 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 560
Average Meal Calories: 559
Average Individual Snack Calories: 164
Platkin recommends: Tapas Snack Box (snap pea crisps, crackers, dark chocolate, almonds, fig bar, hummus, quinoa and pepper dip)
1. Virgin America (tied for first)
Health Score: 4 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 358
Average Meal Calories: 404
Average Individual Snack Calories: 276
Platkin recommends: Protein Box (tuna, crackers, hummus, veggie chip, almonds and dried fruit)
Two notes: Virgin America became part of Alaska Airlines (ranked fifth) as of this year. The data for average meal calories is listed as 4060, but our own math averaging the in-flight meals comes out to 404 calories.
3. Air Canada
Health Score: 3.75 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 357
Average Meal Calories: 483
Average Individual Snack Calories: 142
Platkin recommends: Avocado Smash Box (guacamole, cheddar cheese, hard-boiled egg, apple slices, multigrain bread and chili flakes)
4. JetBlue Airways
Health Score: 3.75 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 357
Average Meal Calories: 483
Average Individual Snack Calories: 142
Platkin recommends: Amp Up box (roasted red pepper hummus, fruit bar, chocolate chip crisps, olives, crackers and roasted almonds)
5. Alaska Airlines
Health Score: 3.5 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 479
Average Meal Calories: 516.5
Average Individual Snack Calories: 315
Platkin recommends: Mediterranean Tapas (olives, hummus, almonds, dried fruit and dark chocolate)
6. United
Health Score: 2.75 stars
Average Meal Calories: 484
Average Snack Box Calories: 492
Average Individual Snack Calories: 311
Platkin recommends: Mezze Sampler (wheatberry almond salad, red pepper hummus, whole almonds and pita pieces)
7. American Airlines
Health Score: 2.5 stars
Average Meal Calories: 495
Average Snack Box Calories: 526
Average Individual Snack Calories: 192
Platkin recommends: Chicken Arugula Wrap (lavash, grilled chicken breast, arugula, roasted red pepper hummus)
8. Frontier Airlines
Health Score: 2.25 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 300
Average Individual Snack Calories: 386
Platkin recommends: Colorado Nut Co. Trail Mix (or bring your own)
9. Southwest Airlines
Health Score: 2 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 125
Platkin recommends: peanuts (or bring your own)
10. Allegiant Air
Health Score: 1.75 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 307
Average Individual Snack Calories: 474
Platkin recommends: Nut Medley (shared or only eat half)
11. Spirit Airlines
Health Score: 1.75 stars
Average Snack Box Calories: 316
Average Individual Snack Calories: 342.5
Platkin recommends: Hummus with Stacy’s Pita Chips
12. Hawaiian Airlines
Health Score: 1 star
Average Snack Box Calories: 342
Average Individual Snack Calories: 460
Platkin recommends: Hummus & Pita Chips
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