The Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Food on Domestic Airlines

By Travel + Leisure Staff of Travel + Leisure |

Airlines haven't exactly developed a reputation for providing healthy  in-flight foods—and even the world's best in-flight food service serves up sinful (if not exactly healthy) dishes like creamy lobster mac and cheese, extensive wine menus, and feta cheese with figs and truffle honey.

Since 2012, Dr. Charles Platkin, editor of DietDetective.com and a professor of public health at Hunter College and CUNY, has been investigating in-flight snacks and meals found on major carriers across the U.S. and Canada.

This year's survey revealed which airlines are improving, becoming less cooperative, and which ones continue to fly the healthiest food across the skies. The 2015 report also highlighted a concerning trend: after four years of investigating in-flight nutrition, the average number of calories per item have risen from 360 to a whopping 400. Meanwhile, the number of choices continues to decrease.

In addition to calling out the best meals, snack boxes, and treats, Dr. Platkin gave airlines average calorie counts, and overview of food offering, exercise equivalents (one 350-calorie peanut butter-and-jelly half sandwich from Virgin America equals 76 minutes of walking). The final ranking, one star for the worst airline (lowest health rating and least cooperative in terms of providing information) and four and a half stars for the best.

Want to know the healthiest airline in the skies—and what you should order? Read on.

© Courtesy of jetBlue
Source: The Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Food on Domestic Airlines