Airport Food: Smart Dining Choices at the Airport

Without proper planning, maneuvering in the airport from the parking lot can be a headache. Imagine rushing around the parking lot to the checking area and boarding the plane on an empty stomach. And with most airlines not serving meals, you may have limited dining options between flights. But with smart dining options, you’ll feel better traveling, and you’ll reach your destination without spending too much on food. Plus, the last thing you need is to become sick or bloated on the plane. With proper planning, you won’t rely on the airplane peanuts offered by short-haul economy class.

Pack Some Snacks

Generally, you can’t bring beverages through airport security, but you can always carry some snacks. You can pass any form of food/snacks that you plan on consuming on your flight.

A snack guarantees you have something to eat between connections, especially for long flights. But then, keep in mind that you don’t want to nibble on snacks that would melt or get spoiled for the whole duration of your flight.

You can also keep your kids satisfied and happy with snacks while enjoying their favorite games. Besides keeping your kids stuffed, snacks have several other health advantages. Chewing snacks while the plane is landing or taking off can prevent the changes in air pressure from affecting your child’s ears.

You can get some chewable snacks at the vending machines at the Chicago O’Hare Airport, but they can be pricey. Therefore, you should carry healthy snacks from home and extra cash if you’re connecting flights. Some healthy snacks you can pack for your flight include the following:

• Fruits (bananas and apples)
• Energy bars or granola bars
• A mixture of dried fruits and nuts
• Açai berry bowls.

Don’t forget to grab some unique kid-friendly snacks like crackers and dry cereal for your trip.

Eat at the Airport

Most smart dining options at the airports don’t offer the healthiest foods, with fast food being quite popular among travelers. Sure, fast foods can come in handy, but they can leave you hungry before arriving at your destination.

When picking the right food, you should consider a number of factors including your digestive tolerance. This means staying away from any food that can strain your GIT or leave you hungry after a few hours.

Stay away from greasy and spicy fast foods can leave you with gastrointestinal distress.

Go for meals offering the following:

• Reasonable portion sizes
• Filling veggies for more energy
• A great source of protein

Some healthy meal choices include:

• Salads
• Soups
• Yogurt
• Fruit
• Sandwiches
• Tortilla soup
• Vegetable soup
• Tacos
• Fire-roasted veggies
• Seafood
• Salmon Chirashi bowl

Wraps and sandwiches are exceptional since you can eat half and carry the remainder for your flight. If you love Wahlburgers’ foods, like the BBQ chicken tots and truffle fries, you’re in luck. You can find their restaurants in various airports, including a famous one at Terminal C at the Boston Logan International Airport.

Get Food on Board

Short flights offer snacks, while long flights have more options, particularly on international flights. Long flights offer a wide range of meals ranging between full meals and light snacking.

International flights offer gourmet meals to their business and first-class passengers. Most U.S.-based airlines offer multicourse meals like salads, entrée, cocktail snacks, and ice cream. But you may have to prepay and preorder the meal being served on your flight.

To be on the safe side you should find out what’s on the menu and if you can get a special meal that fits your diet. And if they don’t have your favorite meal, you can carry more snacks and fruits.

Which Foods Should I Avoid When Traveling?

Snacking on foods like potato chips and candy is fun, but these foods provide empty calories and no sustainable energy. They are great snacks that won’t leave you full for an extended period.

Spicy and greasy meals can cause some discomfort later, so you should avoid them. If you have any food allergies, you should ask before ordering your meal. After all, getting medical assistance on the plane can be quite challenging.

Conclusion

Nothing is more disappointing than traveling on an empty stomach, especially on international flights. Therefore, most of us tend to have a heavy meal before leaving the house, which can work for local flights.

If you’re taking a long flight, you must carry some snacks or eat at the airport. You may even consider preordering food on board. Ordering onboard food can save you time while ensuring you’re full.