Airport Food to Avoid

The airport isn’t necessarily known as a fine dining mecca. Despite the influx of popular chefs setting up shop in airports around the world, there are still not enough feasible options for a healthy and flavorful meal. Before you board your flight, steer clear of these questionable airport food items.

Fruits and Vegetables

While this may seem to go against healthy eating habits, fresh produce can easily hide bacteria and lead to foodborne illness — the last thing you want to deal with on a long-haul flight. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers some tips for produce safety.

Undercooked Meat

Much like concerns over bacteria in produce, sushi or meat cooked rare are more likely to raise concern than food cooked through. Avoid these when possible. 

Food That’s Been Sitting

Whether checking out pre-packaged sandwiches or a tray of food that looks as though it’s been sitting out all day, use caution for anything that doesn’t seem freshly prepared.

Snacks

A bag of snacks may be convenient to grab on your way to the gate, however pretzels, candy, sweet trail mix and other similar items don’t provide much nutritional value and often pack a high calorie count. Instead, look for items like Greek yogurt or hummus in the cooler.

Drinks Besides Water

Alcohol dehydrates you. Smoothies often contain high amounts of sugar. Coffee has the irritant caffeine. Stick to good old H2O to stay hydrated during your flight and avoid stomach discomfort.