Airplane food tends to be more of a punchline than a pleasure. Charles Platkin, PhD, director of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College, sought to uncover just how healthy or unhealthy airplane food is, and the results are published in the Annual Airline Food Investigation, a survey he's conducted since 2000 (it became annual in 2009). For the survey, Platkin reached out to representatives with 12 major airlines to inquire about their meal and snack options. He ranks them based, in part, on calories, nutrition, menu innovation and transparency (some airlines are more candid than others about what's in their food).
"They call me an airline food bully," says Platkin, who is also founder of the site DietDetective.com. "I'm aggressive about it. People have choices about what airline they fly, but they don't have choices about what they eat on that flight," he says. Each airline is given a "health score" on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. This year, Delta and Virgin America tied for the lead, with each scoring 4 points, and Air Canada tied for second with JetBlue. Hawaiian Airlines came in last.
It's telling that no airline scored the highest rating of 5. Here's how some of the airlines did:
Delta
Cooperation in providing nutritional information: Excellent
Health score: 4 stars
Average calories overall (meals, snack boxes and individual snacks): 480
Delta was notable for its willingness to share nutritional information, its variety of offerings and the fact that the average calories in the snack boxes, meals and individual snacks decreased from 2016's 527 to 480, and meal calories decreasing from 628 calories to 559. Delta has also begun offering complimentary meals in economy class on select flights.
Best bets: For a snack, opt for the almonds (124 calories); the vegan, GMO-free Delta Flight Fuel Tapas Snack Box (it should be eaten as a meal, not a snack, because of the higher calories, says Platkin), which has Super Seed Crackers, Snapea Crisps, almonds, hummus, quinoa with pepper dip and other items (665 calories); the fruit-and-yogurt continental breakfast (345 calories if you save the Kind bar for later); the sesame noodle salad (345 calories); or the Greek mezze plate (330 calories).
Virgin America
Cooperation in providing nutritional information: Excellent
Health score: 4 stars
Average calories overall: 340
Platkin says that healthier options and openness about calories and nutrients have all been a part of Virgin's approach since the airline launched (although it has since been purchased by Alaska Airlines).
Best bets: Go with the nuts as a snack (Creative Snack Brain Smart Nut Mix, 510 calories, and Hail Merry Seasoned Nut Blend, 220 calories) and share them or save part for later; opt for one of the meals, such as the 420-calorie, vegetarian protein-packed quinoa wrap; the 440-calorie protein plate with a cage-free hard-boiled egg, cheese, grilled chicken breast, fresh vegetables, wheat pita rounds and edamame hummus; or the 390-calorie farro salad.
Air Canada
Cooperation in providing nutritional information: Very helpful
Health score: 3.75
Average calories overall: 320
Best bets: Skotidakis fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt (90 calories); Avocado Smash Box with fresh guacamole, aged cheddar cheese, hard-boiled egg, green apple slices, multigrain muesli bread, chili flakes (590 calories).
JetBlue Airways
Cooperation in providing nutritional information: Somewhat helpful
Health score: 3.75
Average calories overall: 337
Best bets: Platkin highlights the Amp Up Box, with hummus, a fruit bar, olives, crackers, almonds and other items (425 calories) for its nutritional value, but acknowledges the calories are high. Other good choices on select flights: yogurt and granola (210 calories), kale and quinoa salad (320 calories).
American Airlines
Cooperation in providing nutritional information: Below average
Health score: 2.5
Average calories overall: 446
Best bets: Go for the hummus box as a snack (220 calories) or the Chicken Arugula Wrap (when available) for lunch and go easy on the dressing (401 calories).
Hawaiian Airlines
Cooperation in providing nutritional information: Terrible/unresponsive
Health score: 1
Average calories overall: 568
Platkin says that the airline representatives didn't share nutritional information, so he and his team had to estimate in their findings. Hawaiian Airlines offers free meals, and the high calorie counts associated with them, which he found averaged 971 calories, worked against them in Platkin's ratings.
Best bets: Hummus and pita chips (197 calories). Although Platkin writes in his report: "In the end, it would be best to eat before you board the plane; otherwise you might wind up feeling lethargic and cranky after one of these calorie-heavy meals. Just say no, and bring your own food."