Airplane food is notoriously questionable and many people have an opinion on their mid-flight meals.
Avoiding the on-board flight meals may be achievable during a quick layover, but on a long-haul flight you will likely have to embrace the ready-to-eat food.
While some airlines provide worse food than others – few can be considered Michelin star quality.
Now flight attendants have revealed the meals they would never eat and what drinks passengers should most definitely avoid.
Some flight attendants have warned against drinking water on flights due to how often the pipes are cleaned – this includes abstaining from tea, coffee and even having ice in your drinks
Food and drinks to avoid on planes according to flight attendants
- Alcohol
- Water (that isn’t bottled)
- Ice
- Tea and Coffee
- Cheese Boards
- Steak
- Soup
- Pasta
The first to be aware of is the most basic of them all – as crew members warn against drinking water on flight.
And, much to the chagrin of brew-loving Brits, this also includes Tea and Coffee,
A flight attendant named Whytney, who works for a major U.S. airline, said: ‘It all comes down to how often the pipes are clean.
‘Most flight attendants won’t drink the tap water, coffee or tea.’
Whytney told the Huffington Post, the issue isn’t so much in the U.S, but across other countries that don’t have similar regulations in place.
A 2019 study which ranked major and regional airlines across the U.S. in terms of water quality found that Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air offered the safest water and JetBlue and Spirit Air ranked last.
Passengers could opt for bottled water to stay safe, and avoid dehydration by skipping the salty snacks.
Other crew members suggested staying away from eating steaks and fillets because of how they are prepared.
A Delta Air Lines flight attendant, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘If you are particular about how your steak should be prepared, don’t eat it.’
While passengers probably don’t expect a gourmet steak thousands of feet up in the air, the employee confirmed: ‘The ovens are so big, and there is only so much food that can fit in it.’
Which means the meat is usually overprepared and tough to eat.
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Unfortunately, according to some Flight attendants, you shouldn’t even have alcohol to drown your sorrows toward the poor airplane food.
Whytney said that alcohol affects your body negatively on flight due to the high altitude.
Dr. Clare Morrison, a medical professional with MedExpress, told HuffPost UK: ‘The barometric pressure in the cabin of a plane is lower than it normally is.’
She refers to a condition known as hypoxia, which relates to low levels of oxygen in body tissue.
This occurs on flights, she explains, as decreased pressure means that the body finds it harder to absorb oxygen.
‘The lower level of oxygen in your blood means that you may seem more drunk in the air than you would on the ground after consuming the same amount of alcohol.’
And, if you’re partial to a Whiskey on the rocks, you should also remember that your ice is probably made from the same tap water that flight attendants would avoid.
Another food item to avoid, King said, are cheese trays.
‘Stay away from cheese trays, as they aren’t too fresh,’ she advised. ‘They are made of cheese, sure, but they’re basically shelf-stable products.’
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Passengers should also skip salty foods, according to Whytney these include Pasta and soups, sandwiches with meat in and some Indian meals.
Vanessa Rissetto, a registered dietitian said: ‘Because of pressure shifts, some people retain water during a flight.’
So something overly processed and too high in sodium may lead to dehydration-related headaches, constipation or fatigue.
Vanessa advised: ‘Try some electrolyte tabs or coconut water to help with hydrations and try whole foods like veggies and fruit, or lean protein to help you feel your best.’
While all foods go through an extensive regulatory process before being served on a plane – the advice of regular crew members is worth noting.
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