Things You Should Never Eat on an Airplane
Nov 29, 2021
Some snacks at the airport are healthier than others and airplane food has some wacky
qualities of its own. But even if you bring your own food on board, there are reasons
to be cautious. Some foods just don’t belong anywhere near the inside of an airplane.
While in-flight safety tips can protect you from the dangers of flying, these in-flight
eating tips will save you from the scorn of your fellow passengers — and from a few
health risks, too.
Welcome message from author
Bringing your own food on the plane makes perfect sense, both for your taste buds and your wallet. But whether you’re packing your own snacks or buying a gateside meal to-go, you should avoid these seven foods—for your sake and those around you.
Transcript
Slide 1Overview
Some snacks at the airport are healthier than others and airplane food has some wacky
qualities of its own. But even if you bring your own food on board, there are reasons
to be cautious. Some foods just don’t belong anywhere near the inside of an airplane.
While in-flight safety tips can protect you from the dangers of flying, these in-flight
eating tips will save you from the scorn of your fellow passengers — and from a few
health risks, too.
garlic
Go easy on your seat mates—that garlic bagel you enjoyed for breakfast might linger
through a flight later on. The compound allyl methyl disulfide, one of the culprits
contributing to garlic breath, can take up to 24 hours to be removed from your
body.
Alcohol
For individuals who fear flying, drinking alcohol might seem like a way to calm down.
Plus, you might think of the start of vacation as an excuse to overindulge—but think
twice: Flying by itself is a dehydrating experience. Sitting on a cramped flight for more
than four hours already increases chance of blood clots in high-risk people, according to
the CDC, and dehydration from drinking adds yet another layer of risk.
Beans
Otherwise a fibrous, healthy addition to your dinner, beans could set you up for a bad
time in flight. It’s true what they say about beans — they give you gas. Unless you
want to spend the flight hiding your chagrin at the unpleasant odor, you may want to
avoid eating them while you fly.
Burritos
Eating a burrito on a cramped flight is a recipe for disaster. The beans in burritos could
cause bloating and gas, spicy ingredients could induce heartburn, and garlic and
onions could be smelly to those sitting around you. Wait to quell your Chipotle
cravings until after you touch ground.
Cheese puffs
Cheetos cheese dust (which is, believe it or not, partially made from cheese) leaves a
layer of bright orange residue behind. Most of this is going to stick to your fingers, but
some could drift down to your seat and the poor souls surrounding you. And though
it’s tempting, you really don’t want to lick your hands clean while you’re on a
flight.This childhood habit was gross then, but it’s even grosser when you’re
surrounded by all the bacteria on an airplane.
Chicken
wings
Going to town on a plate of hot wings is an activity best reserved for game day —
not for the few hours you’re smooshed into close quarters with strangers. These
sauce-drenched finger foods are going to be an absolute mess for you to eat. If you
are bold enough to eat these in flight, be prepared to hold on to the pile of dirty
napkins until a flight attendant decides to pass by with the opportunity to throw
them away.
Coffee
Drinking the coffee on an airplane can actually make you sick. This is one of
the secrets only flight attendants know, but a recent study confirmed their suspicions.
The coffee on board is made using local tap water and the tanks used to store the
water aren’t cleaned as often as they should be, meaning that bacteria could be
lurking.
Fried fast food
Chicken nuggets and french fries are great for any other time, but they aren’t
courteous snacks to bring on an airplane. The smell of fried food will float around the
cabin, either bothering your fellow passengers or giving them cravings for greasy fast
food. Either way, everyone around you is going to feel like they’re on the world’s
longest flight.
Nothing
With all the things you’ve heard about airplane food, you might be tempted to just
wait until you’ve landed safely to eat. But this is actually a really bad idea. If you don’t
eat during a long flight, your blood sugar levels could drop, making you feel weak,
shaky and nauseous. You may also feel an uptick in your anxiety and a less stable
mood. Blood sugar changes could make jet lag worse, as well.
Peanut
butter
Peanuts are one of the most common allergens. You never know who on your flight is
affected. For some, even proximity to peanuts or peanut butter could pose a real
threat.
Shelled nuts
and seeds
Aside from the fact that nuts are a common allergen, shelled nuts or seeds are still a
terrible idea to bring on a plane. Think about it: Where are you going to get rid of all
those splintery shells? Sunflower seeds are an especially bad idea because you have to
physically spit out the shells as you eat them. Do your seatmates a favor and just
don’t.
Soup
The threat of spillage is just too high. Pouring hot soup all over your lap — and
maybe your neighbor’s — is one of the worst things you can do on an airplane.
Though soup is healthy and delicious, it’s just not something you should be eating
when turbulence could occur.
Sparkling water
Though on any other occasion, there’s no reason not to drink as much sparkling water
as you please, you may want to cut back on an airplane. The bubbles can make you
gassy and bloated, both of which sound like really uncomfortable symptoms for a long
flight.
Spicy food
You might be tempted to add lots of hot sauce or other spice to your food,
since your taste buds dull at higher altitudes. But don’t go overboard, especially if
you’re prone to heartburn. Spicy foods can cause acid reflux; you don’t want to get
stuck in a situation where you’re in a ton of pain with no mode of heartburn relief.
Sushi
With so many components, if there were turbulence the likelihood is high that your
soy sauce would spill everywhere, a sushi roll would plummet to the ground or some
other disaster would strike. And even though wasabi is rarely made from actual
wasabi, it’s still super spicy and could cause heartburn. You want to stick to something
that’s easy to eat and easily contained, like a sandwich or salad bowl.
Blue cheese
Skip the Cobb salad on the in-flight menu—blue cheese can be a problem for
someone with a milk allergy. The last place you want to find out if you’ll react is at
35,000 feet. The cabin is pressurized, but the environment is still similar to the air at
the 6,000- to 8,0000-foot altitude. Those lower oxygen levels mean individuals with
respiratory ailments are especially vulnerable.
Tap water
The tap water on board a flight comes from water tanks that aren’t cleaned as often
as they should be. The dark, murky tanks could be harboring bacteria and other
contaminants. If you want water while on board, ask for bottled water instead.
Tea
The same bacteria-infested water that’s used for the coffee and pours of tap water
are also used to brew tea. While drinking tea might otherwise be an effective way
to settle your stomach, drinking this tea could make you feel ill.
Too much
sodium
The trouble with eating too much sodium when you fly has less to do with its effect
on your blood pressure and more to do with short-term symptoms. Many people
experience swelling to their hands and feet when they fly, largely because of the lack
of movement leading to poor circulation. People with heart troubles are more prone
to this symptom than others. But no matter who you are, eating too much sodium can
make this swelling worse.
Trail mix
Trail mix is a popular airport snack, but opt for another packaged snack food if you
can. Trail mix often contains allergens such as tree nuts. Additionally, dried fruit and
nuts are both difficult for your stomach to digest compared to other foods due to the
high concentrations of fats and sugars. This might be the only time it’s a better idea to
pick out the chocolate chips and leave the rest of your trail mix behind.
Tuna
sandwiches
If it’s too smelly to eat in an office, it’s definitely too smelly to eat on an airplane.
Close quarters can make the smells of potent foods like tuna fish even more
offensive to those around you. Opt for a safer sandwich instead, like a simple deli
sandwich with meat and cheese.
Popcorn
You’re in your seat with your bag of butter-flavored popcorn ready to watch a movie
when the plane hits an unexpected turbulent patch. The bag goes flying, covering you
and your neighbors in popcorn kernels. Even if you avoid this embarrassing scenario,
you’ll have buttery fingers, a rustling package, and a strong, buttery smell for
everyone around you. And if the fiber results in flatulence, you’ll realize perhaps
some trail mix or healthy chips might be a better option.
Dark
chocolate
espresso
beans
When we think about caffeine we usually think coffee, but dark chocolate can pack a
caffeine punch. A 3.5-ounce bar of 85 percent cacao has about 80 milligrams
caffeine alone, and chocolate-covered espresso beans contain as much as 336
milligrams per serving, according to the USDA. You won’t like that if turbulence
makes you anxious.
Yogurt
Bringing your own yogurt through security is a no-go, since it’s too large of a liquid
container to pass in your carry-on. But if you buy yogurt at the gate, make sure to eat
it before you’re in the air. The foil-topped containers of yogurt are apt to explode due
to pressure changes in the cabin. One way not to make friends with your neighbor on
an airplane? Exploding a cup of yogurt in their vicinity.
Noisy Foods
Crunch… crunch… crunch. Put down the chips or raw vegetables—your seatmate
does not want to listen to you chew. Crunchy foods can sound louder than a jet
engine when you’re basically chewing right in your seatmate’s ear. Remember that
the person next to you has nowhere to go, so save the noisy foods for when you land.
Greasy
Foods
Grabbing a fast food meal can be the cheapest and easiest airport option, but it’s
really not the best choice for flying. A greasy meal ticks both the “smelly” and
“messy” options, and the often-high sodium content of fast food options contributes
to jet bloat.
Conclusion
Bringing your own food on the plane makes perfect sense, both for your taste buds
and your wallet. But whether you’re packing your own snacks or buying a gate-
side meal to-go, you should avoid these seven foods—for your sake and those
around you.
Some snacks at the airport are healthier than others and airplane food has some wacky
qualities of its own. But even if you bring your own food on board, there are reasons
to be cautious. Some foods just don’t belong anywhere near the inside of an airplane.
While in-flight safety tips can protect you from the dangers of flying, these in-flight
eating tips will save you from the scorn of your fellow passengers — and from a few
health risks, too.
garlic
Go easy on your seat mates—that garlic bagel you enjoyed for breakfast might linger
through a flight later on. The compound allyl methyl disulfide, one of the culprits
contributing to garlic breath, can take up to 24 hours to be removed from your
body.
Alcohol
For individuals who fear flying, drinking alcohol might seem like a way to calm down.
Plus, you might think of the start of vacation as an excuse to overindulge—but think
twice: Flying by itself is a dehydrating experience. Sitting on a cramped flight for more
than four hours already increases chance of blood clots in high-risk people, according to
the CDC, and dehydration from drinking adds yet another layer of risk.
Beans
Otherwise a fibrous, healthy addition to your dinner, beans could set you up for a bad
time in flight. It’s true what they say about beans — they give you gas. Unless you
want to spend the flight hiding your chagrin at the unpleasant odor, you may want to
avoid eating them while you fly.
Burritos
Eating a burrito on a cramped flight is a recipe for disaster. The beans in burritos could
cause bloating and gas, spicy ingredients could induce heartburn, and garlic and
onions could be smelly to those sitting around you. Wait to quell your Chipotle
cravings until after you touch ground.
Cheese puffs
Cheetos cheese dust (which is, believe it or not, partially made from cheese) leaves a
layer of bright orange residue behind. Most of this is going to stick to your fingers, but
some could drift down to your seat and the poor souls surrounding you. And though
it’s tempting, you really don’t want to lick your hands clean while you’re on a
flight.This childhood habit was gross then, but it’s even grosser when you’re
surrounded by all the bacteria on an airplane.
Chicken
wings
Going to town on a plate of hot wings is an activity best reserved for game day —
not for the few hours you’re smooshed into close quarters with strangers. These
sauce-drenched finger foods are going to be an absolute mess for you to eat. If you
are bold enough to eat these in flight, be prepared to hold on to the pile of dirty
napkins until a flight attendant decides to pass by with the opportunity to throw
them away.
Coffee
Drinking the coffee on an airplane can actually make you sick. This is one of
the secrets only flight attendants know, but a recent study confirmed their suspicions.
The coffee on board is made using local tap water and the tanks used to store the
water aren’t cleaned as often as they should be, meaning that bacteria could be
lurking.
Fried fast food
Chicken nuggets and french fries are great for any other time, but they aren’t
courteous snacks to bring on an airplane. The smell of fried food will float around the
cabin, either bothering your fellow passengers or giving them cravings for greasy fast
food. Either way, everyone around you is going to feel like they’re on the world’s
longest flight.
Nothing
With all the things you’ve heard about airplane food, you might be tempted to just
wait until you’ve landed safely to eat. But this is actually a really bad idea. If you don’t
eat during a long flight, your blood sugar levels could drop, making you feel weak,
shaky and nauseous. You may also feel an uptick in your anxiety and a less stable
mood. Blood sugar changes could make jet lag worse, as well.
Peanut
butter
Peanuts are one of the most common allergens. You never know who on your flight is
affected. For some, even proximity to peanuts or peanut butter could pose a real
threat.
Shelled nuts
and seeds
Aside from the fact that nuts are a common allergen, shelled nuts or seeds are still a
terrible idea to bring on a plane. Think about it: Where are you going to get rid of all
those splintery shells? Sunflower seeds are an especially bad idea because you have to
physically spit out the shells as you eat them. Do your seatmates a favor and just
don’t.
Soup
The threat of spillage is just too high. Pouring hot soup all over your lap — and
maybe your neighbor’s — is one of the worst things you can do on an airplane.
Though soup is healthy and delicious, it’s just not something you should be eating
when turbulence could occur.
Sparkling water
Though on any other occasion, there’s no reason not to drink as much sparkling water
as you please, you may want to cut back on an airplane. The bubbles can make you
gassy and bloated, both of which sound like really uncomfortable symptoms for a long
flight.
Spicy food
You might be tempted to add lots of hot sauce or other spice to your food,
since your taste buds dull at higher altitudes. But don’t go overboard, especially if
you’re prone to heartburn. Spicy foods can cause acid reflux; you don’t want to get
stuck in a situation where you’re in a ton of pain with no mode of heartburn relief.
Sushi
With so many components, if there were turbulence the likelihood is high that your
soy sauce would spill everywhere, a sushi roll would plummet to the ground or some
other disaster would strike. And even though wasabi is rarely made from actual
wasabi, it’s still super spicy and could cause heartburn. You want to stick to something
that’s easy to eat and easily contained, like a sandwich or salad bowl.
Blue cheese
Skip the Cobb salad on the in-flight menu—blue cheese can be a problem for
someone with a milk allergy. The last place you want to find out if you’ll react is at
35,000 feet. The cabin is pressurized, but the environment is still similar to the air at
the 6,000- to 8,0000-foot altitude. Those lower oxygen levels mean individuals with
respiratory ailments are especially vulnerable.
Tap water
The tap water on board a flight comes from water tanks that aren’t cleaned as often
as they should be. The dark, murky tanks could be harboring bacteria and other
contaminants. If you want water while on board, ask for bottled water instead.
Tea
The same bacteria-infested water that’s used for the coffee and pours of tap water
are also used to brew tea. While drinking tea might otherwise be an effective way
to settle your stomach, drinking this tea could make you feel ill.
Too much
sodium
The trouble with eating too much sodium when you fly has less to do with its effect
on your blood pressure and more to do with short-term symptoms. Many people
experience swelling to their hands and feet when they fly, largely because of the lack
of movement leading to poor circulation. People with heart troubles are more prone
to this symptom than others. But no matter who you are, eating too much sodium can
make this swelling worse.
Trail mix
Trail mix is a popular airport snack, but opt for another packaged snack food if you
can. Trail mix often contains allergens such as tree nuts. Additionally, dried fruit and
nuts are both difficult for your stomach to digest compared to other foods due to the
high concentrations of fats and sugars. This might be the only time it’s a better idea to
pick out the chocolate chips and leave the rest of your trail mix behind.
Tuna
sandwiches
If it’s too smelly to eat in an office, it’s definitely too smelly to eat on an airplane.
Close quarters can make the smells of potent foods like tuna fish even more
offensive to those around you. Opt for a safer sandwich instead, like a simple deli
sandwich with meat and cheese.
Popcorn
You’re in your seat with your bag of butter-flavored popcorn ready to watch a movie
when the plane hits an unexpected turbulent patch. The bag goes flying, covering you
and your neighbors in popcorn kernels. Even if you avoid this embarrassing scenario,
you’ll have buttery fingers, a rustling package, and a strong, buttery smell for
everyone around you. And if the fiber results in flatulence, you’ll realize perhaps
some trail mix or healthy chips might be a better option.
Dark
chocolate
espresso
beans
When we think about caffeine we usually think coffee, but dark chocolate can pack a
caffeine punch. A 3.5-ounce bar of 85 percent cacao has about 80 milligrams
caffeine alone, and chocolate-covered espresso beans contain as much as 336
milligrams per serving, according to the USDA. You won’t like that if turbulence
makes you anxious.
Yogurt
Bringing your own yogurt through security is a no-go, since it’s too large of a liquid
container to pass in your carry-on. But if you buy yogurt at the gate, make sure to eat
it before you’re in the air. The foil-topped containers of yogurt are apt to explode due
to pressure changes in the cabin. One way not to make friends with your neighbor on
an airplane? Exploding a cup of yogurt in their vicinity.
Noisy Foods
Crunch… crunch… crunch. Put down the chips or raw vegetables—your seatmate
does not want to listen to you chew. Crunchy foods can sound louder than a jet
engine when you’re basically chewing right in your seatmate’s ear. Remember that
the person next to you has nowhere to go, so save the noisy foods for when you land.
Greasy
Foods
Grabbing a fast food meal can be the cheapest and easiest airport option, but it’s
really not the best choice for flying. A greasy meal ticks both the “smelly” and
“messy” options, and the often-high sodium content of fast food options contributes
to jet bloat.
Conclusion
Bringing your own food on the plane makes perfect sense, both for your taste buds
and your wallet. But whether you’re packing your own snacks or buying a gate-
side meal to-go, you should avoid these seven foods—for your sake and those
around you.
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