Healthy airline food. Is it just pie in the sky?
Low sodium lacto-ovo gluten free? It’s no longer pie in the sky
I have a confession to make. I like in flight food. I know I’m not the only one, I’ve shared this confession amongst friends and a surprising percentage nodded excitedly in agreement.
I’m not sure what it is about aeroplane food that makes it so appealing. At home a pre-packaged, re-heated, microwave meal is the least appetising thing I’d ever voluntarily eat. But somehow 40,000ft up in the air I’m delighted when they announce it’s time to put your seat in the upright position and flip your tray table down. Perhaps it’s the anticipation of lifting that shiny silver lid and seeing what’s on offer, or maybe it simply comes down to breaking the monotony of 13 hours stuck in a gigantic metal tube. For the record I am not that person who pre-books a paid-for meal on short haul budget flights, so in thinking it through I can’t be overly enamoured by it.
Whilst complimentary meals rarely exist on European city hops these days, the list of long haul in-flight dining options is steadily growing. I remember the days when I’d struggle to get a guaranteed vegetarian meal. I’d always tick the box in hope but inevitably it would somehow get forgotten and a poor member of cabin crew would be sent to scrabble around in the meal cupboard hoping they’d packed a couple of spare veggie options. Nowadays there’s not just vegetarian … there’s strict vegan, asian vegetarian, raw vegetarian and lacto-ovo vegetarian. That’s a wider variety than most British restaurants. I’m literally spoilt for choice!
And it isn’t just vegetarians who are well catered for. You can pick a gluten free meal, a non lactose meal, a diabetic meal, a low sodium meal, a low cholesterol meal, a nut allergy meal a seafood meal a non seafood meal, a bland meal … and the list goes on! Who even voluntarily chooses a bland meal?! Those with digestive issues apparently. The option states ‘boiled meat, mashed potato and soft eggs’. I must admit I feel mildly nauseous at the thought, but it’s clearly appropriate for some and good on them for giving us that preference.
I’ll share this little tip with you, although I do worry the more people I tell the more chance they’ll stop doing it one day and I’ll kick myself for spreading the word! Regardless of your non specific dietary requirements, always tick one of those special meals. Don’t ever opt for the regular choice. Here’s my theory and it’s never failed me yet; Dietary requirement meals are invariably served first. Before that food trolley comes trundling down the isle catering standard meals for your fellow passengers, they will always send a crew member to hand deliver your special food. No more waiting in eager anticipation whilst the smell of stewed chicken comes drifting down from first class. You are a VIP. Your lacto-ovo, gluten free, low sodium requirements make you more important than everybody else, they will attach a little sticker to the top of your chair and your food will be served as a priority.
There’s a second part to this tip and it’s absolutely key. Get eating fast! Don’t be politely dawdling waiting for everyone else on the row to receive their meal before you begin, this is not a restaurant and these are not your companion diners. I guarantee your dinner will be cold by the time theirs arrives. Peel back the silver foil and unapologetically tuck in. You have thirteen inflight hours to kill and there’s nothing quite like a post dinner nap to break up the monotony. This becomes virtually impossible with the remnants of your VIP dinner sat awaiting collection on the tray table in front of you. The key is to finish just as your neighbouring passengers are being served theirs. Then simply lift up the empties and conveniently hand them over to the stewardess. Sorted.
Now you can sit back, stick your headphones on and snooze away whilst watching Toy Story 2 (again). All before your fellow passengers can even begin to mutter the words rehydrated ratatouille.
