When it comes to the food and snacks offered on flights, all meals are not created equal. In fact, some airline companies offer healthier food options than others.

 

A recent study by Dr. Charles Platkin, executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center and editor of DietDetective.com, analyzed 11 airlines in the U.S. and Canada and ranked them by the “most healthiest.”

 

The 2018-19 Airline Food Study assigned a health score, with 5 stars being the highest rating and 0 being the lowest, based on eleven criteria. Those criteria included health and calorie levels of meals, snack boxes and individual snacks, level of transparency, improvement and maintenance of healthy offerings, menu innovation, food and water safety, and cooperation in providing this information.

 

According to the study, Alaska Airlines is ranked as No. 1 in the sky with 4.25 stars.

 

“Alaska’s meals are now on the lighter, better and healthier side, having gone from “Island hash” and teriyaki chicken bowls, for example, to Fall Harvest Salad on coast-to-coast flights,” according to the survey.

 

At the bottom of the list, and winner of the survey’s “Shame On You Award” is Frontier Airlines with .85 stars.

 

“Frontier’s communications team didn’t do a great job responding. We reached out multiple times before we finally received confirmation that nothing had changed on the airline’s menu since 2017,” the survey said. “Additionally, Frontier did not answer the food and water safety questions.”

 

Analysts from the survey went on to say that passengers on Frontier Airlines who want a healthy snack option should choose the trail mix, but noted that travelers would be best off bringing their own food.

 

Summary of Health Ratings

 

Alaska (4.25 stars)

 

Delta (3.7 stars)

 

JetBlue (3.55 stars)

 

Air Canada (3.45 stars)

 

American Airlines (3 stars)

 

United Airlines (2.75 stars)

 

Hawaiian Airlines (2.65 stars)

 

Allegiant Air (2.1 stars)

 

Southwest Airlines (1.6 stars)

 

Spirit Airlines (1.1 stars)

 

Frontier Air (.85 stars)

 

The full report can be read in its entirety here.