Apparently, ginger ale is the perfect drink to enjoy on a flight. According to Travel + Leisure, there are three main reasons why ginger ale rises to the top: it maintains its taste better in the dry plane air, it may help soothe upset stomachs, and it’s easier for flight attendants to serve at a high altitude.
Nutritionist Lauren Grosskopf breaks down the science behind the recommendation, explaining that ginger ale is a smart drink for plane passengers because of ginger’s medicinal uses. The root has long been used to help ease nausea; fend off the flu, the common cold, and inflammation; and aid in digestion, according to Healthline.
Ms Grosskopf also noted that our taste buds react to food differently when we’re stuck inside of an aeroplane’s cabin. The dry air affects sweet and salty tastes in particular. Because of this, ginger ale’s sometimes unpopular sweet taste can be negated, making it taste dry and sharp.
Feeling fresh
But did you know there is a food that can keep you feeling super fresh too? One that one flight attendant swears by.
Robine Blickman is a flight attendant with a large TikTok following, posting helpful videos giving her 27.2k followers advice on how to stay healthy while they travel.
“Today I’m going to share with you my top flight attendant tips to not feel as bloated as normal after a flight because let’s be honest, we all hate that feeling,” she said. “Morning of the flight – hot water and lemon.”
That was her first tip, and quite normal. But then things start to get weird.
Her next tip is to eat artichoke. Ms Blickman says she has them in tea form as well as pill form, and she claims it works very well.
“I take it before my flight, during my flight, it doesn’t matter, it just works,” Ms Blickman says.
According to Healthline, artichokes are a great source of fibre, which can help keep your digestive system healthy by promoting friendly gut bacteria, reducing your risk of certain bowel cancers, and alleviating constipation and diarrhoea. Artichokes also contain inulin, a type of fibre that acts as a prebiotic.
Juice it up
Finally, Ms Blickman’s third tip is to drink celery juice mixed up with cucumber and lemon, and to “try to hold back on the coke and the juices; believe me they are the worst”.
According to Fritz Gross, director of culinary excellence at LSG Sky Chefs Asia Pacific, airlines prioritise food safety over taste.
All airline foods are pre-prepared and reheated before serving. Pasta is one of the worst foods to reheat safely, and to do so means it will be well overcooked and not even close to al dente.
And, if the ratio of sauce to pasta is off, it will likely lead to a sloppy mess that will be far from tasty, says Mr Gross.
The best foods you can eat on a flight are those you bring yourself, such as popcorn, protein bars and whole fruits, as well as some foods considered ‘liquid’ such as peanut butter and hummus. Just make sure you take packages that satisfy security and customs rules.
What do you eat and drink on flights? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
Also read: What are the best snacks to eat when flying?
