7

Foods You Should Never Eat on a Plane

No one gets excited about airplane food. That's why a lot of savvy travelers bring their own food on board. Whether you're eating what's served by the flight attendants or pulling your own meal out of your carry-on, there are some things you are better off avoiding while up in the air. Here are seven foods you should never eat on a plane:

7

Beans

Bowl of cooked kidney beans
Credit: Igor Dutina/ Shutterstock

Beans, the magical fruit. While the side-effect of consuming legumes on the ground is bad enough, it can be even worse in the air. That's because according to Aerospace Medical Association, gas in the body can expand up to 25% when flying at 8000 feet. That can cause a lot of unpleasant pressure in your digestive system that will need to come out. So you'll either be making frequent trips to the toilet or making an enemy out of your seatmates. It's best to skip these gas-inducing foods altogether.

6

Fish

tray of Japanese sushi
Credit: studiocasper/ iStock

Fish may seem like a healthy alternative to other meal options, but in this case, it's a matter of good manners to avoid it on the plane. Fish, as you know, can have quite the smell. Not only could it make your seat neighbor feel queasy, but the smell can linger long after you finish your meal.

5

Garlic

bowl of roasted garlic
Credit: DebbiSmirnoff/ iStock

Garlic is another smelly food that's best avoided on a plane. It may be an even bigger offender than fish when it comes to odor. That's because garlic doesn't only smell on your food, it smells after you've ingested it, too. The compound that gives garlic its taste and flavor is called allicin. It's not immediately destroyed when it enters your digestive system, either. It actually breaks down slowly in the body and then comes out of the pores of your skin when you sweat. If you've ever sat next to someone with body odor on a plane, you'll know why it's so important you skip the garlic at the airport restaurant.

4

Yogurt

Plastic tubs of yogurt with spoons
Credit: AtlasStudio/ Shutterstock

The live cultures in yogurt can be good for your gut health. Travel and Leisure even recommends eating yogurt as a way to help your body battle jet lag. Make sure you spoon up the stuff before you get on board, though. That's because it's not the food itself that's the issue on the plane, it's the packaging. Those foil-topped tubs will swell in the changing air pressure of the cabin. So when you go to peel back the lid, you could experience a yogurt explosion. If you do want to bring it on board, change out the container or peel that lid back very slowly to avoid splatter. Your seatmate will thank you (and so will your travel outfit).

3

Salt

salt shaker spilling on table
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If you want to be comfortable during and after your flight, skip any salty foods. That's because salt causes water retention, according to Healthline. Long flights can also cause water retention, so combining the two can lead to some unpleasant results. Not only could you end up feeling bloated, but your ankles could end up painfully puffy. Skipping the salt and drinking plenty of water should help flush your system and keep it running smoothly.

2

Peanuts

Pile of salted peanuts
Credit: AlasdairJames/ iStock

Peanuts used to be the stereotypical airplane snack. Not anymore. Peanut allergies can be deadly, and those with severe allergies not only have to avoid consuming peanuts but also avoid breathing peanut dust in the air. Because of the severity, most airlines don't serve peanuts anymore. Some travelers are so sensitive to the substance that they have to check the airline's peanut policy before they fly. The Gate has a list of 17 different airline peanut policies if you need a reference. Since airlines avoid peanuts, passengers should, too. Bringing peanuts on board could put a fellow passenger's life in jeopardy.

1

Fast Food

Burger, soda, fries, and ketchup
Credit: Davizro/ iStock

Fast food is high in sodium, one of the no-nos on this list. It can also have a strong smell, another item to avoid on the plane. If you need a third reason, though, it's that fast food takes longer for your body to digest. Fast food has a high fat content, which according to Livestrong, makes your body work harder when it comes to breaking it down for digestion. That can lead to unpleasant digestive effects, not to mention feeling lethargic and sick when you get off the plane. That's not how you want to start your vacation or business trip.

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