Salmon on an airplane? No thank you. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.

I'd be all over everything except the chicken casserole... chicken, lentils and veggies? healthy. Casserole? Me thinks not. Cream, sauces, binders compromise the concept of healthy there... Drop the chicken and casserole. Do a lentil and veggie dish and it's a perfect meal to me!

charcoal tablets? uhm...

I agree, it sounds much more" tasty than what they serve now. However, there are some red flags in terms of frankenfood: sugar-free caramel-flavored sauce" does not sound like something worth eating, "sports drink" typically means unnecessary sugar and sodium (I'd rather have a soda if we're going there) "blancmange" cannot possibly be blancmange if the yogurt has live cultures and therefore has me wondering what they did to it...and I'm wondering why you need charcoal tablets for this fairly ordinary meal.

However, at face value - I might make this for lunch sometime this week. I think half the problem with current airline food is they don't make food that can be stored - a cold canned-fish sandwich, salad, yogurt, and a stew seem like the perfect way to manage that problem.

Where are you supposed to stick the charcoal tablets?

And don't forget the PCB and dioxin levels in farmed salmon, especially those farmed in the very northern latitudes. Maybe if it's wild salmon, not from Washington (also high in dioxin. Thank you paper mills).

I had some very good food on my last British Airways flight. The flight over had roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, glazed carrots and parsnips, micro greens salad with mozzarella, whole grain roll, rhubarb crisp, and tea. The flight back had chicken curry with peas and rice, more roll, radicchio salad, lemon curd crisp, and tea. The flight back was also during the day so they stewards served us tea and finger sandwiches; I chose chicken salad.

Breakfast on the other hand was an overly processed muffin… blech. This was coach though, so I was very impressed with the overall quality.

I'm a veg and with a couple food allergies, if I could see the ingredients list and choose what I was eating, I would definitely try it. They're heading in the right direction, it seems, although some of those ingredients do sound scary (sugar-free to me usually means an allergic reaction unless it's made with stevia).

I don't care if the food on an airplane is healthy. I don't fly enough for the meals to affect my whole diet. I just want it to taste good. If I'm paying for it (in the ticket price or as an add-on), I want it to taste good.

And I also think Porter has good food. It was fantastic the first year they operated and still good now. Too bad all their flights are really short and you don't really need the food.

Agreed about the salmon- this has been discussed on here at length- no stinky foods, no matter how healthy or tasty. You're in closed quarters with a lot of people who may not want to smell it.

Other than that, this sounds okay to me. Shame best we can hope for nowadays on a normal flight is a baggie of pretzels.

I'm a vegetarian so this one's moot for me, but I agree that an ingredient list is the ultimate tool for judging these meals. Had hummus on JetBlue that listed corn starch as an ingredient (no, it was not good). All natural but yuck. I would bet there is a pretty chem-heavy ingredient list here--that's how the stuff stays "fresh," right? But I am happy to see they are trying! Really!

Just because it's one person's idea of healthy (even using scientifically "proven" health claims) doesn't mean it works for all people's dietary requirements. Therefore, I too agree that an ingredient list is still something I'd want before chowing down.

I'd likely only select the salad:

-sports drink screams "sugar!" to me, or at least fake sugar
-pure spring water; I don't drink bottled water
-bread roll; I don't eat yeasted breads
-yogurt - added sugar yet again?
-chicken casserole - maybe, but what kind of sauces are added?
-salmon - farmed or wild?

i would definitely eat this instead of the options currently available!

Sounds great. I would skip the sugar-free Carmel goo... I would happily eat salmon on a plane. I find most food smells acceptable if not pleasing. Perfume, cologne, etc. make me sick. I doubt most of you consider that when spraying your perfume to "freshen up" before landing.

An energy drink, for 'energy, vitamins and electrolytes'? While you're sitting on a plane? I don't think so.

That's what the food is for.

And I'd rather skip the bottled water and be given a BIG reusable cup, with refills of filtered water offered at regular intervals.

Those of you who "don't drink bottled water," how do you think the water gets on the plane at all? It's not like they have plumbing. It's all in bottles.

The charcoal tablets are for after the flight......cabin pressure keeps everything inside until you land.

I guess vegetarians can just nibble on the roll? No, I wouldn't eat any of it.

In theory, this meal sounds pretty healthy. In reality, I'd be extremely skeptical about the taste. Anytime you see the word "terrine" and you aren't in a fine dining restaurant, you should be expecting something along the lines of cat food. And with the picture of the casserole looking eerily like something out of a dog food can, I'm not encouraged.

The salad and the roll seem like fairly good choices...

I'd eat it. It can't be worse than what I'd be served anyway.

And why are people acting like they've never heard of taking charcoal tablets? Best remedy there is.

I'd also stay away from the salmon, but not because of the smell. It's like buying sushi from a gas station. Never buy anything from the sea when you have no idea how close the sea is. But I agree, this is a step in the right direction.

What gets me is that there is intentionally a photo of the "charcoal tablets" - why? Because everyone is going to think those are cookies. Why else put a photo of charcoal tablets on the side of a meal box? It's not food and in general wouldn't look or sound appealing. Horrible tactic.

It sounds pretty good to me, except for the sports drink (loaded with sugar).

what, no tofu? :D

Charcoal tablets can absorb nutrients from food and other medications so they shouldn't be used all the time for reducing gas. And since it is mostly used as an antidote for food poisoning, bad food combing or a sensitivity or intolerance to foods I'm not sure why they would make it a part of their meal. Are they trying to let you know up front that it's not going to go down well??

@greywriter58 - ew, I don't know what's in your casserole, but those ingredients have never come near mine!

This all sounds good... in theory. Recently on a flight a gourmet wrap (from a menu curated by a well-known Australian chef) sounded like a good choice. It was soggy, the wrap bread was dry and tasteless, the lettuce was slimy, and there were sauces oozing out the bottom. It was so disgusting. I'd rather a simpler menu that was edible, preferably enjoyable, by the time it got to my seat.

@Norainapeartree - I am aware that planes are not connected to the municipal water supply. ;)

I'm sure there are more environmentally-friendly solutions than giving out multiple 200 ml bottles of water. Put one of those office-size water bottles on a trolley, and voila.

Questionable.

I don't do terrines. Nasty texture and taste.

I don't do sports drinks - but the water would be fine. (I'll get the sports drink "benefits" other ways, thanks!)

Blancmange sounds vile, to me, so I'd prefer ordinary good quality yogurt with fresh fruit.

The salad, rolls and casserole all sound ok, although lentils aren't my favorite, so I'd be happier without them.

But as others mentioned, airline meals are a miniscule part of my diet.

On the other hand, it would be nice of restaurants took this approach and tried to have several "perfect" meals on their menus at all times. (Not that perfect for me is the same as for you -- particularly in calorie count...)

In high school on a class trip to France I had the freshest tasting piece of smoked salmon I've ever had in my life. It was also my first taste of smoked salmon ever. It was a thin sliver, didn't smell overwhelmingly fishy wasn't to greasy and wasn't that salty. That was some years ago, but I guess I can say I've had salmon on a plane and it was a wonderful experience.

Forgot to add that the carrier was Air France.

Based on all these responses and total disagreement as to exactly what is "healthy", it's a fool's task that will satisfy nobody. For people like these, I say make 'em bring on their own food and cut five bucks off of the price of their airline ticket (but don't buy that food at the airport...well, maybe you can in San Francisco, but don't in Los Angeles!).

@norainapeartree - I too am aware that planes are not connected to the municipal water supply....

...you know there are other options, right? Like bringing your own container and filling it up at the water fountain? (Yes, after security and before boarding)