Airports Increasing Healthful Meal Options

PCRM’s 10th annual airport food review found healthy vegan meals at many of the nation’s airports. Hungry travelers can find heart-healthy food in most airport terminals, with 82 percent of restaurants in the nation’s busiest airports now offering at least one low-fat vegan meal. That is a steep increase from a decade ago, when PCRM’s inaugural airport food review found only 57 percent of airport eateries offered at least one healthful option.

But nutritious choices are still hard to locate in some of the biggest U.S. airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Chicago O’Hare International, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

PCRM dietitians surveyed restaurant meals at 18 major airports. Detroit’s Wayne County Airport took top honors, with 96 percent of its restaurants offering at least one healthy option. Read the complete report >

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Gaining Steam—and Steamed Veggies

Peter Barwinkel is passionate about healthful food. As the director of food and beverage operations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, he is proactive in ensuring that every traveler can find a healthy plant-based meal choice.

Barwinkel isn’t waiting for restaurants to decide to add healthful options on their own. Instead, he is requiring that all restaurants include at least one vegetarian option as part of a terminal renovation project. He also encourages restaurants to use healthy cooking methods such as steaming or baking.

Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport already has a solid score in PCRM’s report and will likely gain more momentum as the airport works to meet customers’ preferences for healthier options.