Healthy eating can be a challenge for travelers, but you can get a healthy meal both in the air and on the ground. PCRM once again checked the availability of low-fat and vegetarian foods served by airlines and in airports.

Topping the survey for the second year running, United Airlines beat out the competition. United’s entrées include a cholesterol-free vegetarian steak with pasta and curry sauce with only 6 percent fat and a cholesterol-free mushroom ravioli with just 14 percent fat. Honorable mentions go to American Airlines and TWA, whose vegetarian meals are all cholesterol-free, and to Northwest Airlines, which serves a cholesterol-free veggie sandwich as a standard meal. Ranking last, Delta’s healthy option is a vegetarian ragout (stewed vegetable dish) with a whopping 48 percent fat.

OVERALL RANKING OF AIRLINES

1. United Airlines
2. Continental Airlines
3. TWA
4. American Airlines
5. USAir
6. Northwest Airlines
7. Delta Airlines

If you are connecting, airports differ greatly in the availability of healthy foods. PCRM surveyed the low-fat and vegetarian food options available in the main terminals at 25 major airports in the U.S. and Canada. Once again, Los Angeles International Airport came in first, where travelers can find a wide array of healthful options such as pasta primavera, vegetarian tostadas, cucumber sushi rolls, mixed Chinese vegetables with stir-fried rice, cheese-free gourmet pizzas, and garden salads.

Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport came in last in our survey, where the only low-fat and cholesterol-free options are a garden salad, steamed vegetables, fresh fruit, and air-popped popcorn.

OVERALL RANKING OF AIRPORTS

1. Los Angeles
2. Vancouver
3. Detroit
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul
5. Seattle-Tacoma
6. Pittsburgh
7. Dallas
8. Phoenix
9. Chicago
10. Salt Lake City
11. Houston
12. San Francisco
13. St. Louis
14. Miami
15. Boston
16. Memphis
17. New York-LaGuardia
18. Washington-National
19. Atlanta
20. New York-Kennedy
21. Denver
22. Oakland
23. Albuquerque
24. Philadelphia
25. Cleveland

A quick tip for road warriors: You can grab a low-fat, high-fiber bite to eat while you drive. Denny’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, Ruby Tuesday, and many Subway restaurants feature veggie burgers. All Subways also serve veggie subs made to order.