Healthiest airports for food options in the US

Nov. 27, 2012
Those who feel that they have put on pounds over the Thanksgiving weekend will be relieved to learn that it's easier than ever to get a healthy meal in airports in the US.

Those who feel that they have put on pounds over the Thanksgiving weekend will be relieved to learn that it's easier than ever to get a healthy meal in airports in the US.

For more than a decade, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has reviewed the food served at 18 of the country's busiest airports. In its 12th review, the PCRM has found that even if some airports have lost points from year to year, the overall trend is upwards, with more nutritious meals offered to passengers.

A group of dietitians reviewed menus, evaluating each airport with a score determined by dividing the number of restaurants offering at least one healthy option by the total number of restaurants. A meal is considered healthy if it has ingredients low in fat, high in fiber and cholesterol-free.

Only restaurants serving main dishes were evaluated, leaving aside snack kiosks and small coffee shops.

The overall winner this year is Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, with a 92 percent score as a healthy menu is offered in 56 of its 61 restaurants. Among the healthy options, passengers can buy falafel sandwiches as well as seaweed salad and vegetable rolls.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport featured as the most improved, jumping from 13th position in 2010 to fifth place. Earlier this year the airport announced the opening of a farmers' market which offers fresh locally grown food and other healthy snacks to passengers and airport employees.

With 58 percent of its restaurants offering a healthy meal, the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, comes in last this year. Despite its upscale airport sushi restaurant (One Flew South), most of the food at Hartsfield-Jackson consists of southern classics such as fried chicken, fried catfish and macaroni and cheese.

Complete list

1. Newark Liberty International Airport2. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport3. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport4. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport5. (tie) Chicago O'Hare International Airport5. (tie) Miami International Airport6. (tie) Orlando International Airport6. (tie) Washington Dulles International Airport6. (tie) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport7. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport8. (tie) Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport8. (tie) Charlotte Douglas International Airport9. (tie) San Francisco International Airport9. (tie) Denver International Airport10. (tie) Los Angeles International Airport10. (tie) Baltimore/Washington International Airport11. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport12. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

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