What should I eat before flying?
As soon as you’re through Security at an airport, you may be thinking about what to eat before you hop on a plane and jet off to your destination. There’s plenty of choice at London Luton Airport: grab-and-go picks at Chaiiwala, refreshing drinks at Costa Coffee, and sit-down meals at Sanfords. But wherever you choose to eat, it’s important to fuel your body before flying.
Every passenger flying through London Luton Airport will decide to eat different foods before you fly, and there are no right or wrong foods. But we’re here to help, so here are our top tips and tricks for what to eat before flying, as well as recommendations for where to go for food.
Pick up electrolytes
Fuelling your body starts with proper hydration. Pack your own bottle and refill it at our water fountains so you’ve always got a drink on the go. Need to top up? Pick up electrolytes before Security at Sainsbury’s Local, or from one of our airside Boots locations and add the powder into your drink for extra hydration from every sip.
If you don’t want an electrolyte, grab a bottle of coconut water from WHSmith – natural minerals such as magnesium and sodium help the body retain hydration.
Pack herbal teabags
Want home comforts while you’re travelling? Pack herbal teabags in your hand luggage so you can stay hydrated. Go for a relaxing chamomile tea or green tea to help you relax before boarding, or a fiery ginger tea to reduce nausea.
Teabags are allowed through airport Security – check our advice for what you can pack in hand luggage before flying from London Luton Airport.
Choose foods high in potassium
When looking through an airport restaurant menu, opt for foods high in potassium to regulate your blood pressure once you’re in the air. Pick up a banana with a coffee at Starbucks, or snack on a peanut butter and banana waffle from Black Sheep Coffee – they’ll taste great, and the potassium can help to balance fluids in your body.
Eat your vegetables
Choose a meal that’s packed with vegetables and you’ll maintain optimal levels of hydration due to the high water content. Got a few minutes to eat? Bento boxes at Wasabi balance grilled meat and salads for a healthier flight meal option. Want to sit down before your gate is called? Go for a spaghetti puttanesca at Nolito – pasta is a slow-releasing carbohydrate, and the meal is jampacked with ingredients full of Omega-3 fatty acids: tomatoes, anchovies, olives and capers.
Snack on dark chocolate
If you’re wanting a sweet treat that’s best for you before a flight, opt for dark chocolate. Rich in flavonoids, the antioxidants in dark chocolate can improve circulation and lower blood pressure. Pick up a bag of dark-chocolate-covered nuts from Pret a Manger for snacking in Departures. Or, if you’re wanting something from a bakery, go for a Krispy Kreme doughnut.
Avoid salty foods and fried foods
Look, we know that a portion of chips, a Full English breakfast, or a takeaway soup bowl may be tempting to eat before flying. Although they'll please your palette, their rich-in-sodium qualities may not benefit your body when you’re in the sky. Too many salted and fried foods can cause dehydration, leading to headaches – and a bad start to the holiday. Instead, go for fresh food: crunchy vegetables, oily fish, nuts and legumes, and seeded bread are good choices.
Can you take food through airport security?
Yes, you are allowed to take food through airport security. Most solid foods, including sandwiches, fruit, crisps, and pre-packaged foods such as sweets, can be in your hand luggage. Liquid foods, including soups, creams and stews can go through, but liquid limits must be followed. Find out more on liquid limits.
What food places are in London Luton Airport?
Take your pick from dozens of food places at London Luton Airport to eat at before a flight. Choose from popular brands including Burger King and Caffe Nero, or go to larger restaurants including The Fletton, The Big Smoke and The Smithfield.