Finding food at the airport can be challenging enough, let along finding cheap food. Over the years people have learned to bring food and drinks from home, although the TSA has cracked down on what you can bring through security. Therefore, you’re often left with expensive airport dining that can leave much to be desired. When just doing an hour layover, this is not a big deal. However, how about on those over nighters or 12-hour layovers at the airport? It’s often not so easy to just find something off airport grounds, so you’re typically looking at having a couple meals at the airport.

Finding cheap airport food is possible. It may take some looking around and you can’t just settle for the first airport restaurant you come across. If just looking for snack items, consider an airport drug store or convenience store. These typically carry some of the same items you would find at an airport cafe, but often at half the price. For example, you may be paying $1 for a cookie, rather than $2.50 at a cafe.

At some of the bigger airports, keep an eye out for food and beverage carts. Just as New York City food carts, for example, typically offer cheaper food than cafes, so this remains the same for airport carts. These usually just offer some of the basics, like coffee or tea, but have cheaper prices than airport restaurants. This could be the difference in saving $2 on a cup of coffee.

Something to keep in mind is to avoid ordering combos when possible. Although these may typically save money at most restaurants, it’s not the case at airports. Instead, just order a slice of pizza and a courtesy cup of water. Not only does this keep you from over-ordering and having too much food that you don’t want to take on the plane, but it also saves you some money.

Eating at chain restaurants, like a Moe’s or Panera Bread can often be cheaper than some of the other airport options. They’re always cheaper than the sit-down restaurants that are starting to pop up in some of the large international airports. At Panera Bread for example, you can easily have a bagle and a cup of coffee for less than $5. Again, combos at some of these restaurants can be what tends to be on the more expensive side.

If you’re sitting down to have a meal, drinking alcohol is going to put the biggest dent in your wallet. Similarly, to professional sports events, alcohol is the most expensive item at airports for what you’re getting. For a beer you’re going to be pay over $5 and for cocktails usually $15-$20. As is the case, save your drink money on both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, order a cup or water and enjoy complimentary drinks on your flight.

Eating healthy is not usually the top priority for fliers.  It might seem alright to break your diet just once by indulging in the bacon-laden hamburger or a couple of Cinnabons before boarding a flight.  A full stomach can help keep you content in the air.

That’s an understandable approach to airport eating.  But it is easier than ever to make it through the terminal with a full stomach while still sticking to a healthy diet.  You can even get reasonably light calorie meals on the plane, if you know what to ask for.

Keep these things in mind if you want to eat healthy in the airport:

1. Old favorites have healthier options. If you are looking for a healthy meal and a reasonable price tag, it might be worthwhile to look in the last place you’d expect: fast food restaurants.  All of these places serve artery-clogging meals, but some have changed their menus to include healthier options as well.  McDonalds has salads, which are healthy (as long as you go for lite dressing and skip the deep-fried chicken option), and sandwich wraps that are not calorie-heavy when compared to Big Macs and Quarter Pounders.  Places like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks have options like multigrain bagels and low-fat muffins in addition to the usual assortment of sugary indulgences.  Panda Express can be healthy too, if you go vegetarian and skip the fried rice option.
2. Subway has made its empire on the back of an advertising campaign that focuses on low fat, healthy eating.  The chain is found in most airports.  It offers the most low-fat fast-food options and also provides information about exact amount of calories and fat in each sandwich.  You can load up with veggies to get your vitamins and fiber as well.
3. Sit down. Though they might not necessarily have healthier items on the menu, sit-down restaurants in airports will be more likely to accommodate a request for a healthier meal.  You can ask the server not to deep fry the chicken or fish or to serve the dressing on the side.  While this is also possible at fast food place, it is more likely to be accommodated (without a frown) at a side-down place.  You will have more options when it comes to ordering as well.

1. Do your research. Airports have an increasing number of eating options.  Places like the French Meadow Bakery (in Logan, JFK and MSP) serve organic food, while a host of other cafes and bistro type outlets also give you reasonably healthy options.  Check your airport’s web site to see what organic or vegetarian-friendly eateries are located there.
2. Go vegetarian. Once you get on the airplane, your eating options are severely limited.  If you are on a flight that has meal service (or allows you to purchase food), plan ahead.  You can request a special meal (kosher, halal, vegetarian) if you let the airline know in advance.  While there is no guarantee that you will get a good meal, you may be able to get something reasonably low-fat.  Legacy carriers like Delta have plenty of special options, include low-sodium meals, meals for people with diabetes or cholesterol problems, etc.
3. Bring your own. The problem with bringing your own low-fat, healthy food is that you have to get it through the security checkpoint.  Its no use purchasing a fancy $5 energy drink if it gets tossed in the garbage can by a TSA agent.  Small portions of nuts, dried fruit or granola bar may be good bets to pass through the detectors.  This is a better option, compared to waiting to buy food at a convenience store once you enter your concourse.  Yes, convenience stores are woefully overpriced, but they are focused on candies and hearty, high fat snacks.  You may be able to find something reasonable, but it might not be worth the gamble.

1. Don’t sweat it. Some people probably think that finding healthy airport eats is not worth the extra effort.  One high-cal meal can’t hurt.  Can it?  Perhaps there is something valid about this mindset.  As long as you aren’t indulging in obviously fatty dishes, what’s the harm in forgetting to count calories during a trip?  Perhaps that’s true, but with the amount of healthy options, including the ones mentioned above, there is no reason to stop eating well because you are headed to the airport.

It is easy to get a quick bite to eat at a food court inside any airport.  Fast food restaurants are the most popular choice because they can give most travelers what they want: something filling to hold them over until they reach their destination.  But airport restaurants have evolved over the years.  While the eating scene is still dominated by fast food chains and mediocre bar-and-grill outlets, there are more and more quality options featuring healthier food and even menus designed by celebrity chefs.  Here are the best airport eateries.

1. La Vie in JFK’s Terminal 5

Le Vie is a classy bistro with a decidedly Parisian vibe.  However, the authenticity goes beyond the décor.  The menu features French favorites like croque madame, salade Nicoise, ratatouille, and trout almandine.  This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill airport food.

2. Ivar’s (Sea-Tac)

Ivar’s has become a hugely popular restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest.  It specializes in seafood dishes.  There is an outlet in Seattle-Tacoma International serving the same classics as the original restaurants.  There are fish-and-chips, with options like cod, salmon and halibut.  Ivar’s is probably most known for its chowders, which can be bought by the cup or bowl.

3. One Flew South (Hartsfield-Jackson)

One Flew South is a unique eatery located in Terminal E of Atlanta’s ultra-busy Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.  It is an upscale place with an extensive sushi menu, a list of fine wines and dishes that fuse southern cooking with international flavors and cooking styles.  This is one of the few places that would be extremely popular even if it was located outside of a busy airport.

4. Todd English’s Bonfire (Logan)

Despite being criticized for being overpriced, this restaurant offers classic fare with a high-end twist (Kobe beef corn dogs, premium burgers, etc).  The prices for some of the steaks can approach $40.  Add wine and appetizers, and a meal at Bonfire can easily be one of the most expensive airport meals out there.  But if you stick with the burgers and bar-food classics, the prices aren’t that bad and the food will be superior to any other bar-n-grill fare you’ll find in any airport in the Northeast.

5. Ebisu (SFO)

Ebisu, a popular sushi restaurant in San Francisco, has an outlet in the Terminal G food court at San Francisco International.  Of course, sushi is the star of the menu, with all sorts of offerings featuring tuna, salmon, and eel, and a host of other raw favorites.  The restaurant also has rice bowls, Udon and Soba noodles, ramen and tempura.  Many of the noodle and rice dishes are under $10 and they are the perfect choice for fueling up before a long trans-Pacific or cross-country flight.

(image via _e.t.)

6. La Carreta (Miami)

La Caretta is a popular Cuban chain that has locations throughout the Miami-Dade area.  The Miami Airport location can be found in the North Terminal.  Though this is a chain, the food is unique, with hearty portions and a diverse menu featuring Cuban favorites like plantain soup and meaty sandwiches.  The meats, beans and rice make for a filling meal, giving diners more than their money’s worth.

7. French Meadow Bakery & Café (MSP)

This bakery features organic ingredients and healthy dishes at reasonable prices.  The offerings at the airport café include things like carrot cake, cookies, bagels and an assortment of freshly baked breads.  French Meadow is one of the longest running certified organic bakeries in the country.  It serves arguably the healthiest food in the airport eatery industry.

(image via Winklitz)

8. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen (Houston Bush intercontinental)

This hugely popular chain features Creole-style cooking.  It is located at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Terminal E.  The restaurant even manages to give visitors some of the New Orleans vibe that the other restaurants in the franchise are known for.  Favorites like gumbo, crawfish and fried alligator are on the menu, as are sushi, oysters and lobster.  This is definitely not the cheapest option at Bush, but it is arguably the most popular.

9. Cousin’s BBQ (Dallas/Ft Worth)

A favorite of Dallas areas residents, Cousins has a location in Dallas Fort Worth International’s B Terminal.  The portions are generous and the prices are competitive even when you compare Cousins fast food staples like McDonalds and Burger King.  Many people consider this some of the best, most authentic barbecue in all of Texas.  Favorites like beef brisket sandwiches and pork ribs are on the menu.