Dec. 29--For the third year in a row, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has named the Detroit airport the best in the country for healthful food options.
The group bases its ranking on the percentage of an airport's restaurants that offer at least one low-fat, cholesterol-free meal. All 59 eating establishments at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport offer such a dish, the report said.
Overall, 83 percent of the restaurants in 15 of the nation's busiest airports met the committee's standards. That compares with 57 percent when the group did its first review in 2001.
Detroit ranked at the bottom of the list in 2001, with only 33 percent of its restaurants offering a wholesome option.
"Healthy airport food has taken off over the past decade, but there is still room for improvement," said Susan Levin, a registered dietitian who is the committee's nutrition education director. "The good news is that healthy vegetarian choices are available now at most airports. But some terminals are still clogged with high-fat, high-cholesterol offerings like pizza and cheeseburgers."
Charlotte-Douglas Airport in Charlotte had the biggest improvement since last year, with a 9 point increase in the number of restaurants offering a healthful option. Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport had an 8-point improvement, but still ranks 14th of the 15 airports in the survey, ahead of only Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest airport.
Copyright 2011 - The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
