Your tastebuds and your mood will thank you.

Feeling peckish on a flight?

Go ahead, order a snack.

Inflight meal service tray for economy class, meat with pasta, seasoning fruit, salad, cucumber, a glass of juice and butter

Diy13/Getty Images

Just see to it it’s not pasta.

Airline food catches a lot of flack for being a bit bland.

“Our top concern is actually food safety,” Gross said.

you’re free to imagine how easily an airline can get sued."

Why then is pasta off the menu?

Because beyond food safety, Gross noted, some foods simply cannot handle the cooking process at altitude.

If you’re expecting ital dente, you won’t be happy.

“Your blood sugar levels will spike and then fall, which will negatively impact how you feel.”

What then can a flier eat instead?

The best bet may be to forgo airline food altogether and pack your own.

See morehealthy travel-ready snack options here.