Many people find themselves indulging in strange foods they wouldn’t typically eat at the airport – have you ever had that experience? Once passengers make it through the lengthy security process and arrive at the boarding gate, most people find their emotions easing, and the only reasonable self-reward at that point is food.
What kind of food to choose? It doesn’t matter! Those who skip breakfast at home will have a hearty meal at the airport terminal restaurant, completely changing their eating habits.
Keeley Mezzancello, a nutritionist and health coach in Greenville, South Carolina, told the “Travel + Leisure” website that travel disrupts schedules and daily routines, including dietary and sleep patterns.
“Sleep is closely related to appetite-regulating hormones. When you are sleep-deprived, you may find yourself hungrier than usual or needing to replenish energy to make up for lack of sleep. Generally, in this unrested state, you are more likely to crave higher-energy ‘comfort foods’,” Mezzancello said.
Travel writer Amelia Mularz told the “Travel + Leisure” website, “For me, airport dining is not constrained by time and traditional meal schedules. Instead, no matter the time of day, I seek out my favorite foods at every airport.”
Food scientist Bryan Lee told the “Travel + Leisure” website that environmental stimuli play an important role in influencing our taste and appetite. “When there is a lot of background noise, certain neural circuit networks cross-connect, causing your brain to enhance the perception of delicious food. Any food with umami flavor will be more intense than other tastes, such as sweetness or sourness, which is why some people prefer to drink tomato juice on a plane, which contains high concentrations of umami compounds.”
Umami, in fact, is a taste enhancer that does not require altering the saltiness or spiciness of food. It simply enhances the flavor of food and makes it more delicious.
“Visual perception of color works the same way. One study found that red enhances the sensation of sweetness, which may be why Coca-Cola uses red cans for their soda,” he said.
Airports are like Las Vegas, offering a carefree way of consumption. For some, traveling feels like an escape, slipping off the everyday cloak and embarking on an adventure. Because of this, people tend to do things while traveling that they wouldn’t typically do, such as trying things they wouldn’t normally eat and having a few extra drinks.
Mezzancello pointed out that there are psychological factors at play in airport dining: “Travel brings a sense of adventure that removes us from our daily lives. Some people view enjoying good food at the airport as part of the ‘holiday experience’. For others, you may approach travel with excitement, nervousness, and translate those feelings into emotional eating behaviors.”