No one expects airports to be wallet-friendly for famished (or thirsty) flyers, but insanely overpriced bottled water is only the beginning. There are also certain items you should probably avoid for nonfinancial reasons. From fast-food favorites to seemingly healthy alternatives, here are seven types of food and drinks best saved for when you’re not traveling.

Greasy Fast Food

Many people find it hard to resist the allure of a juicy burger and fries, but an airport probably isn’t the best place to indulge. High-fat meals take longer to digest and may leave you uncomfortably full — not ideal when you’re about to spend hours in a cramped airplane seat. Heavy foods can also aggravate indigestion and heartburn.

Mitchell Alexander, editor-in-chief of Globetrotting Magazine, tells us he’s delighted by the fact that the popular burger chain Shake Shack now has four locations at New York’s JFK Airport, but he calls its cheese fries “a recipe for discomfort and dehydration.” If burgers, pizza, or loaded nachos tend to leave you feeling sluggish, he suggests saving them for after landing.

Premade Sandwiches and Salads

Grabbing a turkey sandwich from a refrigerated case may seem like a healthy alternative to other airport offerings, but it can leave you disappointed — and may even be risky. “The rushed nature of air travel makes it easy to get a little carried away with the grab-and-go food options at the airport,” says Kate LaCroix, a travel adviser with Fora. 

She cautions against premade sandwiches, where tomatoes and lettuce pressed against the bread can create a soggy mess. Deli meats, produce, and prepared salads also require precise refrigeration and scrupulous handling to prevent harmful bacteria from having a chance to multiply — and foodborne illness is the last thing you want when airborne.

Sugar Bombs

The smell of cinnamon rolls or a peppermint latte may be tempting, particularly when you’ve skipped breakfast and are rushing for an early flight. But while a pastry or sugary specialty coffee can provide a quick burst of energy, the subsequent slump won’t do you any favors when you’re already tired from traveling. Alexander recommends skipping sweets before boarding, warning that a sugar-heavy snack may leave you feeling bloated and fatigued. 

Superfood Salads and Hummus Packs

Not every nutritious food is automatically the best choice immediately before a flight. Kale salads, grain bowls, and vegetable-and-hummus snack packs may be loaded with vitamins and fiber, but some of those ingredients are also well known for producing intestinal gas. The effects of broccoli, cauliflower, beans, and chickpeas may be especially unpleasant once you — and your stomach — are at 35,000 feet.

As cabin pressure decreases, gas trapped in the digestive tract expands, potentially making bloating and abdominal discomfort worse. If certain vegetables or legumes regularly leave you feeling gassy, consider saving them for after your flight.

Extra-Salty Snacks

Airports abound with pretzels, potato chips, flavored popcorn, and snack mixes. They’re easy to munch on, but all that salt can make you thirsty and bloated, particularly on a long flight. Excessive sodium can also cause water retention, adding to the discomfort of sitting for hours in a cramped cabin. If you need something to nibble, consider unsalted nuts or another low-sodium snack — and make sure to drink plenty of water.

Alcohol

Kicking off a getaway at the airport bar has a certain appeal. But while a preflight drink is a pleasant way to celebrate, more than one or two can make the flight less enjoyable. Alcohol can interfere with sleep, impair judgment, and contribute to dehydration, and those effects are amplified at altitude. If you’re hoping to sleep on the flight or have a busy schedule on arrival, you may want to postpone that first drink.

Grab-and-Go Sushi

Airport sushi isn’t automatically unsafe, but there’s a big difference between ordering freshly prepared California rolls at a reputable counter and grabbing a package when you have no idea when it was made or how it’s been stored.

Even when food safety isn’t an issue, quality can be. LaCroix points out that the nori (seaweed) wrapped around premade rolls absorbs moisture and becomes soft, robbing the treat of its best texture. Alexander takes an even firmer stance on airport sushi: “Unless you are in Japan, just don’t tempt fate here.” (Speaking of which, Sushi Kyotatsu at Tokyo’s Narita International offers a last taste of Japan’s favorite export, with sparkling fresh seafood from Tokyo’s world-famous Toyosu Fish Market.) 

There are a few exceptions to the seafood rule, however. While the LAX location of famous caviar purveyor Petrossian’s is now closed, travelers at other airports can still indulge in great seafood and sushi while passing time before final boarding is called. Boston’s beloved Legal Sea Foods has multiple outposts at Logan International Airport, while the Bindery at Denver International Airport offers freshly shucked oysters, Champagne, and caviar before taking to the air. 

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