Traveling is always an exciting experience and no matter how far you're traveling, you have to eat!
What food do you eat when you're on the move? How is it different on an airplane or in a spacecraft?
Scroll down for activities to explore these questions!
Join us for a reading of Lisa’s Airplane Trip by Anne Gutman and follow little Lisa the French dog as she travels by herself to New York for the first time and has a bit of an adventure with her airplane meal. We will talk about airplane meals that we have eaten and share ideas about what are the best foods to take on a plane.
On Demand Activities
Jump to Section: Introduction Activity: Pack Your Airplane Meal Spotlight Story Video: Sushi in Space Story Time Recommendations Explore Out of the House
Introduction: History of Food on Aircraft
Activity: Pack Your Airplane Meal
Explore how food on airplane flights changed over time!
Step 1
Put your imagination hat on and pretend you are going on a long airplane flight across the United States. What will you eat?
Look at the images below and choose one snack, one main meal, and a drink.
Step 2
- Use this random picker tool to find out what time period you are flying in.
- Click on the time period below to discover how your meal choices match up with the meals available in that time period.
- What did you discover? Did anything surprise you?
1920s
If you were flying in the 1920s, you would have these food choices:
In the 1920s:
- You'd most likely be flying in an airplane like the one pictured left.
- There was no way to heat food on the plane, so cold food was served.
- Hot coffee brought onto the plane in a thermos.
- Meals were served on paper plates since the airplane bounced so much in flight that other types of plates would break.
- Flight attendants handed out chewing gum to help relieve pressure in the ears.
1950s - 1970s
If you were flying in the 1950s - 1970s, you would have these food choices:
In the 1950s:
- You'd most likely be flying in an airplane like the one pictured left.
- Airplanes now had ovens to warm up food, so you were able to have a hot meal.
- Frozen food was invented so more choices for meals was available.
- Economy class seating was created in 1951 so that lower priced tickets would receive lower service and first class tickets would receive fancier food and service.
- Amazing food menus were used to draw customers to flying instead of other transportation.
In the 1960s until 1978:
- Airplanes now had kitchens, there was even better technology for reheating food, and airplanes were more comfortable which made for a better eating experience.
- Even in economy class, the law required that every passenger got an entrée, two vegetables, a salad, dessert, and a drink as part of their ticket price.
1980s
If you were flying in the 1980s, you would have these food choices:
In the 1980s:
- Food service on airplanes changed forever in 1978.
- A law was passed to allow airlines to set their own ticket prices and travel routes.
- The good news was that more people could fly now since ticket prices were low.
- The bad news was that airlines changed in-flight food service to save money.
- First class meals were still many courses with food you could find in restaurants.
- If you flew in economy class, you had less food choices.
- Peanuts were introduced as a low-cost snack.
- Scientists discovered that the airplane environment made your senses work differently, so food tasted bland. This is why airplane food sometimes has a lot of sauce to make it more tasty.
2010s until now
If you were flying in from 2010 - now, you would have these food choices:
In the 2010s until now:
- No more free meals for flights within the United States! To cut costs, airlines serve drinks and provide a snack—either pretzels or cookies. Peanuts were no longer served because of fear of allergic reactions.
- There are some additional choices for food, but you have to pay extra for it.
- Julie Stewart was a food scientist for the company Stouffer’s during the Apollo moon missions. Stouffer's was known for their frozen prepared food.
- Stewart is known for creating the Stouffer's meal, Salisbury Stroganoff, which was eaten by the Apollo 11 astronauts during the quarantine period after they returned from the Moon.
- Stewart made sure all the serving sizes were correct and followed safety guidelines, but also made sure the food was tasty.
- Stewart started working for Stouffers in the shipping yard in 1957. She was 22 years old then, with three children.
- Stewart had always had a passion for cooking, and the Head of the Home Economics department, Doris Davis Centini noticed her potential.
- One of her jobs as part of the Home Economics department was to design recipes and cook.
- Stewart used her love and talent for cooking to pave a path of better opportunities for herself. Thankfully, a Black newspaper called the Pittsburgh Courier highlighted her work with the Apollo 11 mission in a 1969 story so we are aware of her accomplishments.
Think about it!
Do you have a favorite meal that you would want to bring from home and create in space? What would it be? Ask your family members the same question and compare your answers!
Story Time Recommendations
The books below are a few that talk about what happens when you fly on an airplane.
Best for ages 3 to 7
by Anne Gutman, illustrated by Georg Hallensleben
Follow along as Lisa discovers what happens during a flight on an airplane—her first trip!
Best for ages 8 and up
By Clive Gifford, illustrated by James Gulliver Hancock
Find out what happens behind the scenes in an airport and on the airplane to prepare for flights.
Talk About It!
At your next meal time, talk to your family members about whether they have any favorite travel memories.
Was food involved? Was there a favorite thing you liked to eat on an airplane or at the airport?
Are there any funny or not-so-favorite memories?
Explore Out of the House!
Eye Spy Food in Air and Space
Discover how common things in your grocery store are related to air and space travel.
Space food comes in packaging like a pouch that can be thrown away once the food inside has been eaten. This is like the applesauce and yogurt pouches you make pack in your lunchboxes.
Tang was developed by General Foods and later used by NASA in the Mercury food system. Astronauts on the International Space Station still drink it to this day. It is an excellent source of vitamin C1
Astronauts on the International Space Station have been eating tortillas since 1985. They aren't crumbly like bread, they are flat so don't take up a lot of space and they are good for you.
In the early days of airplane flight, there was no way to heat food or drink. Coffee was brought on board in a thermos to keep it hot.
When airplane travel was still new, paper plates were used to serve food because regular plates would break during the bumpy ride.
Your smell and taste senses change when you are travelling on an airplane, because of how high you are in the sky. Airplane chefs have to use a lot of spices and sauces to make food taste better on airplanes.
Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.