Airplane food to me are not so rich at all, I knowi have been on airplane only few times in my life sha, the two times when I travel to Ghana, and then when I came back to Nigeria. The food they give you up there in plane, i think it not special at all.
Maybe I will just say that airplane meals are just there so the passengers do not get too hungry during their flight, Or maybe just so everybody will have something to munch on while they sitting in those their small seats. When you think about it, there is nothing like having heavy food especially when it is not a long flight.
First time I went on air transportation, I was excited about everything. The big airport, the security check, the waiting area with all different people from different places. When I finally enter the airplane, I look around and wonder what kind of food they will serve. I hear stories about airplane food before, some people say it good, some say it bad.
After take off, when everything calm down and we flying steady in the air, the flight attendants start to move around with their food carts. I watch them coming closer, row by row. When they reach my seat, they give me small tray with plastic cover on top. Inside, there small portion of rice, small piece of chicken, some vegetable that look not fresh, and tiny dessert that suppose to be cake.
I ate the food because I hungry, not because it tasted good. The rice dry like it been cook many hours ago. The chicken taste okay but portion so small that it finish in two bites. The vegetable cold and without much taste. The dessert too sweet but at least it better than nothing.
On my return flight from Ghana back to Nigeria, the food almost same but different. This time they gave some kind of pasta with sauce that looked strange color. The bread roll hard like stone, and butter too cold to spread. Again, I ate because needed something in stomach, not because the food is xtra good.
I noticed other passengers around me do not look excited about the food either. Some people did not even touch their tray, just drank water or juice that come with meal, Some business people in front seats, they bring their own snacks. Smart people! They know airplane food not worth waiting for.
The thing about airplane food is they must make it for hundreds people at same timei guess They cook it somewhere on ground, then heat it up in airplane. Food sit in those trays for long time before it reachs passengers. No wonder it does not taste fresh or good.
Also, when you up in air, the pressure is different and make your taste buds work different way. Things not taste same as on ground. That why airplane food taste more bland than normal food. They try to add more salt and spice to make up for this, but still not same as fresh cook food.
For short flights, like between Nigeria and Ghana, I think they should just give simple snack and drinks. Why bother with full meal that nobody enjoy? Better have good quality small thing than poor quality big meal. Maybe nice sandwich or fresh fruit be better than dry rice and cold meat.
Some people argue that ticket price include food so airline must provide something that look like proper meal. But I rather they make ticket little cheaper and not include food that waste. Or give option to choose if want food or not.
Maybe whne Next I fly, I am going to do like those smart business people and bring my own snacks, lol,Something simple that I know I like. Maybe some groundnuts or biscuits, banana or other fruit that easy to carry, then I do not need to depend on airplane food.
The worst part of airplane meal is when you finish eating but tray still on your small table for long time. Attendants busy with other things, and you stuck with empty tray taking all your space. You can't move easily, you can't reach your bag under seat,also can't use table for anything else sometimes.
Some airlines better than others with their food, I hear. Big international ones that fly very long distance try harder to make good meals because passengers stuck there for many hours. But still, airplane kitchen very small, no space for proper cooking.
If I ever go on very long flight, like to America or Europe, I wonder what kind of food they serve there,Maybe they give more meals because flight so long. But quality probably still same problem.
I remember my mother words when I tell her about airplane food after my first flight. She laugh and say, "You do not go on airplane for restaurant experience, lol, You go to reach somewhere far quickly." She right, of course. The Purpose of airplane is transport, not dining.
Sometimes I see people on social media post pictures of their airplane food and complain about it. Some pictures look really bad, food all mix together or spill during turbulence. Some look better than what I had, with proper presentation and more options.
My friend who travels more than me say some airlines from Asia have better reputation for food. He says they care more about customer experience and food quality part of that. Maybe someday I will try those airlines and see if its true.
For now, I just accept reality that airplane food not something to look forward to. It just there so you will not get too hungry during journey. It is just Something to munch on while watching movie or looking out window at clouds around.
I think this honest view of airplane food. Nothing special, nothing terrible, just basic. Not rich experience for taste buds, its just fuel for body. And that is okay because the main purpose of the flight is not eating but traveling from one place to other place quickly.