Airports food has been given a healthy and tasty upgrade.
According to ABC News, 76 percent of restaurants in 18 of the nation's busiest airports offer at least one cholesterol-free, plant-based entrée, based on a new report from the nonprofit Physicians Committee.
"The good news is you can now walk into Potbelly's and order a chickpea salad, lentil soup or Mediterranean vegetable sandwich," said Physician Committee for Responsible Medicine director of nutrition education Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D.
According to Levin, besides offering smart fit salads and veggies soup, eateries have trendy items such as kale wraps and garden mint sushi.
The Physicians Committee, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., researched meals that are high in fiber, packed with nutrients, contain zero cholesterol and are low in fat and have based them a point scale.
For an airport to receive a point in the Airport Food Review, a restaurant must offer or be able to customize at least one entrée to include two of the four food groups from the Physicians Committee Power Plate: vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes.
Denver International Airport is at the top of the list when it comes to healthy airport eating. Researchers found that 86 percent of the restaurants in the terminal and on the concourses offer at least one plant-based, fiber-packed entree.
Across the nation only about 57 percent of airport eateries offer at least one healthy option, according to CBS Denver. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) tied for second place, while Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport rounded out the top five.
"It's really exciting to see that many airports now have establishments from top rated chefs such as Cat Cora, Marcus Samuelsson and, of course, Wolfgang Puck," said Laura Williams, community manager at Urbanspoon. "These chefs are finding ways to bring high-end, fresh ingredients and local flavors, giving travelers a quick taste of the city--pizza and popcorn in Chicago, BBQ in Austin, etc."
The complete Urbanspoon list follows:
Best U.S. Airport Eats
* Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL): One Flew South, Atlanta Braves Allstar Grill, Cafe Intermezzo, Sweetwater Brewing Company
* Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): In-N-Out Burger, Pink's Hot Dogs, La Brea Bakery
* John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Brasserie La Vie, Shake Shack, Deep Blue Sushi, Uptown Brasserie
* San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Ebisu, PIQ, Cat Cora's Kitchen, Andale Mexican Restaurant
* Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA): Vino Volo, Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Anthony's Restaurant & Fish Bar, Dish D'Lish
* Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): Tortas Frontera, Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi, Gaslight Club, Garrett Popcorn Shop