On my last transcontinental flight on United Airlines in business class I ordered a child’s meal…and it was quite decent, though the sides certainly were not.
Taste Test: Child’s Meal In United Airlines Business Class
United offers special meals on most flights over 2,000 miles that offer a meal service. That includes longer domestic flights in business class (United First) and in all cabins on longhaul flights (Polaris, Premium Plus, economy).
One of the special meal options, added last year, is a child’s meal. And while it may be intended for children, anyone can order it. That’s exactly what I did when flying from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles after FTU last month.
Hilariously, the purser came over and told me “there must be some mistake” and that a child’s meal had been boarded for me. I told him it was deliberate…I just wanted to try something different…and we both shared a good laugh.
The meal showed up and was, as I expected, breaded chicken served with potatoes (wedges, not French Fries) as well as mustard and ketchup on the side. And to be honest, the chicken was good. It was a lot of protein and tasted better than some of the other chicken dishes in the regular meal rotation.
But the sides…ugh. I was expecting a fruit salad and received one…but it wasn’t fresh-cut fruit (like is pictured in United’s kid meal stock photos), but was a small container of cut fruit in a thick syrup.
There were also two bags of M&Ms, a granola bar, and a muffin…
Yuck.
I know it’s only airline food, but I happened to see this reel on Instagram this morning:
You could also say it’s only school cafeteria food, what do you expect?
But as United constantly touts its corporate responsibility, maybe it could make a positive influence by actually offering something a little more healthy to the kids onboard. Like real fresh-cut fruit. And perhaps sliced vegetables with a fun dip as an appetizer. And maybe moist chicken breast with a mild sauce instead of something fried.
The habits we develop as children often carry us through life.
Then again, I know the point of these meals is to give children something that they actually will eat…
So mission accomplished, I guess?
CONCLUSION
I tried the child’s meal on my last United flight, the only special meal on United I have never tried. The main course (chicken tenders with potatoes) was fine, but the sides made it a very unsatisfying dinner overall. Next time my kids travel with me, I will not be ordering this meal. They can order off the regular menu…
Would your kids like something like this?
My Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.
I learned this years ago. I ordered for my son at the time who was 2 years old, flying LAX-KIX in business class and I was horrified by what was served. PASTA, a SAUSAGE, banana, chocolate milk, cookies, jellow and more sugar stuff.
I learned it was just better to order the regular Japanese meal and we just picked through it all and chose a few items.
Miso soup, white rice, and some beef.
I can’t say I’m surprised, but I agree with you. All I see is fat and sugar in that child’s meal. Not a single vegetable. Ridiculous.
“I know it’s only airline food, but I happened to see this reel on Instagram this morning:”
There are some airlines that offer decent kids meals.
“Next time my kids travel with me, I will not be ordering this meal. They can order off the regular menu…”
My son (same age as Augustine) quite liked the butter chicken the last time we flew UA long-haul. He wouldn’t touch anything else, but at least chicken and rice is kind of healthy, I guess?
It is beige food. If they want to serve the chicken tenders at least throw some green beans and a couple cooked carrots on the plate (as fresh anything seems impossible). Maybe a an apple crisp with oats instead of the muffin?
There are plenty of inexpensive, easy ways to improve this meal if anyone cared.
Unfortunately this is the picture of America. I have worked in the food business my entire life and it is absolutely alarming what people in this country eat everyday. The focus on highly processed food with so many unhealthy ingredients starts with serving kids meals like this one. There is absolutely nothing healthy on that plate. It is very sad to see the level of people suffering from diseases that were caused mostly by their choices of food and beverages.
I don’t know if it serves as a point of reference. The kids seated next to me are eating charred Brussels sprouts in brown butter, Mac ‘n cheese made with sun chokes and Aburaage.
What route/carrier/class?
Thanks Matthew – a very timely post. I have a flight coming up on United but I think I’ll opt out of the child’s meal. I normally have the child’s meal on Air Canada – but it’s night and day compared to this.
On shorthaul flights, I’ve gotten french toast for breakfast or an entree of macaroni with ground beef when the flight bordered on lunch (while everyone else got the omelette). Otherwise I’ve also received a turkey sandwich, or a veggies and ranch dip plate. There’s normally some decent (and fun) snacks as well, apple sauce, Bear Paws, Oreos, veggie chips, blondie bar.
Long haul, it was a ravioli pasta entree. The appetizer was weird coming out of Europe (it was hot dogs and a mayo type pasta salad), but there was fresh fruit, some kid’s cheese, bread, and some treats (chocolates and a fruit bar).
The FAs always are a bit confused when they see me ordering a child’s meal, but the FA totally understood why I do it when I got french toast instead of the omelette everyone else got. I prefer the portion size of the child’s meal (doesn’t make me feel overly full) and the variety and snacks are fun to get. The actual selection is just a mystery.
The thing is you can feed your kids at home how you want so it really isn’t a nutritional issue. If people fly a few times a year or even every month, not having fruits and vegetables with a meal doesn’t make a difference. Fruit itself is over promoted for its health benefit. It’s basically just sugar with some vitamins. Sure, natural sugar but vegetables like broccoli are what matter. The only problem with fried food is a lot of people have problems processing that grease so airlines should stick to foods prepared a different way.
kids generally do not like veggies
make sure they get enough exercise.
It’s when they become adults they need to eat their veggies, as I learned the hard way
I’m reminded of a documentary on the food in Danish prisons and my wife said she wanted to commit a crime to go there. 🙂
As you noted about the Kosher meal, the special meals aren’t made perhaps in bulk and include a lot of pre-made/packaged/frozen ingredients. Of course, you’re in business class so you would expect even a child’s meal should be custom made but there you have it.
I agree that some carrots would have been perfect to give this meat-and-potatoes some color and a veggie most children will wolf down. With my 7 year old, it’s hit or miss in that sometimes she goes crazy for exotic stuff that my wife eats and sometimes she wants the meat-and-potatoes.
Sadly, I think my daughter would probably stick her nose up at the potato wedges. I personally LOVE skin on my potatoes but my wife is weird about it “skins are for the pigs” she says. But the rest she’d love including the muffin so I think it looks like a pretty good meal.
One thing that’s missing, IMO, is the game. My daughter is accustomed to getting a “prize” with a meal such as with a happy meal or at a restaurant where the waitress brings crayons and a placemat and she colors after she eats.
Moist chicken breast is an oxymoron lol, especially on a plane. I think it’s impressive that they seem to have made what looks like fried chicken decently.
It was moist!