When jetting off on holiday, you may end up needing to have an in-flight meal, particularly if you're on a long-haul flight. While they may be necessary when travelling long distances, plane food has long had a rather negative reputation, which is well-deserved, according to one travel expert.

Silvena Nonev, a travel expert with Scandinavia Private Tours, has warned that plane food is often packed full of sugar and salt. She said: "You should try to avoid plane food as much as possible. The meals are often packed with salt and sugar because when we fly, our taste buds don’t work the same way as they do on the ground."

Silvena adds that the pressurised environment of a plane cabin dulls around a third of our ability to taste, meaning that when making in-flight meals, cooks must add much more seasoning than usual.

She warns against one food in particular: the ham and cheese toastie. Despite being a popular lunchtime choice, this should be avoided when on board a plane as it is packed full of more sodium than one you would purchase on the ground.

Instead, Silvena recommends opting for something lighter, suggesting some fruit or a salad. This will leave you feeling much less bloated when you land, meaning you can start enjoying your holiday straight away.

It's also important to remain hydrated when travelling, although water from a plane bathroom should not be drunk under any circumstances. 

"Whether you fly regularly, only occasionally, or you’re about to board your very first flight, never drink the tap water from the plane loo," warns Silvena.

"Studies have shown it’s simply not safe, and those warning signs next to the sinks aren’t just there to boost bottled water sales."

If you don't fancy drinking a ton of water while flying, Silvena has shared one drink that cabin crew swear by - and it's one that actually tastes better in the air.

She said: "Tomato juice is by far the most popular choice. It’s rich in umami, a taste that isn’t dulled by the conditions in the cabin.

"That’s why it actually tastes better in the air than on the ground, which is not something you can say about many other drinks."