Final answer:
A bag of peanuts being considered a meal on airlines can be traced back to the mid-20th century when airlines started serving meals on board, and over time, as meals became more simplified, snacks like peanuts were offered instead.
Step-by-step explanation:
A bag of peanuts being considered a meal on airlines can be traced back to the early days of commercial air travel. In the mid-20th century, when airlines started serving meals on board, peanuts were often included as part of the meal. However, over time, as airlines looked for ways to cut costs and streamline their services, the meals became more simplified and snacks like peanuts were offered instead. This change might have been influenced by factors such as the increasing number of passengers and the need for quicker turnaround times for flights.
Peanuts, being a small and easily portable snack, became a popular choice for airlines to offer as a substitute for full meals. They are also relatively inexpensive compared to other food options. This practice gradually became more common, and today, a bag of peanuts or other small snacks is often provided as a meal option on airlines.