Can airlines do healthy food? "Chicken or Beef"?

Can airlines do healthy food?  
On my regular trips to Toronto, I do not eat the airline food as it is usually the same old same old and because I was let into secret.  I could opt for s special meal, however I was told by a member of staff that ones chance of an upgrade is far less if you opt for a special meal as if thy upgrade you, they won't have your chosen meal for you in the new cabin you are sitting in.  So, I never choose a special meal.  Today's flight was for almost 11 hours, well 12 if you count the time on the ground piddling about at Heathrow with cargo doors and waiting for some lost soul to join the plane rather than off-loading their luggage.  So despite my porridge from the BA lounge and stuffing my bag with fresh fruit from the lounge, I was hungry when they served the meal.  The lady next to me asked if there were any veggie meals and was given one. Usually they are risotto swimming in butter, or pastas caked in cheese etc.,  so I asked what the veggies were and the stewardess said: "I have a mushroom pasta or a chickpea Asian curry". I plumped for the latter and whilst it was probably a little greasier than I would have made, it was delicious, filling and low GI.  What a result.  The accompanying rice was spiced and there was a little spinach served with it.  The accompanying salad was ok, although BA's catering staff must love adding 5 fresh peas to each salad!  The dressing was standard fayre and and the dessert was some ghastly creamy concoction that had more to do with a science lab than a cow so I gave that a miss.  Still a vast improvement on the usual "chicken or beef" that I am used to being offered.  I wont choose that as an option in advance as I'd still rather starve and have my improved chance of an upgrade!