by BARBARA BRODY
It’s cold/flu/COVID season; make sure you’re up-to-date on all recommended vaccines and boosters before you get exposed to more germs while in transit or risk bringing a bug to Grandmother’s house, says Douglas Paauw, MD, professor of medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine.
Don’t put important medications—including over-the-counter remedies you might need—in checked luggage, Paauw says. In addition to any prescription drugs and favorite headache meds and digestive remedies, Paauw likes to carry a bottle of oxymetazoline (Afrin); it relieves headaches related to sinus pressure (a common problem while flying) and nosebleeds that can be caused by dry air.
Get up and walk around every one to two hours. That might mean pulling over at a highway rest area and strolling around in the parking lot or going up and down the airplane aisles. This will keep your circulation going and will avoid blood clots that can happen when you sit for long periods in a small space.
It’s always a safe bet to pack your own healthy snacks (we have some great choices below). You never know what (if any) food selections will be available on an airplane. And airlines often run out of food-for-purchase at peak times, says Antoinette Weil, a flight attendant and blogger at awheelinthesky.com. In a pinch, you can pick up a few healthy choices at major fast-food chains: At Starbucks, make a nutritious-enough meal out of the Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites and a Berry Trio Parfait, say nutritionists Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN. At McDonald’s, the Egg McMuffin (minus the meat) is a solid choice, and the plain baked potato and small chili at Wendy’s give you fiber and protein.
If you think you’re thirstier on an airplane, you’re not imagining it: The air is kept at a lower humidity (10 to 20 percent) than an everyday indoor environment, which is usually 40 to 60 percent humidity. This can lead to dehydration more quickly. Keep a water bottle handy; add ginger and mint (can help combat nausea) to jazz it up.
You’ll sleep better on a plane or in a car if you’re not too hot or too cold. A tank top, sweater, and jacket are air travel go-tos for Weil.
In stressful moments, try these mini massages from Meghan Kenny, a licensed massage therapist and founder of Meta Bodywork in New Jersey:
1. Use your fingertips to apply light pressure at the base of your skull. Massage in gentle circular motions and work your way down to the shoulders.
2. With your right hand, reach across your body toward your left shoulder. Grasp the muscles at the top of your shoulder and slowly release. Repeat along the length of the shoulder, holding tense points until you feel a release. Use your fingertips or palm for more pressure and make your way down the upper back as far as you can comfortably reach without strain. Repeat on the opposite side.
1 The Only Bean Crunchy Roasted Edamame Beans
Each 100-calorie pouch of plant-based protein is salty, crispy, and good for you. $15 for a 10-pack; theonlybean.com
2 Sabra Snackers Classic Hummus & Pretzels
The creamy, crunchy combo has ample protein and fiber to keep you satisfied. $3; find local stores at sabra.com
3 Sunsweet Probiotic+ Prunes
These antioxidant-rich prunes come with a bonus of probiotics and prebiotics to help you stay regular. $5; sunsweet.com
4 Kind Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt
This indulgent-tasting treat has only 5 g of sugar. $18 for a pack of 12; kindsnacks.com
5 Wilde Protein Chips
These potato-free chips are made with egg whites and chicken breast (really!) and provide 10g of filling protein. 8-pack for $28; wildebrands.com
6 Dave’s Killer Bread Organic Snack Bar
Lots of whole grains and nutrients but no artificial ingredients or preservatives. $6 for a box of 4; daveskillerbread.com
7 Popadelics Crunchy Mushroom Chips
Nutrient-filled shiitake mushrooms make these a healthy alternative (despite the name, there’s nothing psychedelic in them). $30 for a 6-pack; popadelics.com
1 Bombas Performance Compression Socks
Promote good circulation and help prevent blood clots with a comfy pair of compression socks. $36; bombas.com
2 Touchland Power Mist Hand Sanitizer
Made of 70 percent ethyl alcohol to kill germs and comes in delicious scents. $10; sephora.com
3 Mzoo Luxury Sleep Mask
Memory foam gently protects your peepers from light so you can catch some z’s. $30; amazon.com
4 Plant Therapy Mercury Retrograde Essential Oil
Flight delayed? Cousins squabbling? Counteract the chaos with a few drops of this blend of clary sage, Texas cedarwood, and other soothing oils. $19; planttherapy.com
5 Soundcore Life Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Comfy wireless headphones reduce ambient noise by up to 90 percent. $60; soundcore.com
6 CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid
Serum Combat dry air with hyaluronic acid, which holds 1,000 times its weight in water. $19; target.com
7 Simple Modern Summit Water Bottle
This 32-oz. insulated bottle comes with both a straw and chug lid. $25; simple modern.com
8 LectroFan EVO sound machine
Soothing ocean sounds aid sleep in new environments; it fits on a bedside table. $60; amazon.com
9 Travelrest
All-in-One Ultimate Travel Pillow $40; travelrest.net
PHOTOS: (1,3, 4, 7) KELSEY HANSEPHOTOS: (1–4, 6–9) KELSEY HANSEN