Jaunted

· Pack healthy snacks. As I mentioned earlier you need lots of energy to get you through a day of air travel so pack foods that fuel your body. Think, nuts, veggies, and fruits. Foods that are processed or high in sugar and fat will only deplete your energy.
· Hydrate. Don't let the liquid ban prevent you from drinking enough water on travel day. There are lots of filtered water bottles on the market that you can carry empty through security and fill up at a water fountain once past TSA.
· Skip the alcohol. Alcohol will dehydrate and bloat you. It could also cause you to miss your flight as airlines are not allowed to board passengers appearing to be intoxicated. Remember alcohol has a greater effect on your body when in the air. And, if you cause a problem due to intoxication once inflight? You'd be dealing with the federal government! (Prison is very bad for your health!)
· Bring anti-bacterial wipes and lotion. It's good to have both in your carry on for the times that you can't make it to the bathroom to wash your hands. It's also a good idea to wipe your tray table and arm rests with the wipes. Cleaners are only given minutes to clean the airplane in between flights so tray tables only get cleaned once a day on average. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, I've seen many poopie diapers changed on the tray tables.
· Pack disposable place mats in your carry-on. I started carrying these when I started traveling with my daughter. I now bring them whether she is with me or not. They give me the freedom to eat, drink and be merry on my tray table with out worrying about what went on there on the last flight! Did I mention clipping nails is a common activity for air travel?
· Stretch. Not by performing yoga in the galley. Your flight attendants won't appreciate that but, do take a walk at least every hour of flight to get your circulation going and prevent thrombosis.
· Keep your hands and your things out of the seat back pockets. Again, flight attendants have found everything from dirty diapers to used vomit bags in there. The last thing you want to do is get cold germs all over your lap top or magazine because you didn't realize the last passenger's used tissues were scrunched up in the bottom of your seat back pocket.

Got any other healthy travel tips? Share in the comments!

About the Author:
Sara Keagle is a Flight Attendant for a major U.S. Airline with over twenty years of experience. On her blog TheFlyingPinto.com she shares advice on making air travel less stressful for all and offers peeks behind the galley curtain. She also co-hosts The Crew Lounge, a weekly podcast that gives insight into the career of a flight attendant.

Questions? Join the conversation with Sara on Twitter @theflyingpinto and on Facebook.

[Photo: Jaunted]