How To Stay Healthy When Flying

Travelling can be fun and exciting (when you get to your destination), but airports and airplanes can make it super hard to stay healthy and on track with your exercise schedule. I have travelled quite a bit over the last few years, and many of them have been long haul flights. I have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way so I thought I would share them with you. 

Here are my top tips when flying and at airports:

Prepare Your Own Snacks
Preparing snacks can be the last thing on our minds when packing and dealing with the stress of arriving to the airport on time, but honestly it’s a life saver. More often than not it is super hard (or expensive) to find healthy food at airports, and even more so when you are on an airplane. I like to pack little ‘snack bags’ filled with nuts, fruit and homemade muesli bars. Chia seeds are also another great thing to take with you, they can be added to any juice or water and will help give you a little boost of protein and fibre.

Pick The Right Food
Similar to the point above, I know sometimes if you are travelling interstate or internationally you aren’t allowed to bring certain foods, such as fruit, with you. If you have forgotten to pack healthy snacks or had to throw yours away, be wise with the food you do pick. If you are at the airport, stay away from processed foods such as muffins, sweets and pastries. Opt for sandwiches made out of wholemeal bread, water, salads and other dishes packed with protein and veggies. On the airplane, try your best to eat proteins, veggies and whole grain options if available. Try to stay away from salty and sweet snacks and sodas, as they will more than likely cause you to feel hungry again a short time later.

Stay Hydrated
Keep a drink bottle with you at all times if possible, and sip on this throughout the day. It can be really easy to make a beeline for all of the assorted coffee shops at the airport, but this can leave you dehydrated. Flying in general can make you quite dehydrated, so I can’t stress how important it is to always drink plenty of water, especially before, during and after flying.

Keep Moving
You might think that missing a few days of being active won’t hurt you, but for me, exercising whenever I can helps to keep me calm and positive. If you are at the airport you can take advantage of the large bathrooms to bust out a few squats or stationary lunges. If you’re not keen on this, you could walk or run up and down the stairs a few times. On the airplane, make sure you stand up every 20-30 minutes and go for a walk. You can also do foot exercises in your chair, such as rotating your feet and lifting your legs up and down.

What are your favourite healthy tips for flying?

Love, Kayla xx