Air

Practicalities Getting There Air Food and Drink 

Feeling good after a flight has a lot to do with your digestion and this is particularly true for children. At altitude the process can take a third longer than usual so it is best to stick to lighter foods such as pasta and white meat (so no burgers) plus fish. As fat is also counselled against fish fingers are not ideal for example. Plenty of fruit also apparently helps the liver to work better.

Generally eat little and often so your own snacks rather than in-flight meals may be preferable, particularly with children whose timetable may not coincide with the airline's mealtimes. Hotels are often willing to prepare aircraft packs if you are not travelling from home. Also bear in mind that the body is better able to digest food earlier in the day - in the case of travelling across time barriers this referring to the time at your point of departure.

Plenty of fluid - preferably plain water - helps combat the dryness of the air and aids digestion. Note that aircraft sometimes run out of mineral water so a generous personal supply is often useful.

A recommended element to include in the diet is potassium, found for example in bananas or tomato juice. Food to avoid includes those high in salt which exacerbate water retention.

See also the pointers under Distractions - Meals.