Carry-On Packing Essentials (Healthy, Vegan and Eco-Friendly)

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t fall in love with every part of your travel experience, the flight included. Being the wellness junkie that I am, I’ve made every effort over the years to create the most nourishing flying experience I could while incorporating eco-friendly travel hacks as well. Here’s my detailed list of carry-on essentials I always refer to while packing for a flight.

Flight Essentials

I’ll start with the most important things to remember to pack.

Identification – Don’t forget to bring a valid ID.
Passport – Make sure to pack your passport and a copy of your passport in case it gets lost or stolen.
Cards and cash
Your boarding pass
Any maps, itineraries and/or travel guides you might have
Travel insurance card
Emergency contacts
Valuables – Bring anything expensive with you on your carry-on. I always bring my camera equipment, laptop, and hard drives with me.
Medications – Don’t forget to pack any medication that you might need.
A quart-sized resealable bag with liquids.

Nourish

Flying can take a toll on the body. Eating nutrient-dense foods will keep you feeling your best.

Fresh fruit- Opt for hydrating fruits like watermelon, strawberries, and cantaloupe.
Energy bars – I almost always have an energy bar on me. They’re a convenient and easy way to give your body some long-lasting energy.
Veggies and hummus – Put your favorite veg into a reusable container and your favorite flavor of hummus in another. (Just keep in mind that hummus is limited to the 3.4-ounce liquid restriction)
Granola – If you’re not making your own granola then go for an organic one like One Degree Organic’s quinoa cacao granola.
Oatmeal – This is one of my favorite airplane snacks, especially if I have an early flight. Make some overnight oats in a mason jar the night before to bring with or bring instant oatmeal and ask for some hot water on the plane. My favorite instant oatmeal is Purely Elizabeth Vibrant Oats. They’re made with organic oats and superfoods.
Nuts and seeds – Throw your favorite nuts and seeds in a reusable container for some extra protein and healthy fats. Or get creative and make a trail mix with them.
Crackers/pretzels – Bring some crackers or pretzels with a side of hummus, veggie dip or nut butter. I’m obsessed with these gluten-free sprouted seed crackers.

Hydrate

It’s so important to stay hydrated while flying. Low humidity in the cabin can easily lead to dehydration (the inside of a plane is usually about 10-20% humidity, vs. the usual indoor humidity of 30-65%)

Reusable water bottle – Bring an empty, reusable water bottle and fill it after getting through security. You can usually find water bottle filling stations throughout the airport. You can also ask a flight attendant to refill your bottle for you once you’ve boarded. It’s suggested to drink 8 ounces of water every hour that you’re in the sky. If you’re looking for something that won’t take up a lot of space, try a collapsible water bottle.
Tea packets – Bring a reusable mug and ask for hot water once you’re on the plane. Avoid caffeinated tea which can promote dehydration. I like using this calming organic chamomile tea. Chamomile also helps with flight anxiety and stress.
Kombucha – If available, purchase after getting through security. The stress of flying can throw off your digestive tract so for me, this is always the one thing I buy before boarding.
Eye mask – Flying can seriously dry out your skin, especially the delicate skin near your eyes. Using an undereye mask during your flight will make you feel refreshed. I love these undereye masks by Pacifica with kelp and vitamin C.
Moisturizer – My go-to moisturizer is coconut oil. It’s simple, natural and smells amazing. Pack a small amount in a reusable container to use on your face or hands during your flight.
Eye drops – Bring a travel-sized bottle of eyedrops to avoid uncomfortable dry eyes.

Comfort

Compression socks – It’s important to always wear compression socks during flights to avoid swelling and travel-related blood clots. Wearing compression socks during your flight can improve blood flow, and reduce fluid retention, as well as your risk for DVT.
CBD oil – This therapeutic, cannabis-based oil is a natural anti-inflammatory, a powerful antioxidant, antidepressant and neuroprotector. It’s a natural inflammation and pain reliever. If you get nervous while flying, CBD also relieves anxiety. Just remember to bring a travel-sized bottle.
Earplugs – If you’re a light sleeper or just don’t want to hear the constant chatter of others on the plane, make sure to bring with a reliable pair of earplugs.
Spare change of clothes – I always bring a spare change of clothes to change into. Not only is it refreshing to be able to have fresh clothes on after a flight but it’s also a good backup to have in case your checked luggage gets lost.
Sunglasses – It’s always a good idea to have a pair of sunglasses on you to protect your eyes.
Natural painkillers – Remedies like white willow bark, turmeric, cloves, ginger, essential oils and many others are nature’s pain relievers. My go-to is Pukka Organic Turmeric Gold Tea to relieve any pain or discomfort.
Essential oils – Essential oils have a wide array of uses. Lavender essential oil helps with jet lag, travel anxiety, and stress. Peppermint essential oil can boost your energy and relieve headaches when applied topically. Ginger essential oil helps with motion sickness. Pack whichever ones work best for you. Be mindful that they are also subject to TSA’s liquid restrictions.

Electronics

Like I mentioned above, it’s important to pack anything expensive or valuable with you in your carry-on.

Cell phone
Laptop
Camera equipment/hard drive – Always bring your camera equipment with you on your carry-on. Doing so not only prevents potential theft or damage, but it gives you the reassurance that even if your luggage gets lost, you’ll have what’s important with you.
Chargers, charger box and universal adapter – Make sure all of your electronics are charged beforehand. Outlets can be hard to come by depending on the airport so I recommend bringing with a charger box as a back up in case you can’t find access to an outlet.
Headphones

Toiletrees

Hand sanitizer – Hand sanitizer is a must for any type of travel, especially flying. All hand sanitizers are not made equally and some contain dangerous ingredients. I recommend checking any hand sanitizer you’re using on EWG Skin Deep Data Base to make sure that it’s safe to use. I use EO Organic French Lavender Hand Sanitizer Spray.
Contact lenses/glasses – I can’t stress this enough – if you wear contact lenses, make sure to pack a couple extra pairs with you in your carry on. One of the worst feelings is not being able to see. In case you have an issue with your contacts, you should always pack a backup pair. I also recommend bringing your glasses with you in your carry-on for the same reason. If anything were to happen to your checked luggage, you know that no matter what, you’ll still be able to see.
Toothbrush and travel size toothpaste – This can make a big difference, especially on long flights. I use these biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes.

Occupy your Mind

Books/magazines
Journal and pencil – Journaling is a great way to express yourself and pass the time. Bring some paper and a pencil and let your mind wander. Doodle, write, make lists, etc. Bring some watercolor paints or fine tip colored markers to bring some color to your creations.
Meditation – Meditation is the perfect way to pass time on a flight. Listen to a guided mediation or just some calming music through headphones.
Yoga mat – Not essential for every flight but if you know you’re going to have a little time during a layover or before/after a flight, then I suggest bringing a yoga mat. Find a quiet corner in the airport or a grassy area outside to stretch out and move your body.