traveling

The following post was written by Olympic athlete and mom Kerri Walsh, two-time gold medalist in pairs beach volleyball.

My philosophy on traveling is to have a tool box. It should be full of everything and anything you could possibly need to help deal with hunger, tantrums, etc.

My toolbox has premade bottles for the boys and millions of snacks. I usually pack things like yogurt bites, crackers, baby food, and fruit. I also pack Joey's backpack full of books and toys. I bring stuffed animals and toys that do not make a lot of noise so we do not bother the other passengers. We will read Five Little Monkeys five times on a one-hour flight; Joey loves it. He is also just starting to watch videos. Joey will play on Casey's iPhone and watch Elmo or Mickey's Play House.

I also recommend having hand sanitizer. Joey touches everything so I make sure to wipe down the trays and seats as soon as we get on the plane.

Recently my nutritionist suggested an all natural supplement to give the kids to help build up their immune systems. I give the kids Congaplex a few days before we travel to help fight anything they may catch from other passengers.

Be sure to catch up and read all of Kerri's great posts on FitSugar!

Tensions literally built in the air on a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas to Albuquerque yesterday. A couple quarreled over their sobbing 13-month-old until attendant Beverly McCurley stepped in. According to one report:

McCurley further stated she walked to the rear of the aircraft and observed the mother of the child identified as Lee Ann Cid strike the child with an open hand on the face in an attempt to get the child to stop crying. McCurley further stated the mother appeared agitated with the child and that the husband continued to yell at his wife to shut up due to her screaming at the child.

Out of concern for the baby (who allegedly had a black eye the parents attributed to a dog), the flight attendant took the girl from her mother and walked to the back of the plane until her father came to the rear and lulled the babe to sleep. Have you ever helped defuse a tense familial situation in midair? Share your tips.

Jet-setting families know a thing or two about packing for air travel. Simply bringing carry-on luggage can alleviate a baggage carousel meltdown upon your arrival while a spare set of clothing (for both mom and tot), extra diapers, and plenty of snacks should be brought on the plane in case of emergency.

Spirit Airlines' announcement that it will begin charging $45 for each piece of carry-on luggage placed in overhead bins might just change the way moms and tots pack for flights. Though infant diaper, camera, and laptop bags will be exempt from the fees, the giant tote bag filled with toys, games, and movies for your lil one will be charged. Other airlines are keeping a close eye on how consumers react to Spirit's latest cost cutting move, and could implement similar charges later in the year. Will you change your travel habits if you have to pay to carry luggage on board the plane?

Last week I asked you how you stayed fit on vacation, and I have to say a lot of your suggestions came in handy for my own weekend away! Even though I was in Las Vegas rock climbing in Red Rock Canyon, I also spent some time in the casinos, restaurants, and cocktail lounges. I took all of your suggestions in and found myself indulging without going overboard and walking almost everywhere. Here are the great ways you stay fit when you're on your own vacations; thanks for sharing!

To see the tips our readers shared, read more

As a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, Valerie Bertinelli lost an amazing 50 pounds on the weight loss system. Fast forward to today, and the actress is training to run the Boston Marathon (her first) on April 19 to support cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. But before she takes on the 26.2 mile run she decided to take a little jaunt to Italy earlier this month, where she enjoyed lots of pasta, red wine, and oysters. "I ate everything I wanted to and forgave myself," she told People Magazine, "and 3.4 lbs. is all I gained! I can take that off!”

Valerie was able to stay fit during her 10-day vacation by walking everywhere: "The smallest number of steps we took in a day was 11,000. We never caught a cab." By the end of the trip she had clocked in 85 miles! With Spring break either under way or just around the corner, staying fit on vacation is of special concern to many of you — especially if you're spending half your vacation in a bikini! Like Valerie, I do my best to walk everywhere when I'm on vacation so I can indulge on local fare but still feel pretty healthy.

How do you stay fit while on vacation?

With the new lineup of Dancing With the Stars announced and training under way, cast member Cheryl Burke is once again on the go. Because the two-time DWTS champion splits her time between the show and managing three dance studios, she is no stranger to travel. Cheryl, 25, recently told Shape that keeping up with healthy eating habits "can be especially grueling" when she's away from home. Here are some of Cheryl's tips for staying healthy when away from home.

• Pack snacks. Keeping healthy snacks on hand is a great way to avoid having to eat out all of the time. "I'll munch on Triscuits and peanut butter or cut-up vegetables. And I always have a South Beach Living protein bar, fruit, or almonds in my bag."
• Eat in the morning. Cheryl's learned to never underestimate the power of breakfast. "I used to skip breakfast. But now I know it gets your metabolism going and prevents you from overeating later. My go-to meal is an egg white omelet with lowfat cheese and whole wheat toast."

See more of Cheryl's tips when you read more

In our Snack Attack: Healthy Snack Ideas Group, FitSugar reader Angelica shared how she's able to eat healthy even when traveling.

I'm a lactose intolerant vegetarian so saying I'm perceived as a picky eater is an understatement at best. I try not to impose or expose my needs to those around me, but it gets tricky when I am traveling and don't have easy access to my favorite staples and snacks. Sure, there are plenty of treats at airport kiosks, but how many packs of Skittles and pretzels does a girl need? Not too many. Whenever I go on a trip I try and pack my staples in hard Tupperware so they don't bust open during transport. This way I have them on hand for breakfast first thing in the a.m. or if I need a quick snack. I'd be thrilled to bring my Rice Dream along too because it's hard to find in random cities, but the TSA isn't too keen on that idea.

Do you have healthy snack ideas or recipes? If so, start sharing those great ideas in Fit's Healthy Snacks Group. While you're there, take a look at our other community groups — whether you run, rock climb, or need dieting support, there's a group for everyone!