DEAR ABBY: I am a frequent international traveler with a problem. I always pack food for myself to take onboard. My trips are often 20 hours or longer and involve several planes. I find many people neglect to pack any food and they wind up asking -- or begging -- me to give them some of mine. It's very awkward for me.
On one flight, I overheard a woman tell her son, "Go ask that man for some cookies," and the kid did come over. How do I handle this? There are times I have to spend five or seven hours in an airport after midnight waiting for the next flight, and that food is my reserve. -- NOT STINGY IN FLORIDA
DEAR NOT STINGY: I'm glad you have given me the chance to remind travelers that the food on airplanes isn't what it was years ago -- particularly for passengers flying coach. That's why it's important to plan ahead and bring something onboard -- fruit, candy, a sandwich -- particularly when traveling with children.
Of course it's hard to refuse someone in a situation like the one you described. I suppose you could have told the child, "Didn't your mother warn you not to take food from strangers?" But then you'd have to live with the image of a hungry child sitting two rows back.
Sometimes you do have to "just say no." Explain that you have a long layover and need the emergency provisions for yourself. It may not win you many friends, but then, you are not running for office.