DEAR ABBY: During meals, my girlfriend uses her fingers to push the food on her plate onto her fork. She does it not only when we're at home -- just the two of us -- but also out in public at restaurants. This can't be proper manners, can it? How can I get her to stop without upsetting her? Or am I better off not bringing up the subject? -- UNCERTAIN IN SAN FRANCISCO
DEAR UNCERTAIN: What your girlfriend is doing is considered poor table manners. Because she's having trouble maneuvering her food onto her fork, suggest to her that she should do what some Europeans do -- push it onto the fork using the blade of her knife.