What I have done is make a Cheese/Cracker/Dried Fruit Platter along with your favorite chocolate bar.

For morning flights You could buy a parfait from Starbucks or in a plastic container add your favorite oatmeal and bring with you a bowl and spoon and plastic knife along with dried fruits.

For coffee take film canisters or small containers and grind your own beans. Take your Travel mug and ask for hot water at the airport Starbucks or on the plane.

I also like taking Mixed Nuts . What I do is roast the mixed nuts at home in the oven and put it in ziplock bags. In another zip lock bag I'll add my Trail Mix(Costco makes great trail mix).

In another small bag I'll add mini alcohol bottles such as Rum, Gin, Vodka, Tequilla, Brandy, Whiskey mix it up so as long as your within the 3-1-1/

Then what you do is add it to your Coke or whatever mixer like Tonic water after the flight attendant has given your drink. It's not like your going to get caught because the flight attendant is busy doing other things and you can even bring your own stirrers. I think they are talking about bringing large bottles of alcohol and drinking it. Besides how is the airline going to know where you got these minis from as they use the same thing for their beverages.

I also like the KIND Energy bars, Chocolate Covered Almonds etc.

Just be creative and mix it up a bit. You could make a salad(just don't add smelly items like onions) in a tupperware and for the dressing you could go to a restaurant like Burger King and ask for a packet or two of dressings and they will gladly give it to you and be sure to tip them.

If you have access to the airline lounge take a few granola bars with you or buy the Nature Valley Honey Oat Granola Bars and take them with you.

Hope you enjoy your flights in coach. BTW to make your flights comfortable go onto Ebay and search for "First Class Amenity Kits" and purchase a couple of them. It's nice to have eyeshades, socks, earplugs and mini bottles of moisturizing cream and mini toothpaste and toothbrush to freshen up.

And don't forget to pack Smints or Altoids with you to keep your breath smelling fresh .

But if I know there is Pizza My Heart at SJC Airport I will forgo any meal known to man and get a few slices of their award winning pizza.

I also like going to local restaurants at the airport like The Brit at SJC. If there is a Dunkin Doughnuts or Krispy Kreme I'll go there.

I actually wait to have special treats at restaurants or concessions where I normally won't go otherwise.

For instance at LAX I went to Pink's Hot Dog Stand and enjoyed it.

I also love Pinkberry or another FroYo place.

In Chicago if they have Pizzeria Uno's at the airport I'll eat there.

And if time permits I will leave security and cab it to a local restaurant or even a Starbucks off airport to save money.