I am hoping the FT community can help me. I am currently enjoying my delay in ANC and was eating in the terminal when this guy that had been sitting at the next table strikes up a conversation. Since I have 3+ hours of waiting I chatted with him for a bit.

Now I am a big guy, and he finally gets around to the point. He basically was criticizing my choice of meals and how it apparently wasn't healthy enough, and I "didn't need to be eating that." I was pretty shocked that this stranger was giving me a lecture. He wouldn't let up on it and I was trying to get my check and get the heck out of there. I was finally able to leave and I basically responded by informing him that I do maintain healthy habits (exercise daily etc.) and that what I ate was my choice.

I actually regret the way I did it, i.e. "defend" myself to him. I am of the opinion that our choices are our own, and whether we agree with the choices others make or not, we need to keep our opinions to ourself. How would you have responded to this?

(I just hope this guy does not end up sitting next to me on my flight.)

Dan