A meal is most simply a food item or food item(s) that is made to eat, but more complexly (or more commonly) thought out to be a preparation of foods, usually accompanied by a setting. By setting, I mean had with a group of other eating individuals that should be satisfying or fulfilling in some way. This is what separates the word “food” from the word “meal”. There is more of an element of satisfaction that should be involved in my opinion. Food is a necessity for a living thing to continue on living, while a mea tends to be more of a luxury that does, however, contain food.
I like the idea of a meal being part of entire experience, often being painted by the way you feel the day or particular moment that they eat their meal. With food, there is really no two cents about it: you eat it for survival– there isn’t much else to question. However when you sit down to eat a meal, it can often be associated with many other feelings. Such as reminiscence–conjuring up old memories or feelings of when or where you were when you last ate that meal. Or, if you’re in a particular sour mood the moment that you’re set to eat your meal, its possible (probable) that it might not be that great.
While food is a necessity to eat, no qualms about it, a meal can often bring more baggage (good or bad), more emotional attachment to the setting in which you’re eating it.
I appreciate how you’ve decided that what’s at issue is the difference between “food” and “meal,” which is one important way to make an argument: make clear what you’re talking about by saying clearly that it’s not the same as something else.