It's difficult because it would depend on whether I was tired, whether I'd eaten already, the likely quality of the food offered etc etc. So probably impossible to find a concensus amongst those on board.
How about an announcement at the start - "Those who want food/drinks, please keep your reading light on and we'll serve you"? That could be a good compromise, but whether crew can serve food without the cabin lights on (either whether they are permitted, or is there enough residual light to see by), I don't know.