When I did temping work for offices, i always knew when it was a good company if they provided free hot chocolate in the office
I do the same with airlines, if there's two airlines flying the same route for the same price, one offers free food and one doesn't. I'm going to the one with free food.
Thai Smile, the low cost airline in Thailand does a lovely hot snack with bottle of water and a bag.
Anyway i am happy to go without food too as i fly Ryanair sometimes. In the past I was happy to spend £20 more to fly BA and get that free food even though i'd still have spent an extra £17 (roughly) mainly for the convenience of the seats etc. But Ryanair isn't so bad or as difficult as i first thought that it might be in terms of getting boarding card or paying for the flight. Aer Lingus do as cheap as Ryanair sometimes or maybe £10 more, i was then also happy trying that airline out too without free food.
I still prefer the food part as standard though.