I took CX840 in Feb 2008 and it was a meal at the beginning and a meal at the end. Maybe things have changed since then.
It would be good if CX put a flight timeline on their menus like QF does. This way people know at the beginning of the flight what to expect.
As a regular flyer JFK-HKG-JFK and taking mostly the early flight I can tell you they have definitely changed to 7 hours before landing procedure. I hated that too as usually when I'm awaken I can't fall asleep again.
I asked an ISM why this is so and she said there are too many customers complaining that in between meals are too long and it makes them too hungry. But then I heard the other FA behind us say to her in Cantonese (I speak English to them so I guess they assumed I can't understand) that "oh, it isn't because we want to reduce the service of cup of noodles?" and had a grin. I pretend I didn't understand her and left.