Continental stopped "honoring" special meals on domestic flights long time ago; I usually just have the salad without croutons or dressing and then some fruit if available; on one of the flights the flight attendant felt bad for me and got me a fruit and cheese plate from "a la carte" from coach and did not charge.
I usually carry a few bars with me so I never have a problem and usually do not purchase anything anyway.

Even when you fly BF in Continental the gluten free meal is the same stuff you get in coach but presented nicely. I usually forgo that and let the flight attendant find a way of making my meal gluten free by mixing a matching whatever is available.