I'd suggest requesting a special meal, but (1) given how the merged UACO seems to be cutting back on accommodating those; and (2) upgrades are often clearing too close to flight to make the request, that's not necessarily going to help.

As to taking meal orders, I personally prefer UA's system, as I don't have to sit at the front of F (particularly on a 752!) just to get a meal choice. As to the order UA takes the meal orders, I don't care whether they hop around the cabin or ask everyone first and sort it out later.