UA does a similar snack bag on SFO/LAX-Europe as well, so it isn't for budget reasons.
SFO/LAX-Europe flights get hot dinner, sandwich bag, and then pre-arrival full breakfast tray (waffles/pancakes or eggs with fruit, bread, and yogurt).
Europe-SFO/LAX flights get hot lunch, sandwich bag, and then the pre-arrival snack the Europe-East Coast flights get but placed on a tray with chips and a fruit plate.
That's very interesting.... I guess that rules out the lack of chiller space too if they can find space in the galley for the European flights.
I wonder if it is because they think they can compete as an airline "better" than the European airlines and offer a more generous meal option to impress flyers while on the TPAC side they have kind of "given up" that they will never be seen (rightly or wrongly) in the same league as like NH/SQ that they might as well as save money instead of investing in the product that won't change customer perceptions that UA is a premium full service airline. I am pretty sure from what you wrote, what UA is serving beats what European airlines are serving on a similar route. I know LH for example has eliminated all hot pre arrival meals in Economy. I am a