I've always thought that meal choices by status alone is bad approach. IMO, it should be very simple:

* If you have "paid" for F, that is, F/A/P/C/D/Z or award (std/saver) then you should get priority over the upgraders.
* If you have paid for Y and upgraded, then you get second choice.
* Non rev/UA employees deadheading or whatever. You get last choice.

Within each bracket, going by status isn't a bad thing though. I think it is silly that a 1K on an upgraded L-fare gets priority over someone with no status who bought a walk up F ticket. The 1K probably doesn't even cover the marginal costs on that flight...