I find it interesting at times.
I flew SQ BNE-SIN-NRT r/t last year. SIN-NRT and SIN-BNE departed at similar-ish times, i.e. around midnight, both are around 7 hours in length, and both landed in the morning.
Both were flown in Y.
For SIN-NRT (departure some time before midnight), we were given a refreshment in the form of a cheesy bread slice (basically a slice of panini, melted cheese, some standard toppings, served in a nice box). We then had a full breakfast served in the morning (either a full hot Western or Japanese breakfast).
For SIN-BNE (departure some time after midnight), it was more the reverse. We were given a full meal akin to dinner (i.e. a main course, entree, dessert and bread roll) after take-off, followed by a light continental breakfast in the morning (i.e. a croissant, yoghurt and muffin).
Another data point: MH flight BNE-KUL leaves very close to midnight. We were offered a light refreshment in the form of a cold chicken sandwich (no, it wasn't stone cold, but it was not a warm sandwich) with small muesli bar, then in the morning offered a full hot breakfast (i.e. a Western traditional or Malay). But then you have QF who operates BNE-HKG with a departure time also close to midnight, and passengers are offered (I assume the same for Y, because I was in J) a full supper (main course and dessert), followed by a continental breakfast in the morning (I assume the Y pax get a breakfast the next morning, and not just a bottle of juice like they do on PER red-eyes. The J breakfast cards only offered continental options - the only hot items available were warmed pastries, toast and hot drinks.)
There isn't much consistency in it, really. Whether you want to feel sorry for the airlines wasting so much food on a late night flight where no one eats after take off, or whether you're the one annoyed that you paid a fare for a flight in which the only food you got at the beginning was a sandwich or cookie, the airlines can't win with it, but I have no idea what their catering strategy is. And you can bet your bottom dollar that the airlines who "over-cater" for late night flights that reduce it due to wastage will be branded as penny-pinchers for reducing the service, and do you really think those on the other end will be convinced to upscale their catering?
I like the idea of "Sleeper Services", except of course such options are often only offered to premium passengers (i.e. J, F and those eligible to use the lounges). The rest of Y will just have to be aware or risk "starving" (an extreme word, but let's be honest - we've heard pax use such a term before....)
The other thing which rides on people is whether breakfast should be continental or full hot serving. Certainly the former is cheaper to cater for than the latter, but as much as we very often see continental catering only on domestic flights (in Y at least - J always has an option unless they under-cater), we also see it on several international flights, in all classes of service. And again there is almost no consistency with respect to which flights get which options which are offered.
And do you think it is appropriate to cater dinner then breakfast or dinner then snack for a flight which leaves in the evening and then arrives the next day in the afternoon? It does feel odd eating breakfast at noon local destination time....
For the OP, I wonder how much difference is there between lunch and dinner (both you would expect a hot meal of sorts). As for the HKG-CNS flight, I suppose you were disturbed enough that you could not sleep over the supper being served. That's unfortunate, but again whether CX had served a full blown supper or a light one you probably would've been deserved. And no one would expect you to eat all served to you if you were not tempted to do so, but in saying that I suppose one would like a reduction of fare if they were to serve lighter meals (which I don't think would happen). And as for breakfast, well, that's something to be said about the quality of the food served, not the timing of it (not that I think it was your mistake, but just pointing out that distinction which is a sideline argument to the topic title).
