Meal is a specific time when you sit down to eat - for example, breakfast,dinner, lunch. Food is a GENERAL name for anything that we eat.

Some examples of use: I eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At breakfast, I eat foods like cereal, eggs, and bacon. Some dishes I like are meat loaf, spaghetti with meatballs, and chicken marengo. I enjoy junk food, and I don't think small amounts do any harm. French fries are not healthy food, but they can be part of a balanced meal. Sea food is part of New England regional cuisine. I like to get takeout Thai food. Some of my favorite Thai dishes are red curry and pad thai. You can get a good meal for $10 at my favorite local Thai place.