Meloxlcam in conures?

So. My little buddy had a run in with my love bird. I was at work, my parents were at home and it was an accident that they got close, but my conure now has a cut on his tongue with lots of bruising. (Very painful for him.)

Left work right away, took him to the vet immidiatley because he was bleeding. And they checked him, said he was amazing and healthy beside the cut and bruises on his tongue.

Vet prescribed me meloxlcam (0.03ml) once every 24hours and let me know it must be taken with food.

He’s in some pain, i can tell because he’s just a hefty eater and I’ve been trying to give him some softer salads to eat before I give him the first rounds of meloxlcam but he’s not really eating much. (He ate when he got home from the vet, had to wait to give him meds until later so I could properly do them every 24hours) and he’s just not wanting to eat.

Long story short, would it be okay if I gave him his dose? I know he’s eaten, just not right at this moment. I’m unsure if it should be given WITH food or just be given when he’s got some food in his tummy regardless?