Food course occasionally subject of attention (5)
I believe the answer is:
focus
'subject of attention' is the definition.
(what you're focused on)
'food course occasionally' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'food'+'course'='foodcourse'
The alternating letters of 'foodcourse' are 'FOCUS'.
(Other definitions for focus that I've seen before include "Point or subject of interest or concentration" , "Cynosure" , "Point of convergence of light, etc" , "Main topic of attention" , "Adjust camera lenses - concentrate" .)