Her consensus: he returns every now and then for meat (7)
I believe the answer is:
essence
'meat' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for essence that I've seen before include "Attar" , "Perfume or concentrated extract" , "Plant extract flavouring" , "Vital part of something" , "Soul" .)