Request access, needing to take food inside (8)
I believe the answer is:
entreaty
'request access' is the definition.
'entreaty' can be an answer for 'request' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'access' bit.
'to take food inside' is the wordplay.
'to' becomes 'entry' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'take food' becomes 'eat' (I've seen this before).
'inside' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'entry' going around 'eat' is 'ENTREATY'.
'needing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for entreaty that I've seen before include "Earnest or urgent request" , "suit" , "Appeal" , "An earnest or emotional request" , "petition" .)