Sets up meals eating area (8)
I believe the answer is:
launches
'sets up' is the definition.
'meals eating area' is the wordplay.
'meals' becomes 'lunches' (lunch is a kind of meal).
'eating' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'lunches' enclosing 'a' is 'LAUNCHES'.
(Other definitions for launches that I've seen before include "Sets afloat - motor boats" , "Motorboats" , "Sets in motion,a ship say" , "Sends on its course, like a ship" , "Sets a boat afloat" .)