Side as ordered by boy (5)
I believe the answer is:
salad
'side' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both things that one consumes for nourishment as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'as ordered by boy' is the wordplay.
'ordered' indicates anagramming the letters.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'boy' becomes 'lad' (lad is a kind of boy).
'as' anagrammed gives 'sa'.
'sa'+'lad'='SALAD'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for salad that I've seen before include "Raw vegetable dish" , "One that may be dressed for dinner" , "See 1 ac" , "Cold dish of raw vegetables" , "Cold dish of various vegetables," .)