Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context idiomatic transitive English) To spend more time and energy on some task than it warrants; to make something overly complicated. 2 To eat something as a meal.
Usage examples of "make a meal of".
Only the insects, who could sustain the losses necessary to make a meal of the deceased, found the ruminant desolation to their benefit.
Le'lorinel had enough experience with ogres to know that they were usually unruly and more than ready to make a meal of any smaller humanoid they encountered.
Rustem refrained from comment on either of these solutions and, after examining the man's tongue and taking his pulse, advised the governor to make a meal of the well-cooked liver of a sheep or cow on those evenings when he wished to have relations with either of his women.
Dogs snuffed my bare soles, emboldening themselves to make a meal of me.