Nouns

(n)meatthe flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
(n)kernel, meatthe inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone“black walnut kernels are difficult to get out of the shell”
(n)kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-grittythe choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience“the gist of the prosecutor's argument”, “the heart and soul of the Republican Party”, “the nub of the story”