Possible Clues:

• By degrees
• Bit by bit assembling baked food for church supper?
• One bit at a time
• Portion the food bit by bit?
• Gradually get a bit of money and something to eat
• Bit by bit, or bit by bite?
• Bit-by-bit
• Sounds like food after the war, taken bit by bit
• Banquet taken by knight, say, one bite at a time
• Bit by bit; unsystematic