variable variable name

[Matt P.]

hello,

need some help in figuring out the following:

i have a variable, eg NAME, and based on the value of that variable i
would like to create other variables. For example, if NAME=chet, I would
like to create eg chet.meal=pizza.

so i have something like that

NAME=chet
MEAL=pizza
eval $NAME.meal=$MEAL

but bash doesn't like my pizza... can you please indicate to me the
correct recipee for this one, or pointers to it.

Thanks,
Matt