I don't think eating a pear needs to last 4800 turns. That seems quite excessive. I think the current amount of turns food lasts is fine. If you want to use it for buffs before battle, maybe a small buff to 10-15 turns.
My suggestion for food is that it heals for some amount less than a small healing potion, but it heals that amount each round.
Basically, it would make the choice between drinking a potion for an instant large heal, or a small but persistent heal with a stat buff. I think that's a more interesting choice than the current implementation where right now it heals for a small amount once, and that's all.
