With respect, I hope the opinion that food should heal HP at all, let alone do so in combat, is not a strongly held or popular one over at Larian.

In order of my preference:
1) Food deals with hunger
2) Food provides buffs until next long rest, consumed *during* long rests
3) Food heals out of combat
4) Food is removed
5) Food heals in combat

I don't want to play Runescape. I don't want to eat an entire shark in the middle of combat.