I think the way to handle food is with the cooking skill. Their already seems to be precedent for cooking based things I have come across in EA.
I use a homebrew cooking rule-set for one of my dnd players with proficiency in cooking. Basically you can only cook during a long or short rest.
On a short rest, based on the roll they get a minor benefit such as +1 to a single skill until the next short rest. Or you can just eat raw food, such as an apple, and gain a minor heal bonus. Usually a 1d4 or 1d6 based on the item.
For a long rest they can get, upto +1 to +3 in a skill, max hp bonus, +1, +2 or advantage on the next save, temp hp or DR between 1-3 points. Most of these effects also end the next time you short rest or once you use it one time and are minor in nature. I also allow for special meals that give larger bonuses or special effects based on the rarity or quality of the good. So a basilisk steak gives advantage on saves verse petrification for a few hours.
That being said I think the effect should be minor so its something people can choice to do, but they don't feel like to have to do it.
