I'd honestly scratch up the eating food mid combat mechanic as a bug, it shouldn't be possible for me to mid combat magic pockets my mule char's buffet
out of combat go hog wild on the food healing folks tho, tho in combat health consumes should be limited to healing potions etc,
Afaik larian has stated they're listening to feedback and are evening considering expanding the default party size (!!!) so designwise it feels like things aren't entirely set in stone (yet)