Hey, also new here.
What if instead of debuffs for not eating, you got buffs for eating and have them get better when having a varied diet?
As far as I'm aware, being really new at the game, on one end you can die from not eating and on the other end your health increases from eating a bit of everything. What if eating protein made you hit harder? Maybe eating vegetables could make you faster.
Just and idea that I think would reward you for eating and not just punish you from not eating.