Just a thought, how about being able to deep-fry certain foods with cooking oil/peanut oil?
As an example, coating a piece of small animal meat (from butchering squirrels, mice or rats) in flour, pepper and salt. Then deep frying it in a cooking pot filled with peanut oil. You'll need to pre-heat the oil by "cooking" it in any source of heat. Might give the chef occupation a bit more value in terms of being able to cook food.
A stupid suggestion, I know, but a simple one. Deep frying foods will cause characters to gain weight, so that they won't be emaciated/underweight. Just a thought though.