With food expiry being a thing I'm surprised there's no smoked/preserved meat option. Also is there really no other player-made food to cook besides cooked meat? That's an interesting dynamic at least that NPCs can provide meats that exist outside of what the player can get.
If there is another way to cook or craft without roleplaying with an AI for it, I haven't found it yet. The most I've been able to do is cook meat, but maybe you can cook a turnip or those vislberry(?) herbs. Which I don't think shouldn't have an expiration on them. They're the only herb that does for some reason.
I think the idea is to make the AI more useful so you have a reason to talk to them more often. I know they can see and make comments about when your character is overburdened, wet, or tired. I suspect when the hunger icon appears in the upper right corner the NPC's can tell your hungry and will likely give you a free meal. I'm guessing it's the same for thirst and why they pour tea for you?