Tables, Hunger Modifier and food bonus'

[Sodapressed]

I was simply wondering why it appears that when tableware are added to a table the bonus modifier goes down.
It seems illogical to me, thus I wonder if there's something I simply am missing.
I have access to the wiki yet I can't seem to find any explanation of the food bonus modifier.
I'm aware that eating at a table restores less hunger (which also seems illogical) but gives better stat bonus'.
What would you veterans suggest new characters eat? I've been eating Brill and have raised my STR to 15.
Thanks in advance, was a lot to ask.

[TeckXKnight]

Most players want more stat gains, this means eating more food. Tables offer this by letting us eat many times more food than we would without a table.
Constitution is Always good, exclusively. Int is rarely good -- Cha tends to be even more worthless. Strength is great for Miners and UA fighters. Psy is good for Jewelers and Silk Farmers. Perception is needed for foragers, hunters, and chefs. Dex is good for crafters. Depending on what you want to do, you'll need different stats, so it'd help if you gave us an idea of what you're trying to achieve first.

[Sodapressed]

It seems I'll be wanting to raise Constitution and Perception first.
What's my best bet to eat? Carrots?

[TeckXKnight]

Crops to Grow: Carrots, Wheat, Pumpkin
Animals to Sausage: Sheep, Cow
Animals to eat cooked: Deer

[Sodapressed]

Obviously though I'll be eating food just to survive as this is my "main" because I've all but given up on my other characters.
Will there be a conflict? Right now my diet is mainly Brill, as I can easily catch them, and the occasional rabbit.

[TeckXKnight]

You're struggling now but once you can farm or hunt, you'll be rolling in food. Pumpkins and Wheat mean Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Bread everywhere! Bark Bread is also fine if you don't have enough Pumpkin.

[Sodapressed]

Also, about eating utensils..like..forks. Why does using them reduce your bonus?
Is there any clear reason given?
It makes more sense that you'd get a larger bonus while NOT eating with your bare hands.

[TeckXKnight]

I don't think there is a realistic reason, it's just a display of your wealth and is reflected in how strong you can get with food. If utensils made you more full when you eat food, no one would ever use them.

[Stormfeather]

And if you're talking about the bonus you get to the attribute points you get... you should be getting a positive bonus for having items on the table like utensils. The only negative is how much it should fill you up.

[LimaZulu]

You're struggling now but once you can farm or hunt, you'll be rolling in food. Pumpkins and Wheat mean Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Bread everywhere! Bark Bread is also fine if you don't have enough Pumpkin.

Bark bread hurts going down.