The Tavern

...so they don't take up inventory space and so you don't have to know their inventory letters when you eat.

Are you imagining chunks and rations remaining separate, or merging? If chunk nutrition and ration nutrition are identical, you could maintain the mechanic/balance status quo by having a rot-style gauge. Ex: 24(4) with the # in parentheses being the # of chunks you have. Obviously further streamlining would be desirable, i.e. automatic butchering/eating that doesn't take in-game time, etc. But metered rations/chunks would be easy to implement and wouldn't have to affect balance at all.

They could remain separate. Eating would continue to take the oldest chunk, or if you are out of chunks it would give a y/n to eat a ration.