-- eating
--
-- done everytime a player eats something.
-- this overwrites the builtin function.
-- when a player eats something his hunger is reduced by the half.
--
function minetest.item_eat(hp_change, replace_with_item)
    return function(itemstack, user, pointed_thing)  -- closure
        if itemstack:take_item() ~= nil then
            user:set_hp(user:get_hp() + hp_change)
            itemstack:add_item(replace_with_item) -- note: replace_with_item is optional
            players_hungry[user:get_player_name()] = {count=math.floor(players_hungry[name].count/2)}
        end
        return itemstack
    end
end