Ahoy.

In Oblivion, I always thought it was annoying that the vast majority of food only restored fatigue. I never found myself eating it to help out with anything. Even if it just restored a tiny bit of health, that would be worth it. Same thing for making potions. I ended up making like 300 restore fatigue potions.

I know it's probably a balance thing - if they restored health, anyone could make a restore health potion out of almost anything.

In Skyrim, is it the same?

I think that it's a bit more equal. There's an article about the things you can eat in Skyrim and it goes over the effects of them.

What's fatigue in this game? The stuff you use when you sprint, etc.? Or something different?

I think I read that it's when sprinting and attacking.

I think it stops hunger pains?

I hope food does more in Skyrim. It shouldn't be AS potent as a potion, since a potion is a concentrated super drink. But it should still be worth carrying around.

There is cooking in Skyrim. Food might play a bigger role this time around.

Master Chef Wood Elf cooking up a MEAN steak

"Cooking is an activity that your player will be able to perform in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but is not a skill.[1] According to pictures of a game manual, cooking can be accomplished through using a cooking pot and food from cooking can grant additional temporary effects. Also, the recipies require specific ingredients that are found throughout Skyrim."

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Cooking

According to Elder Scrolls wiki.

Food does restore health, drinks like Alto Wine and Nord Mead do stamina

EDIT: You can cook food according to recipes to boost the restore health effect

Excellent! Thanks everyone! Can't wait to get cooking.