Here's my latest strategy: let the food level hover around 300. I have a 2nd-generation adept farmer fishing to feed a population of 13 (including 5 kids). My 1st-generation master farmer is also a master scientist working away at the research table. If the food level drops too low, I will pull the master farmer to pitch in (hopefully with a crab or so) to pull the food level up to 300. The rest of the time he is researching at the research table.

The strategy has worked out pretty well so far. If the food level increases above 326, villagers start wandering off their work. Below 295, my builder sometimes start to worry about food although the researchers continue working except taking breaks to eat and drink.

SBB