Villagers will eat on their own if there is food to eat. Otherwise they will pace by the food bin and "worry" about the lack of food. You can also drag them to the bin and they will eat but that is not necessary.

Putting the game on pause is a good idea if your tribe is not well developed, meaning there is a lot of food. If there is enough food, you can let it run over night or when you are not around. Doing this will help you gain tech points that otherwise would not be gained if it was paused.

If you look in the guide area of the forum, you can find tons of stuff to help you. I suggest this guide to help you on your quest. Please beware that these give specific solutions and tips, so only look at it if you don't mind look at some "spoilers"