I was in almost the same predicament. I agree with keeping the game paused unless you can actively manage the action. Keep checking the beehive for honey to reappear. It won't be much, and the villagers don't always automatically start harvesting it when it does. There are also ways to restore health if your villagers start getting weak. Small hint:
you can make potions that restore health
. Major spoiler hint:
mix cactus and 2 lotus herbs to make a potion that will retore your villager's health then drag your villagers onto the cauldron and they will drink the potion. If it doesn't restore it completely, you have to make a second batch as the game won't let a villager drink the same batch twice.
Hopefully this will keep them alive until you can get a more stable food source.