My first villager that died when I first started playing died of starvation and I had food.

Yes they do eat on their own, but, if you want to have a small group of people actually make it through the tasks and keep the original seven alive through more of the actual game you have to feed them. It's just about approach. I have 6 games going at the same time and I set different goals for each of them. Some of them take generations to complete the tasks. But if you feed them then you can take your original 7 further. Just a different approach. If they are in the habit of eating they actually go back to the tasks quicker. The ones that live on the survival rations...which the game seems to be initially set for will keep them alive, but they will get weaker faster. That's all.

I am probably spending way too much time playing this game.