A stable food loop changes the pace of survival. Once food stops being an emergency, more time can go into mining, building and exploration.
Use the easiest reliable food first
Early food does not need to be optimal; it needs to be repeatable enough that hunger stops interrupting every objective.
Build a small farm before a giant one
Expand food production only when consumption or future plans actually require it.
Keep reserve food at the base
A stored reserve shortens recovery after death and makes longer trips easier to prepare for.
Upgrade the food loop when it becomes the bottleneck
If farming takes too much time or no longer supports longer trips, improve the system rather than simply making the same routine larger.