The best early food source is the one you can repeat easily near your base. Reliability matters more than chasing one theoretically perfect option.
Use quick food to stabilize the first days
Early gathering is useful when you need food immediately and have not built a repeatable system yet.
Move toward a repeatable source
A farm or other dependable loop reduces the time spent solving hunger again and again.
Choose food that fits the base location
The easiest resource near your base is often the smartest early choice.
Build a reserve before longer trips
Exploration is safer when food is already stored rather than gathered at the last minute.