by dklx3
Yes, a fireplace or hearth will produce as much food as you feed it animals and vegetables. Requiring the bake action is mildly less efficient, but for the ovens, the compensation is that you get slightly more food.As a matter of strategy, generally if you want to survive on bread, you will want to have started the game with some minor improvement or occupation card support that makes it easier for you to: get grain, plow fields, bake/convert, or similar. In a multiplayer game, what turns out best for feeding often depends on what everyone else is doing and competing for.
Cheers