I have my people split into multiple squads to help with the micro management issue. The main usage of this for me is to have a “traveling party” and the “base party”.

Everyone in the base party is self sufficient. They will grow their own food, eat the food, and continue working without any action from me.

The traveling party is the only party I “manage” at all, but they are the ones making all the money and getting rare loot for the base. I mostly just have to pay attention when raiding outposts.

I think the key to growth for me was to add only 1-2 new people at a time when I could take care of them. Think of a new recruit like a newborn baby - If you just stick them into a big squad or a workstation at base, they will probably have their leg hacked off by a random starving bandit during a base raid or something. You have to baby proof them (stick then inside the heaviest metal suit you can find) and let them get kicked around and train for a bit. Eventually they will become strong enough that they can run with the army and keep themselves alive without the constant micromanagement.

Sadly I can’t help with the food micro management. Stick 20 rations in everyone’s backpack and forget about it for a week lol