Since, ultimately, the game's about the absurdist dream of cooking food in a microwave, I think hunger should be a core mechanic. "People died to scramble this egg!" Maybe make it a token thing, I know this concept is slowing becoming more board game than TTRPG, but maybe you have to forego science and invention for the practicality of keeping your people fed, or opting to feed helps your population which helps with war, or you treat it as your civ's "health" as an alternate lose state for more pacifist games