We have all been around here long enough to know that going through the various alpha builds of this game means stepping back, having a think and changing your approach to adapt.
In the context of this topic, food made with jars isn't the only option early game anymore.
Every large town now has several crop plots, one of which is potato. Get that potato farm going and you now make baked potato requiring no water and restoring as much food as cornbread.
In a pinch, go for a walk in the snow biome (early game weather buff) and pick up 100 snowberries. Slow but better than starving and saves you digging sand with a stone shovel.
I only eat potato early game. I'd rather save my eggs for pie and meat for stews which restore much more stats but we all play differently I guess.