I gave my new family an empty lot and emptied their bank account. They are recovering slowly, but it is birthday time for one of the toddlers and they don't have tables or chairs yet (they eat out at the diner so far), since beds are a higher priority so they can stop sleeping on park benches. One of the teens went to the store and bought a birthday cake and the hungry family members (who last ate the night before, gathered at central park for a party) Everybody in the park came over and joined in the festivities. Only 3 of my 8 sims managed to snag a piece of birthday cake (actually 7, the remaining toddler got a bottle before the party). Luckily, there were 3 picnic baskets to raid.
I wonder if they will fair any better tomorrow at the birthday for the second toddler.
Update:
Only two of the sims missed out on birthday cake. Unfortunately, I forget to check to see if they had eaten before sending them out on other tasks. I was about to send them home (a home with no food and only one toilet and one shower for eight sims - they are more likely to shower at the gym or pool) when I noticed they were starving. It was getting late and teen would get caught out after curfew and the Journalist needed to be up early, and picnic baskets seem to disappear suddenly, so I cheated and teleported them to the park to eat (quicker than the diner).