[Michelle]

After Ly told her about the food and trade situation, Chathra just cut back generally: she made the most out of everything she could (e.g. cooked the pumpkin seeds as well as the pumpkin, ate the aromatic vegetables she put into stock that you're supposed to discard after the stock's brewed), and watered down what she could until it was eventually noticeable. More recently though, she's been cutting down on portions; the average serving Chathra dishes out today isn't enough to feed the average adult. It's possible to make this a matter of her being a tad dramatic, though; it's not like she's ever been in a situation of great scarcity before, and in fact she doesn't know what "rationing" means. It's also possible to retcon this if staff approve, and if you think Ly would've given her additional instruction.

But in terms of whether their actions would've made a difference... I think they did make a difference, but ultimately they're postponing the inevitable. The end of the season is nigh, and so the inevitable is approaching. Plus, the kitchen's open to all, and between Ly and Chaths the food supply can't always be watched. Ly has other responsibilities, and Chathra would let anyone take whatever regardless because Ly said it was normal, and she nearly lost her job with Thomas (thus wouldn't be disobeying). There's thirty people in the setting, and the average character wouldn't and shouldn't starve themselves whenever a cook isn't there.