Ok I tested your first solution:
$white_menu = get_field('top_nav_color', 'option');
if ($white_menu === NULL) {
$white_menu = '1';
}
This is my example and it works, by including this in the specific template, where the field is called.
But, now I can’t unterstand your next solution. Is this a workaround for all true/false fields or do I have to define it for each field also?
The easier way is to write a documentation, with explaining to go to the backend and click the update button 🙂