46 JANUARY 2 0 1 9 FOOD + DRINK
and maintain a level of health or a specific physique
that one’s body can never sustain.
“Intuitive eating is another way to reduce
stress,” Koren said. “You’re not tracking calories.
You’re not eating to change the way you
look, like your body composition. You are eating
for the basic function of fueling your body
while also taking pleasure in eating the food,
and that’s it.”
Koren is not a vegan or vegetarian, but
creates dishes that are vegan-friendly because
she enjoys meat alternatives like tofu,
especially with veggies. However, she won’t
deny her body chicken or fish if that is what
she craves.
Of course, Koren receives questions all the
time such as, “So if I want 10 brownies I can
just eat them all?” or “How does someone
like myself who loves carbs and sugar stop
those cravings?”
On Instagram Koren replied, “This sounds
counterintuitive, but to stop the cravings
you have to stop restricting and give yourself
full permission to eat those foods.” A
large part of intuitive eating is how you perceive
the foods you eat or want to eat, and
how you can consume them in a way that
will not make you feel guilty.
Although Koren’s recipes and instructions
tempt all kinds of eaters and cookers, she
hopes to one day enhance their accessibility
and be more hands-on. Instead of reading on
how to prepare Koren’s delicious hummus,
you could one day cook it along with her.
“One of my goals is to make an online
cooking course. I would love to provide an
affordable cooking service so my followers
don’t have to go to a class or search You-
Tube,” Koren said. “The sky is the limit.”
In the meantime, whether you follow the
Workweek Lunch Instagram or subscribe to
Koren’s meal prep plans, she will be there to
inspire you and encourage you to feel good
about consuming tasty food, and she’ll be fueling
right along with you.
Photos courtesy of Talia Koren