We love catching up with friends over cocktails, dinner or a cozy Netflix night in, but why should our friend dates fight against our fitness goals?
We’re not cancelling any reservations just yet, but we recently found ourselves inspired by Aussie fitness queen (and former TCM guest editor) Lorna Jane as she eased us and a few fitness ladies we love through a light yoga and meditation session pre-brunch at her gorgeous new place here in L.A.
While not all of our future friend dates will involve downward dogs and deep breathing, we asked Lorna for a few tips on how to more gracefully fit wellness into our weekend hangs and weeknight lady dates. We love her ideas below, as well as these simple recipes that Lorna loves for her friends to “steal”…
Catch Up On the Move. I love to start my mornings with a brisk morning walk to help boost my metabolism, so whenever my girlfriends suggest getting together over coffee or breakfast, I suggest going for a morning walk together. It’s the perfect way to get your move on with your girlfriends, while catching up on what’s happening in their lives.
Set the scene. Create a peaceful, beautiful environment for yoga or other fitness activities, just as you would for dinner or a cocktail party. I love that the brand space we’ve made here in L.A. feels like home – makes you feel relaxed but also inspired at the same time. We’ve practiced mediation and yoga with music in the garden and it’s always just as special as a traditional brunch or cocktail hour!
Make Healthy Snacks to Share. Whenever I have my girlfriends over, of course the food is healthy. But when I’m entertaining I try to make it especially delicious and nutritious so that they’ll love it enough to ask for the recipe. I always have them either printed or on my phone ready to send because I see sharing healthy recipes as an amazing way to spread the message that eating well doesn’t have to be boring or hard work! I LOVE it when I go to their houses and they cook my recipes for me. Check below for two of my favorite recipes…
Wild Orange + Cacao Bliss Balls
Ingredients:
1 cup roasted almonds
1 cup roasted pecans
1 cup medjool dates
1/3 cup cacao powder
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp cinnamon
4 drops wild orange oil or orange oil
1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
Blend nuts to breadcrumb consistency. Add dates, coconut oil, cacao powder, cinnamon, orange oil and salt to combine. Roll into balls and set in fridge.
Oat Crackers with Pumpkin + Beetroot Hummus
Ingredients:
For the beetroot hummus:
1 tin chickpeas
2 cooked Beetroot
Juice of 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 tablespoon tahini
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper
For the oat crackers:
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup chia
1/4 cup pepitas
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup almond meal
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 sprig fresh rosemary finely chopped
3/4 tsp salt and pepper
1/3 cup – 1/2 cup water to create spreadable consistency
Directions:
Add all of the hummus ingredients to a food processor and blend to combine. Set aside.
In a food processor or blender, combine all of the cracker ingredients until smooth. Spread onto a parchment paper lines baking tray and bake 25-35 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, turning the tray half way through. Cool completely before cracking into pieces.
