Food for Thought at Pennington Biomedical’s Metabolic Kitchen

For almost four decades, Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been at the forefront of health and nutrition research. A core component of the Center’s work takes place in the Metabolic Kitchen, which furthers nutritional research by creating and serving specialized meals to support various studies and produce valid scientific results. Registered Dietitian Renée Puyau gives us a glimpse into her day-to-day as Director of the Metabolic Kitchen, which can produce up to a whopping two hundred and twenty-five meals per day in a state-of-the-art facility. Ensuring that each and every meal meets nutritional requirements for its specific trial requires plenty of cooks in the kitchen, but after fifteen years of working at the Center, Puyau has it down to a science. From Pennington’s Metabolic Kitchen to your home kitchen, several principles are useful for both. 

Planning (and consistency) are key.

The bulk of Puyau’s work is in the planning stages—in order to fulfill the requirements of each study protocol, the kitchen uses a nutritional analysis program to precisely plan menus and recipes. “The foods that we use are chosen very specifically to match our menu planning software,” Puyau says. “That way, we know that our study participants are receiving exactly what we need them to receive in terms of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates.” To ensure consistency, they weigh out all of the foods for the participants to a tenth of a gram. Now, that level of precision is likely not realistic for the vast majority of us who are not participating in a scientific study. However, it does translate with this key takeaway: making a plan and sticking to it are both essential habits to adapting a healthier diet.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your approach.

Puyau and her team often have to get creative with how they incorporate certain foods or ingredients so that the recipe meets study requirements, while still being a tasty and filling meal for participants. For example, Puyau says, if your plan or goal is to cut back on the amount of meat in your diet, one potential solution is to replace half of the meat in a burger with a starch such as beans or potatoes. Or, in another scenario, Puyau says that the team finds breakfast muffins to be popular with participants, who are often surprised at how full they feel. Puyau’s secret? Adding unflavored whey protein powder to the muffin batter. Protein aids satiety, so this is the route to go if you want to feel satisfied after eating without doubling your portion size. 

Batch freezer-friendly meals ahead of time. Your future self will thank you.

Another factor Puyau and her team must take into consideration is how often participants are picking up their meals, which varies depending upon the study. If a research trial allows the participant to eat at home and requires them to pick up meals just once a week, for instance, Puyau has to prepare enough meals in bulk that can be eaten up to six days later. This is where freezer-friendly meals come in. “Frozen fruits and veggies are just as nutritious, can taste just as good as fresh ones, and are often easier to cook with since they’re pre-cut, which cuts down on cooking time during the week,” Puyau says. Thaw and throw it in the oven and boom—you’re done. 

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing mindset.

“My favorite advice for people looking to eat a healthier diet is that it’s always easier to add something in than to take it away,” Puyau says. Rather than restricting all “bad” foods, she says, start by adding in a serving of fruit and vegetables here and there, she recommends. “If you eat a slice of pizza with salad on the side, the pizza doesn’t cancel the salad out,” Puyau says. “It still counts, and aiming for a more balanced, rather than strictly clean diet, is more realistic day-to-day.”

If you’re looking to live a healthier lifestyle but struggle with certain aspects such as implementing a nutritious diet or maintaining a regular fitness routine, participating in a study at Pennington is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Even better, study participants are usually compensated upon completion of the program; compensation varies depending on the involvement level and duration of the study. 

Visit pbrc.edu/kitchen for tons of healthy recipes like chicken parmesan muffins, teriyaki salmon and pineapple skewers, and more. 

Watch virtual cooking demonstrations for recipes from the Metabolic Kitchen, including Crunchy Chicken Slaw Wraps, Spring Rolls, Veggie Pasta Salad, and more on YouTube by searching for "Pennington Rolling Store"

Sponsored by Pennington Biomedical Research Center