Pennington Summer Drink Creation
For nearly four decades, Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has stood at the forefront of health and nutrition research. A vital component of the Center’s work takes place in Pennington Biomedical’s Metabolic Research Kitchen, which supports the Center’s dietary studies and nutritional research. In the research kitchen, dietitians and nutritionists design, prepare, and serve specialized meals that meet study-specific criteria. Each day, the kitchen’s staff prepare menus and recipes to exacting standards—sometimes measuring ingredients down to the tenth of the gram. They craft dishes to deliver the specific amounts of calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrates that researchers need to accurately test the impacts of different diets on study participants. And while such precision in food preparation might seem unfamiliar, many of the methods that the Metabolic Kitchen implements can also help home cooks to produce delicious, satisfying dishes, while reducing consumption of unhealthy ingredients. Just in time for the peak of summer, here is a delicious, refreshing recipe for a highly nutritious, icy-fresh drink that’s easy to make and far lower in sugar than typical store-bought alternatives. Try it at your next backyard barbecue or summer pool party. You, your family, and your health will all be glad you did!
STRAWBERRY JALAPENO MOCK-MARGARITA
Makes 2- 12oz portions
1 portion is 140 kcals, 1g protein, 37g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 0g fat
Ingredients
1/3 of 1 cucumber, peeled
¼ of 1 jalapeño, seeds and pith removed
1 cup frozen strawberries*
¾ cup orange juice
2 Tbsp honey
Juice from one lime
1 packet (0.8g) True Lemon unsweetened crystallized lemon
½ cup ice
Instructions
1. Add the cucumber, jalapeño, and frozen strawberries to a blender.
2. Combine the orange juice, honey, lime juice, and True Lemon, and pour into the blender.
3. Add ice and blend until smooth.
*Try it with other fruits like blackberries or mango too!
To learn more about Pennington Biomedical’s Metabolic Kitchen and the dietary studies it supports, visit www.pbrc.edu/kitchen
