The Process of Creating a Sargent Choice Recipe

By: Sara Patterson, Dietetic Intern, Nutrition & Fitness Center (NFC)

Stephanie Horton and I are Dietetic Interns at the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center which is one of Sargent College’s Clinical Centers. Our main project while interning at the NFC was to create new Sargent Choice recipes.   We knew we wanted to make sure the recipes we created would complement the current Sargent Choice menu and would work well in the dining halls. In order to succeed we learned that we first had to consult with BU Dining Services  t0 determine what types of recipes were needed.  Through our conversations with dining we learned that there are a lot of factors to consider in order to create a quality Sargent Choice recipe that students will find both attractive and delicious!

As a result of student feedback, dining decided they would like to expand upon the Sargent Choice options at the Late Nite Cafe. We were thrilled to accept the challenge! Not knowing a lot about the food choices offered at Late Nite, we had to do a little research. We also had to think about what options are currently popular on the menu and what we would like to eat at 1 o’clock in the morning!  After a lot of brainstorming sessions and feedback from dining we came up with a few options.

The first option was a traditional American-Themed Platter consisting of Boneless Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Spicy Blue Cheese Dip, Celery, Carrots and Grapes.  Don’t you just love the flavor of Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese?    It was really fun coming up with a Sargent Choice version of this classic favorite.

IMG_0630
The second option was a Mediterranean-Themed Platter which was a bit more complicated to prepare. The platter includes Whole Wheat Pitas for dipping in a Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Baba Ghanouj, Mediterranean-Style Chicken, Chickpea Salad, and Grapes. Luckily, Stephanie and I were working together in the kitchen.  Having two sets of hands definitely came in handy! The hard work definitely paid off.  What a light and refreshing platter!  The real bonus about this recipe is that it can easily become a vegan option by omitting the chicken and adding hummus as a substitute.

The third option was dreamed up by Stephanie.  Students are always asking for more Sargent Choice desserts and Stephanie created a recipe for Chocolate Covered Bananas. Yum! I’m still remembering how delicious this treat tasted!
IMG_0638
Needless to say, we were a little nervous to have to cook amongst experienced chefs in the busy Towers Dining Hall kitchen! Luckily, everyone working in the kitchen was tremendously helpful and absolutely wonderful. The most exciting part of the day was being able to use the grill and feel like a real cook! We are so grateful for the chefs help because without them we probably wouldn’t have been ready in time for the tasting!
IMG_0643
Based on the feedback from everyone at the tasting we decided that a few changes needed to be made before the new platters can be offered at the Late Nite Cafe. So, our next step is switching up the recipes a little bit and making sure that the nutrition information still meets the Sargent Choice criteria.   It was exciting to have experienced managers and Registered Dietitians critiquing the presentation and taste of the dishes.
IMG_0644
We are still in the development stages of these platters and we would love to hear your feedback!  Would you buy one of these options at Late Nite?  Would you rather like to see the Buffalo Chicken in a wrap?  What other types of options would you like to see at Late Nite? Trust us, your options matter! Your feedback and enthusiasm can help us determine which Sargent Choice options should be featured on the Late Nite menu! Like us on Facebook to stay informed about when the options will join the Late Nite Menu and to see more pictures from our tasting! Or follow us on Twitter @sargentchoice. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Post a Comment

Your email address is never shared. Required fields are marked *