The Incredible, Edible Egg
Easter calls for jelly beans and Cadbury creme eggs, glazed ham and, most of all, Easter eggs. But modern Easter traditions are not the only reason eggs are so important. Crack open some facts about the delicious egg.
Health Benefits
For thousands of years, humans have enjoyed the vast health benefits of consuming eggs. This “super food” packs tons of nutrients into its delicate shell.
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Eggs contains the highest-quality protein in any food, which helps you stay fuller longer and builds muscle.
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Egg yolks provide choline, which helps with fetal brain development and assists adult brain function.
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Lutein and zeaxanthin prevent macular degeneration, which is the No. 1 cause of age-related blindness.
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Eggs have been proven to contain less cholesterol than originally reported and are part of a heart-healthy diet.
SEE MORE: Deviled Egg Recipes
Egg Facts
If you don’t have a hen house in your backyard, the eggs on your plate probably came from the grocery store. But do you know what happens before they reach the shelves?
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Humans have been harvesting eggs from domesticated fowl since 1400 B.C., if not before. Europeans began domesticating hens in 600 B.C. and Columbus carried the ancestors of today’s American chickens to the New World in 1493.
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The United States generated $7.82 billion worth of chicken eggs in 2014, with Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana leading production.
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The eggs we buy in the supermarket are unfertilized. This means the hen has not mated with a rooster to fertilize the egg and create a chick.
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A hen must consume four pounds of feed to produce one egg.
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To prevent the contents of the egg from sticking to the shell, a hen turns her eggs approximately 50 times per day.
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Conventional cage-raised eggs come from hens who live in communal cage systems. Cage-free eggs come from hens living in indoor floor operations in a house or barn, and free-range eggs are produced by hens who roam outdoors. Organic eggs must meet USDA organic standards for production.
SEE MORE: Go Green: Facts About Green Beans
Accessing the nutritional goldmine inside an eggshell can be as simple as heating up a skillet. Get a little fancier with a fluffy frittata or even plop a poached egg on a mound of fresh green beans. In the right dish, eggs can transcend the boundaries of breakfast food. Enjoy these scrumptious egg recipes.
SEE MORE: How to Dye Deviled Eggs
Recipes
Spring Greens and Country Ham Tart
Avocado Lime Deviled Eggs
Baked Custard
Mixed Berry Meringues
Asparagus, Spinach and White Cheddar Frittata
Sources: Incredible Edible Egg, FFA New Horizons, American Egg Board