Do you stare dazed and confused at the assortment of egg options at the grocery store?  Let’s brake down these labels together and get the most out of your morning eggs.  Together we can raise awareness for the health of our planet, our little chicken friends, as well as improve our nutrition.  Funny how what’s best for one is best for another isn’t it?  Also with one of these little tricks  you will find a great source for omega 3’s for kids, which can be hard to do!  Omega 3’s have an impact on how well children’s brains develop, as well as mood support for not only kids but adults. For more info sign up for our newsletter here:.  Now to find a good egg!

Cracking the Code on Egg Labels:

Cage Free/Free Range:

This is one area where it’s consumer beware.  It sounds good doesn’t it?  Free range.  I thought so, but it really means these poor little birds have a door open 5 minutes in a 24 hour period to go outside.  Most of the hens are in overcrowded quarters and can barely make it out the door.  It’s pretty much a gimmick and one I’m happy to expose.  The reason why this matters to you nutritionally is that hens have very little access to grass and insects, which are their natural food source.  Healthy chickens, healthy eggs, healthy you!  All the wonderful nutrition you want in an egg, comes from, you guessed it, the food they are eating. Omega 3’s, Vitamin A and E are all more available in a good egg.

Organic:

Well this is part of the story, but not all of it.  You want your chickens fed organic food, but you also want them to be outside.  So in conjunction with a pastured label, this can be a plus.

Hormone Free:

Well, US law tightly regulates and prohibits any hormone administration to poultry, so these manufacturers are simply abiding by the law. This label is like a water bottling company advertising no hormones in their new brand of water. Good for them- they did what they are supposed to do.  No need to  pay extra for this.

Pastured:

Now we are talking. This is what we all thought cage free & free range was from the start.  Happy frolicking hens under the sun, with green grass, insects and worms until their little hearts are content. The best place to get these is at your local farmers market.  You can find them in the grocery store as well, and no color doesn’t matter. The importance of chickens’ exposure to the outdoors can’t be overestimated in terms of quality and nutritional value. Scratching in dirt and grass, basking in the sun, bathing in the rain and hunting for and eating bugs are natural chicken behaviors. When these activities are restricted, the health of the chicken is compromised.

“Compared to eggs from conventionally raised, caged hens, eggs produced by free-roaming and pasture-pecking chickens have more omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and vitamin A, along with notably higher amounts of folic acid and vitamin B12.”Take home message here is to look for pastured grass fed eggs, fed organic feed.  Preserving the egg yolk and eating it runny is the best.  We will cover more on that in another blog, but a quick preview is to poach your eggs for maximum nutrition and to avoid trans fat oxidation while frying.  I know this is tough, but scrambled is the least healthy method. One thing at a time though wellness warrior – your upgrading your health one hack at a time!

Yours in Health and Bliss,