I love eggs.

When I was little, I preferred scrambled eggs- oozing with melted American cheese and served with a Thomas’ English muffin with butter and apricot jelly. But as I got older and more sophisticated, I started to really enjoy fried eggs. I love the crispy little edges and the big ball of sunshine oozing out across my plate. Being gluten, dairy and soy free (all 3 of which are proteins), I find that my body often craves a concentrated source of protein. My top 3 favorites are salmon, eggs and chicken… in that order. Salmon takes the cake because honestly, is there anything more satisfying than a nice, thick piece of well-seasoned grilled salmon on top of a bed of crisp, chilled greens? If you’re not a ‘fish-fan’ you’d probably disagree, but if you love salmon like I do, you know what I’m saying!

The ONLY downside of salmon? The price. That’s where eggs come in. Wow- eggs are CHEAP. A small piece of smoked salmon costs $5 (on sale). Guess how many eggs I got for less than that ($4.50 at BJs)?? 60. SIXTY. That’s a lot of eggs and I just love a bargain! I start almost every morning with either a fried egg, or “fluffy” scrambled eggs (1 egg + 2 whites + a splash of almond milk). Cheap, filling, satisfying, and delicious… eggs are pretty humble, but they’re also pretty great!  I know, I know… eggs CAN be kind of controversial (due to their naturally occurring cholesterol) but here’s the scoop and some reasons why I LOVE eggs.

According to the Mayo Clinic, while eggs DO have cholesterol, it doesn’t really impact your blood cholesterol levels. If you are healthy you can eat 7 eggs or so per week, but people with diabetes should limit their consumption. That being said, egg WHITES do not have cholesterol and they’re loaded with protein. So if you choose to avoid the yokes, you can always make yourself a veggie egg white omelet with some avocado slices for added healthy fats! 

Eggs are incredibly high in nutrients. Just one little egg packs 6 grams of protein, and a fair share of B12, B2, Selenium, and Phosphorus. In fact, an egg has at least small amounts of almost ALL of the essential nutrients. Back to the cholesterol issue–eggs are high in HDL cholesterol, which is actually considered to be “good” cholesterol. Another fact I learned in my research- not all eggs are created equal. Their quality depends on the quality of the diet of the chickens who laid them.

Eggs even promote weight loss because they are so seriously filling. My friends and I once debated this question, “How many eggs could you realistically eat?” I’d say 2 comfortably, 3 max. Because eggs are so high in protein, nutrients, and fat, they’re naturally filling and satisfying. This is why I can eat breakfast at 7am and not need to stop for lunch until after 12 (including an hour long workout in the AM). Eggs are a powerhouse of nutrients and a tasty and essential part of my diet!

I love them scrambled with a splash of almond milk for breakfast. I like to mix 1 egg with 2 egg whites and a tablespoon of almond milk to make “fluffy eggs.” Or I’ll fry 2 up with a dash of salt and pepper as a topping to my salad at lunch. Hard boiled eggs also make for the perfect on-the-go, protein packed snack! Or I’ll enjoy a veggie loaded omelet for dinner. So versatile!

How about you? Do you love eggs as much as I do? What’s your favorite way to enjoy them?

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