Easter time is traditionally associated with beautifully decorated eggs and chocolate bunnies. In my family, the night before Easter we get together to decorate eggs. Eggs are fun to decorate, but even more fun to eat! Eggs make a great protein-packed and satisfying breakfast but are also tasty sliced up in salads or chopped up into a sandwich. Eggs are an "egg-cellent" source of protein. It is a complete protein (has all the essential amino acids that our bodies need) and has a high bioavailability, meaning our bodies can quickly absorb the nutrition. Eggs whites are the source of protein, but little else. All the "good stuff" is contained in the yolk. Yes, there is cholesterol, but did you know that the egg yolk is also high in vitamins A, E, D, B12 & B6, iron, folate, choline, zinc and antioxidants like lutein that help maintain eye health? Want more details? Check out egg's detailed nutrition content. For a long time eggs were demonized for raising the cholesterol levels in your blood. As time passed and research improved, new evidence revealed that the egg was not as "bad" as initially thought. In fact, what studies found was that saturated and trans fats were at fault for raising cholesterol levels, not the cholesterol found in the egg yolks. What does that mean? People can enjoy eating whole eggs, while being mindful of its preparation. In other words, avoid using butter to cook eggs or pairing eggs with bacon, both of which are high in saturated fats. Hard-cooked or hard-boiled eggs are a healthy way to eat eggs because there are no added calories or fat during the cooking process. For individuals who follow a heart healthy or low fat diet, having 1 whole egg up to 3 times per week can be part of a healthy diet. What will you do with all your decorated Easter eggs this year?
