Oh, the egg. So nutritious, versatile, and delicious. But what exactly is the difference between all the varieties that exist? Nutrition Expert Marissa Puleo gives us the lowdown on eggs-actly how to decipher your options and labels. Let’s get started!
BROWN VS. WHITE
This refers to the color of the shell, which has nothing to do with the nutritional value of the egg. Simply put, hens with white feathers and white ear lobes lay white eggs and hens with red feathers and red ear lobes lay brown eggs.
FREE RANGE
Eggs are laid by hens with access to the outdoors. The hens are fed grains and may also forage for wild plants and insects.
CAGE FREE
These eggs were laid by hens that are free to roam around a building, room, or open area that includes nesting spaces and perches.
PASTEURIZED
These eggs were heated to a temperature just below coagulation to destroy harmful pathogens.
CERTIFIED ORGANIC
Eggs are laid by cage-free or free- range hens raised on certified organic feed along with access to wild plants and insects. These farms are certified as organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
OMEGA-3 ENRICHED
The hens that lay these eggs are fed a special diet rich in omega-3 fats. These eggs provide from 100 mg to more than 600 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per egg.
Adapted from the full article.
HEADER IMAGE: JOSEPH GONZALEZ
Marissa Puleo, RDN, LDN is a private practice Registered Dietitian based in Scranton, PA helping people find the balance between healthy and happy. As a ‘food peace promoter’, Marissa specializes in helping those with food struggles and disordered eating in learning how to enjoy food while leaving guilt and self criticisms behind. Connect with Marissa and visit her at Thrive Nutrition.