I appreciate the superfood we know as eggs. They're amazing to stock up on around this time of the month but just as good to enjoy on the regular. Why? Because these babies are nutritious, delicious, and versatile enough to eat for any meal of the day. Get ready for some eggs-cellent puns to come. Sorry, not sorry.
I wanna preface this blog post by addressing the whole cholesterol increase risk and egg conversation. Feel free to eliminate the yolk and go for just the egg whites instead. Now, let's eggs-pound upon the meal as intended.
A while ago, I embarked on a journey to limit my carb intake and then got super ambitious by cutting back on red meat as well. It was an admirable suicide mission. Not sustainable. It was all in the name of adopting a healthier lifestyle by fueling my body with natural and grass-fed foods that would help my metabolism. And because I'm as patient as a goldfish's attention span is long, I made some swift changes over the course of a week. But from that diet change came a reliable go-to meal I can eat as often as I'd like.
An Idea to Take Your Plate of Eggs to the Next Level
This isn't groundbreaking, but preparing my eggs with alternative fixings introduced me to thinking of all the possible ways I could enjoy eggs. I'm late to the game. I know.
I like my eggs scrambled and topped to my heart's desire. Like the Southern gal I am, I typically liked a salty piece of pig -- be it ham, sausage or bacon -- and sharp cheddar cheese covering my eggs.
But my restrictive diet change took away the red meat and carbs and cut back on the dairy... The operative words are "cut back." I cannot and will not do away with the deliciousness of cheese again.
With that said, I scrambled my eggs as usual and started adding in food with more health benefits; mainly anti-inflammatory food my body would appreciate later.
Options for toppings or mix-ins:
Mushrooms
Chopped spinach
Chopped kale
Sliced sweet peppers
Feta cheese
Cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese
Diced onions
Chives or scallions
A sprinkle of chia seeds
A sprinkle of flaxseed
Your favorite hot sauce
Salsa
These toppings pair well with eggs in any form. Add your own! Speaking of sauce toppings, did you know that hot sauce contains a compound called capsaicin that relieves pain and reduces inflammation?
A quick and easy plate of eggs can be eaten at any time of the day and customized as you see fit.
Eggs-cellent Health Benefits
Eggs are filled with lots of good stuff our bodies need to keep the machine running.
Check out these vitamins and minerals found in eggs.
Vitamin A - Important for vision, immune system, reproduction, and growth
Folate (vitamin B-9) - Important for cell function and lowers blood pressure
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - Supports cardiovascular health, helps create red blood cells, and helps metabolize food into energy
Vitamin B12 - Helps with skin, hair, and nails
Vitamin B2 - Maintains the body's energy supply and helps break down proteins, fats, and carbs
Phosphorus - Forms bones and teeth
Selenium - A mineral that possesses antioxidant properties and is vital for the metabolism
Vitamin D - Helps maintain bone and muscle health and possibly supports immune health
Vitamin E - Mainly known for antioxidant properties
Vitamin K - Plays a key role in helping blood clot and preventing excessive bleeding
Vitamin B6 - Important for normal brain development and for keeping the nervous system and immune system healthy
Calcium - Works with vitamin D to build and maintain strong bones
Zinc - Important for immune system health and metabolism function
Jaz the Sag Foodie Tip
You know those old and seasoned cast iron skillets your granny or family matriarchs store in the oven? Grab them up for your own or get a couple for yourself. They are a treasure and should be a staple in every Southern kitchen. Cast iron skillets cook food better (hello, non-stick and even-temperatured cookware), AND they fortify your food with iron. 🤯 Ladies, you know we gotta stay on top of our iron levels.
How do you like your eggs?
Over easy
Sunny side up
Scrambled
Fried hard
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