To egg or not to egg. That is the question. Should I be eating eggs? Should you be eating eggs? My tips this week help you answer the question, “Should I Be Eating Eggs?”. There are lots of reasons people choose not to eat eggs. There are also so many great egg substitutes available! Let’s sort through the facts.
Tara’s Tuesday Tips: Should I Be Eating Eggs?
Personally, I am vegetarian because I don’t believe anything should lose its life for me to eat. Therefore, I don’t eat animals that lost their life to become food. An egg is not an animal but, does the chicken have to die to lay the eggs? Well, not directly. However, the quality of life for the chicken, quality of the eggs, and longevity of chickens on an industrialized farm are definitely in question. Check out this PETA article if you want to know more about the humane side of the great egg debate.
What is Lacto-Vegetarian?
If you enjoy the occasional cheese pizza but don’t choose to eat eggs, being a lacto-vegetarian might be what is right for you. This is a vegetarian that avoids eggs but still consumes dairy.
This can be for the protection of animals or for a whole host of reasons. However, for some of you reading this, the animal thing doesn’t resonate with you. Got it. For you, let’s crack into the health side of eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein, have essential amino acids and contain vitamins D, A, and B-12. Eggs are low in saturated fat giving one egg per day a green light according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Just be careful what you cook them in and pour on top of them (cheese, butter, sauces).
Oh yes, and don’t forget the religious side of the great egg debate. Some religions give the consumption of eggs the big red light including Hinduism, Jainism, some Buddhists, and some Eastern Orthodox Christians include eggs in their fasts (this is what my current research revealed, sorry if I left any out!).
Well … to egg or not to egg? That is the question … only you can answer.
If the answer is no eggs for you …
10 Egg Alternatives You Can Use
& Never Miss an Egg Again:
- Flax: 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg
- Chia Seeds: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 1/3 cup water = 1 egg (good for adding density and a nutty flavor)
- Bananas: ½ mashed banana = 1 egg (adds sweetness and texture). Try it out in this Easy Blender Waffles Recipe.
- Applesauce: ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce = 1 egg (adds thick moisture but does not make your recipe fluffy)
- Commercial egg substitutes: Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg, Ener-G Egg Substitute, Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer Gluten- Free. Try it out in this Peanut Butter Banana Bread Recipe.
- Tofu: make sure it is organic! Try it out in this Easy Tofu Scramble Recipe.
- Vinegar & Baking Soda: 1 tsp baking soda + 1 tbsp vinegar = 1 egg
- Yogurt: ¼ cup plain yogurt = 1 egg
- Arrowroot Powder: 1 tbsp arrowroot + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg
- Aquafaba: 3tbsp aquafaba = 1 egg. This is the liquid from canned chickpeas and is typically used to replace egg whites. This adds a light fluffy texture to your baked goods. Best recipe ever right here for aquafaba vegan meringue.
Stay Healthy, Eggs or No Eggs 🥚🍳
All the best,
Tara ♥
You can always find me on Instagram @myvegetarianfamily where you can follow me and my daily food journey AND be sure to subscribe here to my weekly emails for tips and recipes so that you never miss a veggie thing!
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