Farm Fresh Eggs

Farm fresh eggs are one of nature’s most perfect foods. As a matter of fact, both the white and the yolk of an egg are highly nutritious. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner – the egg can stand as a star! In this blog, we will talk all about the egg – from nutritional value, types and delicious ways to add farm fresh eggs to your diet.

Last month’s blog Organic food, is it better? spoke about the importance of knowing where your food comes from. Therefore, we believe that knowing where your eggs come from is equally as crucial. Most people think “eggs are just eggs”, but that is not always the case. To begin, let’s take a look at five types of eggs you have probably seen at your supermarket.

Standard White or Brown Eggs

These eggs come from white or brown hens raised in conventional systems. There is little regulation on methods of care for these animals. White and brown eggs are the standard supermarket eggs.

Organic Eggs

Alternatively, organic hens must meet Canadian standards. This means raising animals in open-range barns with natural light and access to pasture. Additionally, farmers can only use 100% organic feed.

Free-Range Eggs

Free-range hens have access to large open barns and given access to the outdoors. Generally speaking, farmers provide nests, perches, and litter. While this sounds similar to organic hens, there is no regulation on feed. This simple factor makes a significant impact on the egg!

Omega-3 Eggs

Lastly, omega-3 eggs may seem promising, but they are often treated the same as conventional white/brown hens. Omega-3 hens eat feed laced with omega-3 fatty acids such as flaxseed, that’s it. Unfortunately, most of the time they are confined to cages with no amenities.

Benefits of Farm Fresh Eggs in Your Diet

Eggs just might be one of the healthiest foods you can eat. A versatile ingredient for cooking, baking and creating. This nutrient-rich item should be a part of your diet. Let us tell you why…

On average, chicken eggs contain a ton of vitamins and minerals. It is essential to know the nutritional value of your food and what that means for your health. Here is a list of all the vitamins and minerals you get in just 77 calories (1 egg) :

• Vitamins A, D, E, and K
• Folate
• Phosphorus
• Selenium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Vitamins B5, B12, and B6

Eggs make great brain food. Everyone talks about calcium and iron as brain food. But, have you heard of choline? Choline is used by the brain to help create new cell membranes. Studies show that 90% of individuals get less than the recommended daily intake. Lucky for you, eggs contain more than 100mg in every serving. Want a brain boost? To begin, cook up some farm fresh eggs, today.

Eggs are great for eye health. Inevitably, we can’t escape the signs of aging. Although there are few ingredients that actually help with eye health, eggs may be one of them. This is because eggs contain 3 healthy eye nutrients: lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin A. In recent studies, eating 1.3 eggs/day over a period of 4.5 weeks increased levels of these 3 essential nutrients by 142%!

What about cholesterol? You have probably heard the complaints around eggs and cholesterol. You’re not wrong, it’s true – eggs are high in cholesterol. What you should know is that this doesn’t mean your levels will skyrocket. Moreover, eggs improve HDL (good) cholesterol.  That means a decrease in the chance of other health problems such as stroke and heart disease.

Farm Fresh Eggs vs. Store Bought Eggs

If you ask a farmer, they will tell you that farm fresh eggs are always better. Likewise, store-bought eggs are advertised to be a great option for your health. So, what’s the deal with farm fresh eggs? Are they a better choice?

Firstly, supermarket eggs can sit on shelves for up to 6-8 weeks before they are discarded. As a result, the eggs you buy generally are not fresh. When you buy eggs fresh from the farm, you know that you are getting the freshest product available. 

Secondly, nutritionists say the real benefit of farm fresh eggs lies in the nutritional value they possess. In short, lower cholesterol and saturated fats, and increased vitamins and essential omega-3’s are just a few of the differences between store-bought and farm fresh eggs. In other words, like with our own bodies, you’ll get what you put into it.

Most importantly, if you are concerned with the way the chickens have been raised, make sure the eggs are either free-range or certified organic. If you don’t know, just ask! That’s another benefit of buying from farm to table.

Cooking with Eggs

We love eggs! For early morning breakfasts, delicious weeknight dinners or rich, decadent desserts, eggs play an essential role in our diets. We all know about the most common ways to eat eggs – poached, boiled, scrambled and fried. But we think it’s time you try something new! In this section, we will go over different types of cooking methods for you to try.

Soft Boiled Eggs

The common hard-boiled eggs are great on salads, or to make a hearty egg salad sandwich. However, there is nothing like a perfect soft boiled egg. Therefore, you must time your eggs just right to achieve your desired taste.

Soft-boiled eggs can be enjoyed at any meal. They are used in many dishes such as pasta, ramen and even on top of a refined salad. We found 19 Soft-Boiled Egg Recipes we thought you might enjoy.

Frittata

Above all, the frittata is an extremely versatile and easy dish. As a matter of fact, it is easy enough for breakfast, and delicious enough for dinner. Similarly, it is a great way to use up leftovers. You can think of this dish as a cross between an omelet and a crustless quiche. A delicious frittata can be whipped up in about 10 minutes. While it may just seem like a glorified omelet, you should try it for yourself. Here are some Rules to Follow and Mistakes to Avoid.

Breakfast Burritos

Ultimately, breakfast burritos are a great way to stack all your favourite flavours into one. Furthermore, they can be made ahead of time and stashed in your freezer. For example, a whole-wheat wrap with farm fresh eggs and local turkey sausage makes for a wholesome breakfast or lunch. Add some guacamole for added flavor! Are you are looking for a new way to start your day? Check out this awesome Freezer Breakfast Burrito Recipe. You will have no excuse to miss breakfast again!

Farm Fresh Eggs Near You

Finding farm fresh eggs in your area is easier than you think. More importantly, they are often a better value than store-bought. For this reason, at Hilltop Acres Farm we take pride in the various types of farm fresh eggs we offer. Additionally, we carry both chicken eggs AND duck eggs.