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Eggscellent

Eggscellent

Once criticized for being loaded with cholesterol, eggs were pushed out of heart-healthy diets and replaced by not so tasty substitutes. But with the importance of dietary fats and a correction in how much cholesterol they actually contain, eggs are happily back in favor. Even the American Heart Association says it’s okay to eat as many as four whole eggs per week and you can eat unlimited egg whites. Just how healthy are eggs? Bioavailability is the measure of protein quality based on how high a percentage is usable by the human body. Eggs rank in top of the food chain for the highest bioavailable protein and they are loaded with vitamins too.

There are several differences between freshly laid eggs and those stored on grocery shelves. A yolk that is high and firmly centered is the mark of a fresh egg. Yolk brightness is related to the hen’s diet. A bright yellow-orange yolk usually means that the chicken is eating a lot of greens. And a thick shell on the egg means the hen is getting a good level of calcium in its diet. By the way, the shell color of the egg has nothing to do with how the chicken was raised. Egg colors are determined by the breed of chicken. Some breeds lay eggs that are green, blue or rose-colored!

You’ll find several farmers at the Franklin Farmers Market with fresh eggs for you, including Gardner Grove, Delvin Farms, Peaceful Pastures and West Wind Farms. Pick eggs up this Saturday and try them out with our delicious recipe for a yummy Frittata. You’ll find it in the Favorite Recipes section the market’s website.