13/05/2021
Let’s talk eggs and egg laying chickens. So if you’ve been following me for a minute you would know I love eggs and egg laying chickens and I think eggs are a super healthy and awesome food to have in you’re meal repertoire. We’ve talked about how the cholesterol you eat has been shown to have little to no effect on your health. This means you CAN eat eggs when you wish!
So what’s the difference between conventional (caged) eggs, free range eggs, organic eggs, pastured eggs? It can be a lot to decide between when standing in the grocery aisle or farmers market.
Organic eggs- the feed, and environment that the chicken lives in has no pesticides, inorganic chemicals, antibiotics. The farm can be certified as organic or can just be maintaining the same guidelines.
Caged eggs- typical grocery store egg. Chickens live in cages on large industrial farms for egg production.
The next two categories can get a little complicated as there is very little standardized guidelines to keep all farms the same. Large scale chicken egg operations can get away with labeling their eggs free range simply by allowing them access to sunlight for a few minutes. However, in most smaller scale, family farms the definitions can be interpreted as:
Free range eggs- chickens are allowed to wander outside in various environments, they have safe shelter and access to food and water ad lib.
Pasture raised eggs: chicken are on pasture (grass) and often moved to fresh areas of pasture as needed to provide access to grazing and eating insects. Water, food and shelter are provided.
There are however very little nutritional differences between the types. One study showed slightly higher levels of beta carotene, some antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids in free range and pasture chickens. Likely due to their diet being more diverse than a grain only diet (I.e grass and insects). The greatest benefit belongs to the chickens who live less stressful and more natural lifestyles when able to roam, be on pasture and eat bugs. 🐓🥚❤️
What are your eggy questions? 👇🏻