Like many of my clients, I start my day off with a breakfast that usually contains eggs. With so many options in the grocery store these days, it's tough to sift through all the B.S. and marketing hype. Especially when the price differs so much from selection to selection. Don't worry, Floch Fitness has got you covered!
Let's break this down, and give you my go to for buying eggs.
Eggs (generic bulk)-
Generic eggs come from a facility that keeps the hens in cages 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The hens are usually fed grain and animal byproducts. Because of the unclean and confined nature of these animals, they are prone to getting infection so are usually treated with antibiotics. Though these are the cheapest variety of eggs and contain protein, they lack vitamin, mineral, and quality fat content. The way these sick animals live is seen as inhumane by many, and I would avoid these eggs.
Floch Fitnes Grade: F
Vegetarian-Fed
When it comes to eggs labeled Vegetarian-Fed, it’s worth noting that chickens are actually omnivorous; they love worms and bugs and larvae and other crawly things. However, in the mass-scale production sense, they’re getting fed animal byproducts, like feather meal or chicken litter. So depending on the context, vegetarian-fed can actually be the lesser of two evils. I see this as slightly better than generic
Floch Fitness Grade: D-
Organic Eggs-
And for eggs to be Organic, the only stipulation is that they must come from hens who are fed an organic diet. They do not have to change anything about their living conditions. Sticking Organic on eggs is a cheap marketing ploy so companies can charge you more. Avoid these eggs.
Floch Fitness Grade: D+
Cage Free Eggs-
Cage-free chickens that are labeled as Certified Humane® must have at least 1.5 square feet of space per chicken in the barn or enclosure to roam around. Unlike the USDA requirements which specify no minimum amount of space per chicken, this standard helps to limit the number of birds that can reside in an enclosed area so that they are not overly packed in. Though this seems better than cages, it's far from the animals' more natural habitat. You aren't getting much better eggs than generic for the increase in cost.
Floch Fitness Grade: C-
Cage Free Eggs (Omega Enriched)
The living conditions of these hens are the same as cage free, but they enrich the eggs of the hens by feeding them flax seeds. There is debate at whether this is a nutritious food source for chickens, but the hens process the flax and it actually makes their egg yolks have more omega-3 (an anti-inflammatory messaging fat). These are a great option when finances are pinched.
Floch Fitness Grade: B-
Free Range-
This means that the eggs come from hens that have some sort of access to the outdoors. However, it doesn’t mean that the hens actually go outdoors, or that the outdoor space is more than a small, fenced-in area; it simply implies that a door exists that a farmer could at some point open. Again, this seems like a marketing ploy and doesn't mean that the eggs are necessarily more healthy for you.
Floch Fitness Grade: B
Pastured Eggs
To meet that Certified Humane® milestone, the farm must have a minimum of 2.5 acres per 1,000 birds, and the chicken must be outdoors for a minimum of six hours per day every day, in addition to many other standards. Note that these chickens must be outdoors for six hours a day, versus the free-range chickens just having access to the outdoors for a minimum of six hours per day. These animals live relatively happy free lives and produce eggs that have yokes that are deep orange and even red. This egg is the most densely packed with minerals and vitamins amongst all egg varieties.
Floch Fitness Grade: A
I grab my eggs from Trader Joe's and they are always pastured. They cost $3.99 per dozen (compared to $1.99 for generic). I feel that food is my medicine, and if I am putting the best food in my body, it will prevent me from getting diseased for the long term. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That being said, if you are strapped financially, or go through a TON of eggs, I would go with cage-free omega-3 enriched eggs.
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