Did you know? Eggs are among the most nutritious foods you can eat. They offer protein plus key vitamins and minerals. These include vitamin A, B12, and selenium. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant. It helps lower oxidative stress and shields your body from chronic illnesses.
Not all eggs are created equal. There are many different types of eggs, we’ll teach you how to read labels on the cartons. Understand what you are buying and make better choices when you can.
- Conventional Eggs – Most of these chickens are raised in factories. They are crowded together in limited areas with little to no room to move. This creates a place where bacteria and disease can thrive. Farmers use hormones and antibiotics in birds. This boosts egg production and keeps the birds healthy. These facilities aim to boost profits. That means making more eggs, no matter the cost.
- Cage-Free Egg – Hens need room to move in their indoor housing. They should be able to move up, down, and side to side. They grow up without cages. This lets them act naturally. They can scratch and perch freely. Yet, this doesn’t mean that they have access to the outdoors. Farmers keep them in crowded hen houses. Trampling around in their own feces. They have no room to move, spread their wings, no fresh air, and no sunlight.
- Free-Range Eggs – This USDA term means hens can go outside anytime they lay eggs. With a minimum of 2 square feet of range area. But there’s no specification for the amount of time or type of outdoor access. Access also doesn’t mean they go outside. This could mean a tiny door for hundreds of hens – meaning only a few actually make it out.
- Certified Organic – A USDA label that ensures laying hens are fed only 100% certified organic feed. Certified organic laying hens must not be given antibiotics or growth hormones. They must also be free-range.
- Pasture-Raised Eggs – These are the best eggs you can buy. These hens enjoy at least six hours outside each day. Each hen has at least 108 square feet of pasture to roam. They eat a natural diet rich in bugs. Exactly how Mother Nature intended. These eggs are often better for you than conventional eggs. Rich in omega-3s, vitamins A and E, carotenoid antioxidants, and healthy fats. Note that “pasture-raised” is not a U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)-regulated term. Choose pasture-raised eggs with an animal welfare certification. Look for labels like Certified Humane Raised and Handled.
Where do I buy pasture raised eggs? They have them at big box stores, but I encourage you to go to local farmers’ markets, local stores, and farms. At the farms, you can see the chickens and their living conditions.
- Lake Meadow Naturals is a farm with free-roaming animals located at 10000 Mark Adam Rd, Ocoee, FL 34761
- The Harvest Market is a local store. It offers fresh, organic, and locally sourced food. You can find it in Clermont and Apopka. Here’s the address: 511 W Hwy 50, Clermont, FL 34711
P.S. Check out local farmer’s markets in your town. Windermere, Clermont, and Winter Garden have weekly options, among others.
