livestrong.com
I saw a mom do the most courageous thing at the beach this summer: She handed her wobbly, sandy and wet-toddler an elegant, perfect hard-boiled egg… on the sand! She carefully dunked her son’s hands in a bucket of water to rinse them and placed this perfect egg in his dimpled fingers. I was riveted! I felt absolutely certain that his snack was headed into the sand, and that consequently a tantrum would follow.
But I was wrong. There was no sandy egg and no tantrum.
Instead, I witnessed the toddler savor every mouthful. He didn’t drop a bit. Knowing I would go home and boil a bunch of eggs to bring to my next beach outing, I have been telling clients, friends and children to snack on eggs, instead of chips or crackers at the beach.
Since eggs are so nutritious, they’re a great year-round food. Here’s what I’m planning on serving up this Fall:
1. Avocado-Eggaliciousness
Back to school, late summer and early fall is when avocados reach perfection. Move over cream cheese, say see-ya-later to the butter, and make room for avocados. Spread a slice or two of avocado on a Wasa or FiberRich cracker. Top it with a sliced hard-boiled egg and a sprinkle of sea salt, and voila: Breakfast in seconds! You can make this extra exciting by adding fresh herbs such as basil, chives or parsley, which will boost the nutrition and increase the flavor. Useful tip: Kids love using an egg slicer, so you might even let them assemble this one themselves.
2. Easy Eggy Pancake
Even if I haven’t been grocery shopping in the past week or so, there’s always oatmeal and eggs in my home. Luckily, that’s all I need for this breakfast treat. While you are making your coffee, take a second to scramble up an egg and toss in a half cup of quick cooking oats. Let the mixture hang out for a few minutes if you have them. If you don’t, add a couple teaspoons of water or milk before adding the batter to a lightly oiled pan. Cook it like a pancake and serve with a teaspoon of your favorite kind of nut butter. You can top this with a little cinnamon or some berries for a solid foundation to start your day on the right track. Useful tip: This pancake can be made savory or sweet, so don’t be afraid to get creative with the toppings.
3. Sunday Breakfast Prep for the Week Ahead
Finally, on Sunday, when I’m looking to set myself up for a busy week, I make a big bowl of egg salad (prepared with Greek yogurt, instead of the traditional mayo), some fritattas, and a quiche or mini quiches. You can pop the fritatta or quiches in the microwave or enjoy them room temperature to cut down on breakfast prep time. More than half of being successful with healthful eating is being prepared, so thinking ahead is super helpful and eggs are a great tool.