After Easter is over, what do you do with your leftover colored eggs? Do they get eaten?
Or, do you end up pitching them? Eggs can be such a great, nutrition-packed snack or addition to any meal, so it would be a shame for the latter to happen. Eggs are high in protein, at 6-8 grams a piece, and less than 100 calories a serving. They provide at least 250 mg of choline, which helps transport nutrients through your body and promotes normal cell activity. It also is great for brain development (give them to those kiddos!) and nerve function. While they do have a high level of cholesterol, if you are eating a healthy diet, an egg a day should not pose a problem. So let’s get cracking, or, in this case, boiling.
Some tips for the perfect hard cooked egg:
- Purchase eggs and keep for 7-10 days before boiling them; this breather separates the membrane from the shell
- Make sure eggs are covered by at least an inch of water in the saucepan, more if you are cooking more than 7 eggs
- Bring water to a rolling boil, turn off, cover, and let eggs sit for 10-12 minutes
- Remove from heat and set eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking and help ensure an easy peel (when the time comes)
- Eggs can be kept, in the refrigerator, for 7 days before they need to be discarded, so plan your day of coloring close to the holiday.
Once your display of colored eggs is through, here are some fun ways to use those eggs up:
- Eat a bowl of cereal that doesn’t fill you up regularly? Have a hard boiled egg alongside it in the AM.
- Make a quick breakfast sandwich: Spread a toasted, whole grain english muffin with avocado, place a sliced hard boiled egg on one side, and close. If you need a little more, you can add some sliced turkey.
- Pack an egg with a piece of fruit for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack to sustain you to the next meal.
- Dice up an egg to throw into an entree salad for lunch or dinner
- Don’t like traditional egg salad that is made with loads of mayo? Try this recipe instead: https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/avocado-egg-salad/
- Like egg salad, a mayo-less spin on deviled eggs can be found here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/recipes/2013/03/hummus-deviled-eggs
Have a healthy month!