Eggs — Blog — Healy Chen

I like eggs

Are there eggs available for purchase at your local grocery store? Reads like there’s an Avian flu outbreak amongst the chickens in California, and the supply of eggs is threatened (and chickens-related food products too, presumably). All appears to be fine at our local Whole Foods this past Saturday, and supply at Costco looks to be healthy that Sunday as well. But, as a daily eater of eggs, I bought more than usual at Whole Foods, just in case.

Eggs are obviously an excellent source of protein. Since my high hemoglobin A1C results from last October, I’ve been eating scrambled eggs as a substitute for white rice (mostly the dinner meal). At a rate of at least two eggs per day, I go through the supply quite quickly. Be that as it may, I still do not buy in larger bulk from Costco. I greatly prefer the eggs from organic-fed, free-range chickens. Those are only available at the likes of Whole Foods. It may be the money talking, but I can definitely taste the difference.

Not that I am the stuck-up picky type. I don’t go to my friends’ homes and lament they only buy non-organic eggs. I’ll eat them all the same.

I asked my mother whether or not she stocked up on eggs, in case of imminent shortage. She said they (my parents) do not eat much eggs, so didn’t feel the need to do so. I reminded her that eggs are great for protein, and that she and father should eat more protein now that they are both retired. I feel like I’m going to be a broken record, the nagging parent (how the turntables) when it comes impelling my parents to eat more protein (and less carbs). It’s such a crucial nutrient as they age into their golden years.

We have to eat our proteins, too. Sure hope the egg supply stays consistent through this mini crisis!

The good stuff

With a Whole Foods recently opened up near my home, I’ve been going there from time to time for groceries. The Target at the same mall closes way too early at 6:00 PM - due to rampant retail theft in San Francisco - so it’s nice to have an option all the way up until 10:00 PM. Though as a pro tip, the shelves aren’t as stocked during the evening hours, at least the few times I’ve been there. The stuff I buy is always available, however: milk and eggs.

That’s because I buy the expensive stuff. Only the best organic milk from grass-fed cows. Only the best eggs from free-range chickens, fed organically. Sometimes the cheaper non-organic alternative would run out, but never the organic stuff. That’s how I come to buy organic: one time I was forced to because the Target was sold-out of cheap milk. After that I never went back.

I live by myself so the premium of few dollars is insignificant. If I had to feed a family of four, I too would buy the 60 eggs for five dollars at Costco. Instead, I use that same five dollars to buy a just dozen of the goof stuff at Whole Foods.

And I can definitely taste the difference in the free-range organic stuff, especially the eggs. I break two eggs into plain oatmeal for breakfast most mornings, so the flavor of the eggs is immediately apparent. The cheap stuff have an almost gamey taste that is absent in the eggs from humanely-treated chickens. The latter has a natural sweetness, and a more satisfying texture as well. It’s definitely worth the price premium.