The Incredible, Edible Egg.

I tend to go for egg whites when I am watching my calorie intake, but there are a few reasons to go for the yolk, too! I personally love eggs, but I am totally ok with just whites, that way I can have an omelet and have more yummy ingredients, but read on for some reasons to have the whole egg.

• You will have less mid-morning cravings: People who eat eggs for breakfast feel fuller and actually eat less calories at lunch, in contrast to people that went for a bagel. Plus, the egg has a lot more nutritional value than a carbohydrate-dense bagel.
• Your eyes will thank you: Eggs are high in Lutein, an antioxidant that wards off macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness, and your body can absorb more Lutein from an egg than any other food.
• You're so over salmon!: 3 ounces of salmon have the same amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids as 3 Omega-3 enriched eggs. Trade in the lox on a bagel with cream cheese for 3 Omega-3 eggs scrambled with fresh veggies.
• You will be smarter: Eggs have a very highly concentrated source of choline, a B-Vitamin that is vital for brain and nervous system functions. Just one egg has 25% of the 425 mg. you need each day.

Ideas for cooking up eggs:

• Fry one egg in a non-stick pan with a light spray of Olive Oil spray, then make a sandwich. Use low-calorie bread or a Thomas English Muffin "Light-MultiGrain", one slice of 2% Swiss Cheese and a slice of Turkey Bacon. I like to spread some Sugar Free Raspberry or Strawberry Preserves on the English Muffin, the sweetness is a nice complement to the salty Turkey Bacon. I know, everyone tells me it's gross, but once they try it, they become converts! Also, I try to make sure that the egg yolk is not fully cooked, it makes a runny sauce that can be a mess, but tastes great.
• Scramble eggs up with last nights left-over grilled veggies.
• Make an Asian Scramble. Use Peanut Oil in a non-stick pan, then scramble the eggs with sliced red peppers, snap peas, chunks of Firm Tofu, and broccoli. A very different take on the traditional scramble!
• Hard Boil eggs and toss into a spinach salad. I use a low-calorie Raspberry Viniagrette, or I make my own from Raspberry Vingar, minced garlic and dijon mustard. I also toss in grape tomatoes, crumbled turkey bacon, bean sprouts, mushrooms and water chestnuts.
• Have breakfast for dinner. Sometimes we make steak and eggs for dinner, with lean cuts of beef, seared to medium rare, with a side of fried or scrambled eggs. It is so filling, and can give you a nice break from grilled chicken and veggies.

Be eXcellent! Ms. X