Egg prices & shortages are no laughing matter for parents of picky eaters.
For many parents, the soaring egg prices and shortages are a real challenge. If you have picky eaters, eggs can be an excellent source of a whole host of vitamins, including Vitamin D (which builds healthy bones and regulates the immune system and mood) and Vitamin A (important for eye health). And if your kid isn’t a big meat-eater, eggs can be an essential source of protein.
Here are 5 tips for dealing with the egg shortage and crazy prices, from high-protein, kid-friendly replacements to creative sources for fresh eggs:
Fill the Vitamin Void
Eggs are eggs-cellent (ha!) sources of vitamins, but there are other options. Introduce fortified cereal, orange juice or milk for kid-friendly sources of Vitamin D, and baby carrots (ranch dip recommended) and full-fat milk for a boost of Vitamin A and protein (skim milk that’s fortified also has high levels). Soy products like tofu are a complete protein like eggs, as well—but that might be a tougher sell for your toddler.
Be Creative with Breakfast
This is an opportunity to try out oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, smoothies and more in the morning. Check out ideas from Amy Palanjian, the mom of three behind Yummy Toddler Food, here.
Easy (and Egg-Free!) Vanilla Cake from Yummy Toddler Food
Go Beyond Eggs when Baking
Did you know 1 TB of ground flax seed mixed with 3 TB of water is the same as one egg? A quarter cup of mashed banana or applesauce are another option. Even the liquid from a can of chickpeas can work (make hummus for the missing protein!). Of course, you could also just choose a recipe with no eggs like this Easy Vanilla Cake, also from Yummy Toddler Food (bonus: your kids can taste the raw batter!).
Buy Enough for a Month
We don’t want to advocate clearing out a shelf (let’s not go back to the toilet paper crisis of 2020), but if you can get past the sticker shock, stock up on a few weeks of eggs—they last a month in the fridge.
Julia Dzafic of Lemon Stripes’ son plays with their chickens.
Find Alternate Sources for Eggs
Raising chickens is one way to go, and if your kids love animals, it could be a win-win. We loved following the “chicken mom” journey of Lemon Stripes’ Julia Dzafic (her son and chickens pictured above). If you’re not quite ready to add a chicken coop to your To Do list, seek out local farms or stands, or farmers’ markets.
Originally published on The Local Moms Network.
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