Eggs were the last animal-based product that I gave up when I went vegan. First of all, I believed that I needed the protein. Second, I thought they were healthy. Third, I didn’t see the harm in eating eggs. After all, a chicken lays them and now you pick it up and eat it. No biggie, right?
Wrong.
Here are just a few of the issues:
- Chickens are raised in hideous conditions, often with their beaks cut off so they don‘t peck each other.
- The public has been duped to believe that many eggs are laid by free-roaming chickens. Yes, some are, but very few, and their lives are significantly more restricted than the idyllic scenario we are envisioning.
- When chicks hatch there are people whose job it is to find out their sex. If they are female, they get to live. Male chicks are (WARNING, this is graphic) ground up and discarded.
- Eggs are animal protein which is a cause of many of the diseases we encounter in western society like: cancer, heart disease, diabetes and more. The egg industry has a lot of power to sway public opinion. But even small numbers of eggs consumed each week are potentially harmful.
I was eating so many eggs before I stopped that by the time I did give them up, I was actually a little grossed out. But then I started missing eggs (absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?). Now, however, I have a few really satisfying alternatives. Here are my three favorites:
1. I love the idea that Just Egg and other egg alternatives exist. I was so excited when I first tried this product. They have a few different versions. One comes in a squeeze container and mimics liquid eggs and can be found in the refrigerated plant-based section of the grocery store. It’s fine, but not my favorite. Just Egg also offer some pre-cooked egg dishes. One is Sous Vide Plant Egg Bites and they have a couple of different flavors. The other is their pre-made omelets. Both the egg bites and the omelets are found in the frozen section. I really like the omelet and will eat that with toast on occasion when I’m in the mood. They are not whole food plant-based, but if you miss eggs, it’s a darn good substitute. And their website has a ton of recipes (like the scramble in the image above. YES, that scramble is plant-based!) that use their liquid product.
2. The one dish that I missed a lot was egg salad. My mom has a really good simple egg salad recipe that I made regularly. I was so happy to learn that Sam Turnbull, from the blog: It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken offers a recipe for tofu egg salad sandwiches. (Hint, if you want to cook it along with us, join our Facebook group for tips and suggestions when we post it.)
3. Tofu scrambles. I love making tofu scrambles, though I also love finding them on brunch menus in restaurants. In the class I took with Sam in 2020 we made a delicious breakfast burrito that uses her tofu scramble recipe. We will be making a version of that in the group and you can always search for scramble recipes online.
I attempt to eat a balanced diet. Really it’s more of living a balanced lifestyle by eating as much whole food plant based as possible. But part of that balance means enjoying veganized versions of the foods I loved and enjoyed.
When eating these non-egg products, I’m not harming animals and I have a smaller impact on the environment. I usually endeavor to make the best choice for my health (though sometimes yummy wins out. But it’s always plant-based yummy.)
How about you? Do you still eat eggs? Have you switched from eggs but don’t have any good alternatives yet? Let me know what would help make this easier for you!