The American Egg Board is giving food banks across the nation more than 12 million eggs. America’s Second Harvest will distribute the protein-rich eggs just in time for the Easter holiday.
The donation will provide food-insecure Americans with much needed high-quality protein, which helps kids and adults build muscle strength, helps older adults prevent muscle loss, and may also promote weight management.
Egg producers from across the country, through commitments made to United Egg Producers, will participate in the donation, with most of the eggs being delivered to America’s Second Harvest in the two to three weeks prior to Easter. “Egg demand is highest during the Easter holiday,” said Joanne Ivy, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. “A donation of this size during the Easter season is a true indication of egg producers’ dedication to providing American families with the important nutrients they need to stay nourished and energized throughout the day.”
In addition to providing American families with a natural, unprocessed source of high-quality protein, eggs and their nutrients offer a host of benefits: Eggs are all natural and have 13 essential vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein, healthy unsaturated fats and antioxidants, for only 70 calories each; egg yolks are an excellent source of choline, an essential nutrient that contributes to fetal brain development and helps prevent birth defects; choline also helps maintain the structure of brain cell membranes and is a key component of the neurotransmitter that helps relay messages from the brain through nerves to the muscles; lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants found in egg yolks, help prevent macular degeneration, a leading cause of age-related blindness, studies show that eggs provide energy without causing a spike in blood glucose or insulin levels, thereby helping people feel full longer and more energized.