We know that some of you, especially those of you on a tight budget, may NEVER believe us if you don’t try this for yourselves. So, we are issuing you a challenge. There is a little bit of work involved in this challenge, but honestly, this is about helping you to get comfortable with getting to know your farmer (which is a major part of the real food lifestyle). Read PART 1 and PART 2 for more reasons why you should eat high quality eggs.
The PRIZE? EGGS!
The best FREAKIN’ EGGS you have EVER tasted! Seriously.
These will be 4 dozen – PASTURED, soy free, hard shell, with stiff whites and orange yolks, tasty eggs.
RULES and REQUIREMENTS:
1) Research your local farmers using the questions from part 2 (you can have up to a 2 hour radius and/or get the eggs at a farmer’s market if you choose). Journal your farmer’s responses so you can remember exactly what was said about the eggs. The other option (if you really cannot find good eggs fitting the criteria in your locality) is to splurge on an order of Tropical Traditions eggs. These are the only eggs that we are aware of nationally that are acceptable. You can get them here. You CANNOT buy store eggs for this part of the challenge (even if the eggs are from a local farmer, because you have no idea how long those eggs have been on the shelf)!
2) Buy one week’s worth of eggs from the researched local farm (for you only if you are on a tight budget). If you can afford it, it would be interesting to see the effect that this experiment has on your family as well.
3) Make eggs each morning for breakfast for the entire week. You can make them anyway you choose. Then journal your hunger or feelings for the entire week.
4) The following week, buy your regular grocery store eggs (any quality) and repeat the process from the week before (any preparation, but be sure to journal hunger and how you feel). Just make sure that you are using the same number of eggs – if you made a three egg omelet the first week, then make a three egg omelet the second week.
5) Write an essay about your experience. This is what you will submit to us for the entry. Be honest. If you went through the entire process and didn’t see a difference — tell us that. But be as specific as possible about the process (what you found or didn’t find locally). We are looking for the following in your essay:
- 500 words or more
- Your experience in researching egg options (with farmer notes)
- Your week one experience with the best farm eggs you could find regardless of price (refer to your journal)
- Your week two experience with grocery store eggs (refer to your journal)
- Your overall impressions, feelings, what you learned (if anything at all) from this challenge.
- Submit the entry to admin@realfoodfreaks.com in a word document no later than February 28, 2012.
6) Your entry essay will be judged on meeting the criteria in #5 and:
- ability to convey the experience of the challenge in a relatable way
- the amount of local research that you did and whether you met the criteria for ‘local’ – within two hours of your home or using Tropical Traditions eggs if you exhausted those efforts locally.
- honesty – if you didn’t notice a difference, then say so. It’s ok and it won’t disqualify you. Just be sure to give as many details as possible to explain the process you took.
- grammar (sorry, see #8 and you will understand why)
7) The winning entry will be posted on Real Food Freaks. If you are submitting an entry essay, you are giving us permission to use your story in the event that you win. This is why grammar will count because we will not change your story at all to keep the integrity of your message. If you are chosen as the winner, and there are errors, we may choose to send it back to you for revisions before we post it online.
8) Entries should be emailed to: admin@realfoodfreaks.com using the email address that we will be able to contact you through in the event that you win.
Post links to: Real Food Wednesday, Fight back Friday, Monday Mania, Homestead Barnhop, Real Food 101, Fat Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays,
[...] of course I wasn’t paying too much attention last month when Real Food Freaks brought up real fresh eggs vs. store bought eggs and its benefits, but I am now after my local [...]
[...] are questions to which I needed answers for my Egg-Cellence Challenge and Essay Contest submission. My first question when I met Doris was to ask for a tour and I was happy to hear her [...]
What a great idea. I can’t wait to see the results of the experiment. We have 9 layers right now that went through a major molting period this fall. We were forced to buy some eggs from the store. Ew! I think I would rather go without. Our egg yolks are orange not yellow and actually have a taste. There is no comparison.
I love the questions you have for your farmers. It was nice to go through the list and be confident no one would run from our farm.
Store eggs are gross. You’re absolutely right. If I had to buy everything else cheap and keep only one expensive food item, it would be eggs. Second would be bones for broth. There is nothing like a good egg. Jealous that you have your own farm eggs. Someday . . . .
While she’s not producing quite enough to completely sustain us yet, I was marveled at the quality of the pastured eggs which our new chicken has been laying for us
Something about orange yolks versus pale yellow really does it for me.