Six delicious ways to increase your protein during the egg shortage
The hunt for eggs in local supermarkets is harder than usual due to production challenges. (Are the chickens too cold? To tired? Is there not enough lettuce scraps for them to eat?)
Still, there are plenty of protein sources to tide us over until those chickens get laying and stores are fully-stocked once more, and they are delicious, affordable and healthy.
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1. Baked beans and other legumes
Baked beans and other legumes are an affordable and delicious way to increase your protein at meals Getty Images/iStockphoto
Baked beans and other legumes are a great way to simply and easily increase your protein at mealtime, whether it's baked beans at breakfast or adding cannellini beans or chickpeas to your salads.
Even hummus is protein-rich. You can use hummus on toast, in sandwiches, or eat it as a snack with vegetable sticks.
Also don't forget edamame, one of the most protein-rich legumes available at supermarkets, which are delicious steamed and salted or added to salads, not to mention soups such as minestrone or casseroles.
2. Bacon and smoked fish
Add bacon or smoked fish to your meals for a tasty protein hit. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Bacon, deli meats and smoked fish are incredibly tasty and an easy way to add a protein hit to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
At breakfast you can choose leaner cuts of bacon, and smoked salmon is delicious on bagels or on toast with some cream cheese for extra kick.
3. Greek yoghurt
Creamy, delicious and protein-rich, Greek yoghurt can be used in meals across the day.
For breakfast add berries and increase protein with a handful of nuts. There are some yoghurts that are higher in protein than others.
Greek yoghurt can be used at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Look for traditional Greek varieties that are unsweetened for the healthiest version.
At lunch you can use Greek yoghurt in salad dressings, or stir some into soups for dinner.
You can even use it in place of sour cream for Mexican dishes or on a baked sweet potato.
4. Cheese cottage and halloumi
Cottage cheese and halloumi are the best choices when it comes to cheese. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Cottage cheese has come far since it was the diet product of choice in the '80s. It now comes in a variety of flavours and textures, so you can use it across several meals.
Top your toast or pancakes with cottage cheese, add it to your sandwiches at lunch and eat a serving for dessert with cinnamon and honey after your dinner.
Then there is halloumi, which can be cooked and used in place of eggs at breakfast, added to toast and sandwiches and as a delicious side for dinner.
5. Chia
There are so many products that are fortified with protein. Getty
Chia seeds are high in protein and filling. You can use chia to make delicious puddings and smoothies for breakfast or a post-lunch or post-dinner dessert.
Two or three tablespoons of chia is said to be equal to the protein found in one large egg.
The easiest way to prepare them is to add them to water to soak, and then once they are ready you can add fruit and other flavours.
6. Protein-fortified products
These days you can find several products that are protein-fortified, or you can increase the protein yourself. iStock/Getty
These days you can find so many products that are protein-fortified, including breads and seeded varieties will always contain more fibre.
Add protein powder to smoothies, chia puddings and breakfast pancakes as well as vegetable pancakes to instantly increase the protein.
You can also add protein powder to yoghurts and custards.
