Egg prices are still high, here are some healthy alternatives

CHARLOTTE, NC — A number of grocery stores across the country are limiting how many dozens of eggs people can buy each day.
Shoppers like Carol Kirkpatrick, are noticing shortages, “very few eggs are on the shelves.”
The spike is tied to the bird flu outbreak and ongoing inflation.
The US Department of Agriculture predicts the price of eggs to increase 20% this year.
Prices so high shoppers like Debbie Jackson are forced to get creative.
Jackson says, “we’re trying to find substitutes.  Instead of actually eating eggs or baking or making recipes or dishes.; we’re finding other ways to substitute for eggs.”
With little relief in sight we asked Dole Food Company Dietitian and Chef Melanie Marcus about egg alternatives, “The first one is scrambled eggs. Now, this is a little different, but go with me here if you get firm or extra firm. Tofu, which happens to be a complete source of protein. Just like eggs.”

Not your thing? Marcus says flax seed is also a baking substitute option, “You take one tablespoon of flax seed per egg with 2 to 3 tablespoons. And you get this kind of consistency that kind of reminds you of egg whites. So it’s just warm water and flax seed. And I do this all the time. Whether I don’t have eggs in the house or I just want to get my kids a little bit more fiber and nutrition.”

And we can’t forget the most common egg alternative… bananas.

“It’s the most number one purchased fruit in the grocery store,” says Marcus,  “so you can take and mash half a one quarter cup of banana and add it to your baked good recipes to substitute for one egg.”

Tasty and healthy substitutes while we weather the bird flu.