Binging on egg whites

[ShadowMom]

My DS is currently fanatical about boiled egg whites (so, hardboiled eggs, but with the yolk removed, for some reason he hates the yolk).

I was just wondering, does anyone know the nutritional breakdown of egg whites? Especially hardboiled ones?

I am just curious about it... I kind of know in general about the health value of regular eggs, but not sure what difference the yolk makes, and not sure what difference hardboiling makes.

[Maple Leaf Mama]

I WISH my DD loved egg whites that much!

Eggs are considered the perfect protein. They are a whole amino acid. Egg whites are fat free. The 3-5 grams of fat per egg are contained in the yolk.
I dislike yolks too, so I can relate.

I would let him have his food jag without worry and be happy he is getting so much protein.
My DD is stuck on chocolate.

[ShadowMom]

Huh! I didn't know that. You know, he has been eating like a horse (and growing like one), so maybe he's craving protein.

I am one of those types that doesn't control what her child eats, he eats whatever he wants, but I try to be informed about the pluses and minuses of stuff so I can explain to him why it is or is not a good idea to eat so much of x, ya know?

I also like to try to figure out why he goes through these food obsessions... I think sometimes it's something new and tasty, but a lot of times I think it must be a nutritional need of some kind. I wonder if kids who go through growth spurts need lots of protein or something.

And, don't get me wrong, my DS loves chocolate too. He has gone through some not so healthy obsessions and some healthy ones too.

[guestmama9916]

Egg whites are protein but they lack nutrients. The yolk contains vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acids. Egg whites won't provide your child much at all nutritionally. A growing child needs good fats (such as those found in the yolk and other animal fats and certain plant fats such as coconut and palm oils) for proper brain and eye development. Traditionally, people did not eat tons of protein like they do today. They ate more fat than carbs or protein. I know that goes against the current low fat trend in America but if you'll do some reading at the Wise Traditions link in my siggie, you'll find some great info on how the standard American low-fat diet is failing us miserably. HTH

Kim

[ShadowMom]

Originally Posted by kimbernet

Traditionally, people did not eat tons of protein like they do today. They ate more fat than carbs or protein. I know that goes against the current low fat trend in America but if you'll do some reading at the Wise Traditions link in my siggie, you'll find some great info on how the standard American low-fat diet is failing us miserably. HTH

Not sure I agree with that. When "people" (I guess, humans as we know them) first came into being and were essentially roving nomads who ate what they could find growing or what they could hunt, wouldn't the diet essentially have consisted of lean hunted meat, vegetation/vegetables, and some fruit?

I would consider a traditional American diet to be the one that suited us best when we first originated, and I don't necessarily think of the the times when we domesticated animals and started farming as being that time.

I have read the web site you're linking to, and I have some problems with anyone who argues that drinking another animal's baby milk is vital to our diet. That is something we learned to do when we domesticated animals, but as far as being a "traditional" diet, it's an adaption.

[One Art]

My dd loves hardboiled egg whites too...she went through a phase of eating a ton of it, but it seems to be petering out now....

[1xmom]

Another Mommy here whose child loves eggwhites and only eats eggwhites. She is 7 and the did go thru an eggwhite phase, but now she may eat them 1x/week or so or when she can't think of anything else she wants to eat.

[kaPOW!]

mine only eats the whites like that too, but he'll eat the whole egg if it's scrambled. I'll also heat up a boiled egg and mash it with butter, which for some reason he really likes. Sounds gross, but it gets it eaten

[guestmama9916]

Originally Posted by KristiMetz

Not sure I agree with that. When "people" (I guess, humans as we know them) first came into being and were essentially roving nomads who ate what they could find growing or what they could hunt, wouldn't the diet essentially have consisted of lean hunted meat, vegetation/vegetables, and some fruit?

I would consider a traditional American diet to be the one that suited us best when we first originated, and I don't necessarily think of the the times when we domesticated animals and started farming as being that time.

I have read the web site you're linking to, and I have some problems with anyone who argues that drinking another animal's baby milk is vital to our diet. That is something we learned to do when we domesticated animals, but as far as being a "traditional" diet, it's an adaption.

I thought I posted a response already to this but I don't see it so here I go again....

I've read that traditional/primitive people did not eat much lean meat and went for the organs and fatty parts of the animal instead. The Native Americans suffered/died from "rabbit starvation" during hard times because all they had to eat were rabbits which have very little fat on them (all protein). As far as the Wise Traditions people go, milk isn't vital IMO but highly revered for its nutrients in its raw form. You can get the same nutrients from other foods but for me its just easier to get it from milk. Plus milk taste better than liver and heart IMO. The science behind the Wise Traditions is very interesting. Its based on the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration written by a dentist named Weston Price. The full book with photos included is free online here. Not all of the healthy populations that Dr. Price studied were milk drinkers. In particular the Gaelics and Native Americans were healthy populations that did not drink/eat dairy. If you read Dr. Price's work, you might find you only have a problem with how some people have interpreted his work and not necessarily with the science behind it all. HTH

Kim

[ShadowMom]

Very interesting, kimbernet. I have some more questions but I will PM you.

[Maple Leaf Mama]

I'll go dig up my nutrition textbook to find some more info on eggs for you.
What your son is doing with the eggs is called a food jag. Kids are famous for them.
We all do. I went through raspberry, waffle, sweet potato and homemade egg "McMuffin" phases. It happens. You hit on something you like-then you eat it until you can't stand the sight of it again.

[GranoLLLy-girl]

Oh, glad to know that my "food jags" are appropriate---chocolate and green tea. LOL!
Thanks for all the good information--my kids (and I) do this, too---right now it's a carrot and baked chicken jag for my son...and pasta for dd.

[Roar]

I've always preferred just the whites too.

Info I found online: Q. How many calories are in an egg white?

A. The white of a large egg, or about 1-1/4 ounces, has 16 calories, 3 g of protein, 2 mg of calcium, 4 mg of phosphorus, 55 mg of sodium, 45 mg of potassium, the weensiest little bit of riboflavin, and no fat, cholesterol, or carbohydrates.

The yolk of that egg weighs about 2/3 of an ounce, and has 59 calories, 3 g of protein, 5 g of fat (2 of which are saturated), 212 mg of cholesterol, 23 mg of calcium, 81 mg of phosphorus, 7 mg of sodium, 16 mg of potassium, very small amounts of iron, thiamin, and riboflavin, and no carbohydrates.

If you're going to be daring and eat the whole egg , you're looking at 75 calories, 6 g or protein, 5 g of fat (2 of which are saturated), 212 mg of cholesterol, 1 g of carbohydrate, 25 mg of calcium, 89 mg of phosphorus, 63 mg of sodium, 61 mg of potassium, trace amounts of iron, thiamin, and riboflavin.

[j924]

Another mom of an only egg white eating ds. OT but what do you do with the yolks. After reading Roar's post, I don't think I want to keep popping them

[ShadowMom]

Really, you just eat the yolks? After reading Roar's post I am tempted to start, honestly! They have a lot of nutritional value. Currently I just chuck them though. DS doesn't like them AT ALL and just the yolk doesn't really appeal to me.

Hmmm, too bad there aren't any recipes involving hard boiled egg yolk.

[Roar]

Originally Posted by KristiMetz

Hmmm, too bad there aren't any recipes involving hard boiled egg yolk.

Get a dog. They'll help you out!

[sadie_sabot]

another one ehre who's4 year old will only eat the whites! she'll eat as many as three in a sitting and ask for more, but I'm not usually comfortable giving her more than three and usually only two. thisis all reasssuring...we toss the yolks, none of us can stand to eat them plain.

[emmasmommy]

DD1 will only eat the whites, and will eat 3 or more at a time if we let her. She feeds the yolks to DD2 who loves them!!

[DoctorGirlfriend]

Originally Posted by emmasmommy

DD1 will only eat the whites, and will eat 3 or more at a time if we let her. She feeds the yolks to DD2 who loves them!!

Symbiosis!

[MtBikeLover]

I made 6 eggs the other night for dinner, thinking I would eat 2 and the kids would each each 2. Well, my 2 year old ate 4 egg whites in a matter of 2 minutes and my 4 year old ate 2 whole eggs (yolk included). And they asked me to make more (which I did).