Eggs are Brain Food

Easter eggs aren't just tons of fun for kids to dye: The yolks are packed with the nutrient choline, critical during your child's first six years to ensure full development of the brain's memory center. "I go out of my way to give eggs to my 3- and 5-year-olds," says Leslie Fischer, R.D., project director of choline studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

One yolk has about 200 mg of choline, which exactly meets the daily requirement for 1- to 3-year-olds and comes close to the 250 mg that 4- to 8-year-olds need.

Added benefits: "Egg yolks are loaded with other nutrients important to your child's growth and development, including vitamin A, iron, and folate," Fischer says. "And there's no reason to worry about eggs' cholesterol or fat content for a growing child who isn't overweight." In fact, it's fine for kids to eat one egg per day.

Copyright © 2003. Reprinted with permission from the April 2003 issue of Child Magazine.

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.