The Egg Nutrition Center partnered with Victoria Shanta Retelny, RDN to write this blog post.

Let’s face it, dinnertime can be hectic and that’s why simple meals that you can make in minutes are a lifesaver.

After a busy day, your body needs a nourishing meal to fuel it properly before your 7 to 9-hour slumber. Even when you are asleep, calories are needed to necessitate your body’s ability to repair and restore damaged cells, such as muscle recovery from your daily exercise routine. (1)  Steer clear of eating large, heavy meals in the evenings, and instead focus on a well-balanced dinner with high-quality protein, fiber-filled carbohydrates and essential fats to optimize your metabolic needs overnight.

If you’re looking for some new and simple dinner ideas, why not try dinner eggs? Give your last meal of the day a nourishing boost with eggs, which offer high quality protein, essential fats, a good or excellent source of eight essential nutrients, including choline plus the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.  And with only 70 calories per large egg, you can lighten up your dinner in a tasty way – without breaking your budget, either.  For about 15 cents each, eggs are one of least expensive high-quality protein foods out there.

The beauty of eggs is that they offer tons of culinary possibilities in the evening.  Eggs pair well with a plant-based eating pattern that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, peas and lentils, nuts and seeds. Try cracking an egg, cooking it sunny side up and placing it on top of your favorite mixed greens salad; scramble eggs with veggies and spices and spoon into a whole grain wrap or toss scrambled eggs with pesto pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for a delightful and quick dinner.  You’ll take the hassle out of dinnertime in no time flat with eggs as part of your evening meal plans.

Here are some delicious dinner egg recipes that you can easily whip up at home.  

  1. How your body uses calories while you sleep. Assessed at https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-your-body-uses-calories-while-you-sleep.