Pictured are rugby players Sophie Spence and Fergus McFadden with fifth class students from St. Mary's National School, Donnybrook, Dublin
Rugby players Fergus McFadden and Sophie Spence join with Bord Bia to celebrate World Egg Day
A rugby squad consumes approximately 650 eggs per week
Irish rugby players Fergus McFadden and Sophie Spence, together with Senior Performance Nutritionist Daniel Davey, teamed up with Bord Bia to raise awareness of the versatility and nutritional benefits of eating eggs as part of a healthy, balanced diet. To coincide with World Egg Day which takes place today, 9th October, the trio highlighted that eggs are beneficial for fitness fans and athletes due to their high protein content and essential amino acids which aid muscle building and recovery after training.
Bord Bia also revealed that sales of eggs are on the rise, with Irish consumers spending €103 million per year. A recent study* by Kantar Worldpanel revealed that Irish people are buying 7% more eggs than they were last year, buying eggs more frequently and in bigger volumes. Frequency of egg purchase is up 2.5%, while packs of 10 or more eggs account for 60% of all egg sales in 2015, which is a 6% increase on 2014. To accommodate the growth in consumption, Ireland is now producing 551 million eggs annually.
Speaking at the launch, Daniel Davey, Senior Performance Nutritionist** said, “Rugby players really love their eggs! During the course of a major rugby tournament a squad of 31 players will eat approximately 4,000 eggs; that’s approximately 650 eggs per week and 21 eggs per week for each individual player. The recommended intake of protein in one sitting is 20g for a rugby player; that’s three eggs in one meal.
Fergus McFadden said, “Eggs are an essential part of my diet and they are an excellent source of protein for anyone who exercises regularly. Athletes require more protein in their diet throughout the day. As eggs are a slow digesting food, they are also a great evening meal after intense exercise for recovery of muscles into the night.”
Sophie Spence said, “I eat a lot of eggs, both when in training and during down time so I love to experiment with different recipes. Athletes require a protein source in the morning to fuel their day and eggs are a great morning food option. I always buy quality assured eggs as the Quality Mark ensures food is independently checked against Bord Bia’s highest quality standards. I also like to know where my eggs are coming from.” and www.facebook.com/Foodflicker for recipe inspiration.
Teresa Brophy, Consumer and Trade Marketing Manager at Bord Bia said, “Nutrition guidelines recommend that a healthy individual can have up to seven eggs a week***. Eggs are suitable for any meal occasion and ideal for quick and tasty lunch or dinner options for a busy person on the go, all in under 70 calories for a medium-sized egg. At less than €2 for half a dozen eggs, they are also excellent value.”
Daniel Davey has developed a suite of delicious egg recipes using Bord Bia Quality Assured eggs which are high in nutritional value and suitable for any meal occasion. Check out www.bordbia.ie/eggs
According to Daniel, “Eggs are one of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods and fit into many diets and lifestyles, not just those of professional athletes. They are a very good source of selenium, iodine, and vitamin B, protein, molybdenum, phosphorus, vitamin B5, vitamin B12 and vitamin D and in my opinion you would be hard pressed to find a food that contains such an ideal mixture of nutrients.”
* ‘Overview of the Irish Egg Market’, Kantar Worldpanel, 19th July 2015
** Daniel Davey is Senior Performance Nutritionist at Leinster Rugby and Dublin GAA and founder of popular food nutrition network FoodFlicker, a popular source of recipe inspiration developed by a group of qualified nutritionists and researchers who aim to improve people's understanding of appropriate nutrition through creative photos, exciting videos and informed opinions. Headed up by Daniel Davey, its aim is to make healthy eating simple and enjoyable.
*** Your Guide to Healthy Eating Using the Food Pyramid – Department of Health and HSE