Starchild: Why Malaysian kids think eggs are an egg-cellent food choice!

Fathiahana Arissa Faihan, 11

Crack open an egg and you will find a little package packed with nutrients! Egg is a common food and can be enjoyed in many ways – boiled, scrambled, fried, steamed or added to dishes such as fried rice and noodles.

Why are eggs good for you?

Aisyah Faiha Hana Faihan, 9

Egg is a good source of protein. One egg contains about 6g of protein. And protein helps kids with their growing muscles, tissues and bones.

Egg also contains vitamins and minerals that help keep us healthy.

However, not all eggs are the same. When we think of eggs, we usually picture chicken eggs. But there are other birds that lay eggs which people eat.

Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs and have richer yolk. Quail eggs are tiny and often have pretty speckled shells.

Goose eggs are much bigger, while turkey eggs are also larger than chicken eggs.

You may have even seen salted duck eggs, a popular ingredient in Malaysian cooking. The yolks are firm, salty and in bright orange.

And what is the largest egg?

The biggest egg laid by a living bird belongs to the ostrich. An ostrich egg can weigh around 1.5kg – that’s about as heavy as 20 to 24 chicken eggs. Its shell is also very thick and strong.

Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Eggs.

“A hen lays eggs in a nest. Eggs can be eaten in many ways, such as boiled, fried or made into an omelette. I like soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs and omelette. My mother prepares eggs for me every morning before I go to school,” writes Nur Ameera Mohd Khairul Nizam, 12.

Nur Ameera Mohd Khairul Nizam, 12

“Eggs are rich in protein and Omega-3 which helps us to grow and be strong. The most common eggs are chicken eggs. Do you know that the chicken eggs that we buy are categorised in grades such as AA, A,B, C, D, E and F based on the weight and sizes? The smallest eggs I have seen in the grocery shops are quail eggs. The egg is very cute and has brown spots on it. My favourite egg dish is poached and scrambled eggs. They are very delicious when eaten with bread,” says Mithrasri Siva Chandran, nine.

Aisya Faiha Hana Faihan, nine, says eggs are good for health. “Eggs come from hens. They are packed with protein, vitamins and minerals that help us grow strong and healthy.”

Older sibling Fathiahana Arissa Faihan, 12, writes: “Eggs also contain nutrients that support our eyes, brain and muscles. I like scrambled eggs because they are soft and yummy. I dislike runny eggs because I think they smell funny!”

ITEM: Imagine that you have a magical pencil that can make anything you draw come to life! What would you draw first? A friendly dragon, a robot, a giant ice-cream sundae or something completely new?

What would you use it for? How would it make your life better? Draw your magical creation and show us what it can do!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Oct 2. Please put “STARCHILD: My magical pencil” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.