Grovetown Elementary pupils learn that eggs can't be beat

Malachi Anderson, 8, didn't know if he wanted to try egg fried rice because it contained scallions, carrots and peas.

//

But it sure smelled good, and the Grovetown Elementary School second-grader was willing to give it a shot.

"It's pretty good," Malachi said after testing the dish along with his 100 second-grade classmates.

Music teacher Margaret Turk and physical education teacher Rae Izzo prepared egg fried rice Nov. 9 as part of an egg-centered yearlong program funded by a $5,000 grant from the National Egg Board and Scholastic, an organization dedicated to worldwide educational needs.

"We were one of 89 applicants, and one of 12 recipients of the $5,000 egg grants," Turk said. "I thought that was pretty substantial."

From August through May, Turk and Izzo are sharing and preparing egg recipes, learning the importance of eggs and even learning dances to egg songs. They'll soon be making deviled turkey eggs in honor of Thanksgiving.

"We've made breakfast once, and now we're kind of doing lunch and dinner," Izzo said. "Just showing them (pupils) how versatile it is, that it is not just for breakfast. And it is a cheap source of protein."

The pupils have learned that eggs are loaded with protein, which are the building blocks of strong muscles, and other egg-nutrition information.

"They have every vitamin ... but C," said Halei Burke, 7.

Turk and Izzo led the pupils step-by-step through the recipe. They practiced counting out spoons of soy sauce, the number of scallions, cups of rice and the number of eggs used in the preparation.

Rema Alharbi, 8, and Temya Rahming, 9, huddled together enjoying their bowls of rice.

"It's delicious," Rahming said.

Izzo shows the second-graders how to make egg fried rice during the demonstration, which is part of a yearlong program.[CAPTION]