Not all countries have the same food products and when you move abroad, discovering all the new foods is part of the fun. But when you get used to something that’s seemingly normal at home and then can’t find it in your new home, it makes you appreciate that item even more when you can find it. Except I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.
What am I talking about here? Egg whites in France. In the United States it is very common to find a carton of egg whites next to the eggs… but in France? It’s not like that. If you want egg whites, you have to break the egg and separate the whites from the people because buying egg whites in a carton is not common. But I have a solution…
Why doesn’t France have liquid egg whites in a carton? GO!
Where to buy egg whites in France
Let me start by saying that egg yolks are not the devil. They contain the daily dose of vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as many other vitamins and minerals. I eat a lot of whole eggs, but sometimes you just want the added protein of the whites without the people.
I put two in my morning oatmeal for a protein boost and enjoy lighter omelettes from time to time. Additionally, some recipes call for only the whites, and if you don’t want to save them for later, they are often thrown in the trash.
In the United States, I would consume a carton and egg whites a week. Low-calorie liquid egg products, such as egg beaters, are common alongside eggs and whites in the supermarket. But not in France. (and on that note, where is the refrigerated flavored coffee creamer…or any coffee creamer for that matter?)
Here are two simple solutions. I can crack a regular egg and separate the whites from the yolks, although it seems wasteful to throw the yolks in the trash if you don’t need them. Or the other option is to simply eat the whole egg. I do a little of both.
But once I’ve already eaten a good amount of eggs during the week (or I’m making a recipe that only calls for egg whites), sometimes a carton of liquid egg whites in the refrigerator would be very helpful, but you can’t find them in regular grocery stores. No matter where you look, including specialty stores, it doesn’t seem like liquid egg whites are widely available.
In recent years, I have come across wholesalers selling large cartons of just egg whites to bakeries and restaurants, but for home use we don’t need several liters at a time. My go-to place to get egg whites when I need them are some fitness stores that sell protein bars and other products for fit people.
The Solution: Body and Shape
The best place to buy egg whites in France is Body & Fit. The online store has great fitness-related products like protein powder, protein bars, and egg whites! AT LAST!! I buy 6 boxes at a time and with my promotional link you will get 10 euros off an order of 40 euros or more. I’ve been ordering from Body & Fit for years, so buy with confidence. They are a quality place to shop.
Problem solved, you will have the clear ones at your door in a couple of days. Also, if you like Quest protein chips, which are hard to get in France, the ones from Body & Fit are fantastic, so check them out too.
Egg whites would absolutely appeal to the French, so I don’t think it’s as cultural a thing as saying peanut butter-based desserts would be (the French are more into Nutella and speculoos spreads and aren’t very familiar with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches).
That said, most French people would simply eat the whole egg unless they are on a special diet or looking for additional cholesterol-free protein. Seeing egg white omelettes on menus here is not at all common, so it is not surprising that egg whites are not available in French supermarkets. But I do think that lighter quiches made with fewer people would be a hit.
For now, I guess the French just discard the yolks or save them for something else if they want to use just the whites. And that seems to be working for them. For me, some liquid egg whites would be a nice addition to the refrigerated foods aisle at the grocery store. Until then, I’ll keep separating my eggs and buying the Body & Fit cartons. 😉
Can you buy egg whites where you live?
PS: If you’re wondering how to say egg whites in French, it’s blancs d’oeufs.
