Record-High Egg Prices Change Americans’ Easter Traditions, And It’s Not Just Egg Dyeing

For the first time as far back as she can remember, Barbara, a Natick (Massachusetts) Patch reader, didn’t plan to color eggs on Holy Thursday.

“It makes me sad the egg prices are hindering my religious celebration,” she said in response to an informal Patch survey asking readers if record-high egg prices were scrambling their Easter plans.

“I am boycotting eggs til the prices are reduced,” she said.

Barbara hasn’t bought eggs since last summer. She has substituted tuna fish or sardines for protein. She also has found it is cheaper to buy muffins at the supermarket than a mix that requires eggs.

C., a Temecula (California) Patch reader, is sacrificing the stuffed eggs, a traditional dish at family gatherings.

“We have just eliminated eggs completely,” C. said.

The two readers aren’t alone as egg prices reached record levels last month, according to the latest government inflation report. The average price for a dozen eggs spiked 5.9 percent from February to March, to $6.23 a dozen. The increase was unexpected because wholesale prices have fallen as bird flu outbreaks have subsided.

The high prices are driving more Americans to alternatives to egg coloring this Easter. Influencers’ how-to videos on marshmallow and potato dying are making a big splash on social media.

One video shows a grinning mom filling cupcake tins with dye. Her child skewers marshmallows with toothpicks then gently lowers them into the dye. Another influencer creates festive chicks by dipping marshmallows in yellow food coloring, dabbing dots of black icing to create eyes and, and then attaching orange M&Ms for a nose and feet.

Other videos show shoppers plucking bags of potatoes from the produce bin, along with egg dye.

“Potatoes are about the only thing I can afford,” one grateful online commenter posted. Another boiled it down into a single-word response: “Cheaper.”

• Related: Is It OK To Eat Colored Easter Eggs? How Long Before They Go Bad?

Craft retailer Michaels told The Associated Press that egg kits are flying off store shelves, selling at rates about 20 percent higher than at this time last year.

‘No Egg-Dyeing This Year’

Several Patch readers said they’ll embrace craft alternatives to keep the family tradition going. It doesn’t matter if they’re decorating plastic or chicken-supplied eggs. The point is to spend time together, they said.

“Instead of real eggs, we will be using plastic or wood eggs that can be dyed or painted,” said Ces, another Temecula Patch reader. Her family is eating a lot more yogurt than eggs these days with eggs priced out of their food budget.

Eden Prairie (Minnesota) Patch reader Queenie is opting for plastic eggs this year, too. Cereal has replaced eggs at her house.

“No egg-dyeing this year,” said Steve, a Parkville-Overlea (Maryland) Patch reader who is putting more cold cereals and oatmeal on the breakfast table this year. He plans to hide plastic eggs for the backyard hunt, but thinks marshmallows are a good idea that adds an element of fun to Easter celebrations.

‘Still Children At Heart’

Westfield (New Jersey) Patch reader Dee is eating more cereal, oatmeal, apples with peanut butter, and bagels with cream cheese to replace eggs. Instead of scrambled eggs, cereal, pancakes and leftovers are what’s for breakfast at Chicago (Illinois) Patch reader MeBlonde’s house.

• Related: These Stores Will Be Open On Easter, But Many Others Will Close

Victoria, a West Chester (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, plans to color eggs with her kids. It’s the first time eggs have been in the house for a while. “We have just eliminated eggs completely,” she said.

Bel Air (Maryland) Patch reader Jo is planning to dye eggs. Jo said she would “rather cut bacon other things than eggs,” saying they are a good source of fatty acids rich in vitamin D, and promote eye health and weight loss.

Leeloo, a Babylon Village (New York) Patch reader, said her family may decorate fewer eggs than in Easters past, but they’re not giving up the tradition

“My 7-year-old colors along with my 20-year-old, still a child at heart,” Leeeloo said. “Heck, my husband and I still color eggs as we are still children at heart, too!”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.