Why you need to get more Microgreens and Sprouts into your diet!

The words Microgreens and sprouts are often used to mean the same thing, yet there are some differences. Both begin as a seed.

Microgreens:

• are grown in soil
• require sunlight and ventilation to grow
• contain concentrated nutrients
• have unique flavors that pack a powerful punch
• are fairly easy to grow your own
• can grow in one to three weeks
• contain the first set of leaves but not fully grown
• leaves and stems are eaten
• are commonly used as a garnish

Sprouts:

• are grown without soil
• are germinated seeds
• can be harvested in less than a week
• need very little light to grow
• contain nutrients, enzymes, protein, and fiber
• stem and seed of sprouts are eaten
• adds crunch to whatever you put them on

Also, noteworthy, microgreens differ from “baby greens” as they are cut earlier, at a younger stage. If one were to let a tray of microgreens continue to grow, they could harvest baby greens.

Microgreens add visual appeal to a dish, which is why many chefs use them in the kitchen. They may have been put there for visual appeal, but they add a lot of value to the nutritional profile of your meal.

Microgreens are loaded with the same nutrients as the mature plants only more concentrated. Some studies say up to forty times more nutrients are contained in microgreens.

Eating microgreens is an efficient way to load up on vitamins C, E, K, Lutein and other essential nutrients. They contain fiber, protein, and enzymes too.

Microgreens are delicious in salads, on sandwiches, or to top a bowl of soup. Use your imagination to dream up lots of ways to incorporate microgreens into the dishes you create.

Here are a few microgreens suggestions:

• Amaranth
• Basil
• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• buckwheat
• Cabbage
• Chervil
• Cilantro
• Daikon Radish
• Garlic Chives
• Kale
• Komatsuna
• Lettuce
• Millet
• Mustard
• Mizuna
• Parsey
• Sage
• Pea
• Salad Mix
• Spinach
• Sunflower
• Thyme
• Wasabi Nasturtium

I love beet microgreens and radish too. One of my favorite microgreens is the pea shoot. Pea shoots lend an amazing flavor to salads and sandwiches. They are a little hardier than some of the smaller microgreens.

We've been making pea shoot salad since 2005. I would keep a tray of growing pea shoots on my kitchen counter. Pea shoots are a great starter microgreen as they are quite easy to grow.

Microgreens are perfect for those who would love to grow some of their own food but do not have space, time, or energy for a full-blown garden. Microgreens can be grown in a sunny window in the kitchen, a small patio, or on a covered deck. The most important thing it takes to grow microgreens is sunlight.

To grow microgreens soak the seeds overnight. The following morning fill a tray with an organic potting mix, vermiculite, cocopeat, or worm castings. Drain the water from the seeds. Lightly spray the soil with water to wet slightly, spread the seeds on top of the mixture, pat down carefully then cover the seeds with a bit more of the soil, perhaps less than a quarter inch.

When microgreens have 2-4 leaves they are ready to harvest. Some types of microgreens can be harvested several times. After the second or third time, the contents of the tray can be added to the compost, and a new batch can be started.

Wheat and Barley grass and other microgreens in the grass family can be grown in a tray lined with unbleached paper towels covered with about half an inch of soil.

Sprouts are fairly easy to grow as well but have a wider margin for error. To grow sprouts seeds are first soaked in water then drained, and rinsed frequently while they grow. Sprouts require humid conditions to sprout and grow; ironically these conditions are also ideal for the growth of certain bacteria. Like most fresh produce, there is a risk of bacteria.

If harmful bacteria are present in the seed bacteria can grow in sprouts. The FDA works with the industry to detect and reduce contamination.

FoodSafety.gov recommends cooking sprouts to kill any potentially harmful bacteria. Many people, myself included do eat sprouts without cooking. If you are pregnant, elderly, or a child, or if you have a weakened immune system the foodsafety.gov website recommends requesting that raw sprouts not be added to your food.

Reference:

https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/types/fruits/sprouts.html