When you think of sprouting seeds, most people think of alfalfa sprouting or bean sprouting as they relate to sprouting, however, there are many other vegetables that produce sprouting seeds which make for easy and nutritious sprouted foods. Sprouting vegetables at home is an enjoyable way to grow fresh healthy foods right in your own kitchen at home. You can easily spruce up bland foods like veggies, fruits, and beans, and add flavor, color and even convenience to your meals! Here are the various ways on how to sprout seeds at home.
Nuts and seeds contain high levels of healthy fats, protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins that are easily passed through the digestive system without being absorbed into the body. By sprouting nuts and seeds, you can get more fiber, protein, iron, Vitamin B12 and many other nutrients without having to eat tons of the foods and wait for the nutrients to pass through your body system. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, and sunflower seeds are high in phytosterols and protein that make them a great addition to your diet. Simply munch on a handful of these nuts or nut butters throughout the day and you will receive the health benefits of phytosterol and protein.
Sprouting Seeds – It’s Fun!
Sprouting green and fresh greens at home is a fun activity. It allows you to get more creative with incorporating fresh food into your daily eating routine. One of the easiest ways to add sprouting seeds to your diet is by using them in salads, wraps and other fresh food based dishes. Fresh greens and tasty salad dressings make it easy to incorporate seeds into your salads without overloading yourself with nutrients you do not need. Fresh salads with fresh greens and tasty dressings can easily be made with sprouted grains, seeds and nuts which make it easy to add this important ingredient to your diet. Broccoli Sprouts are one of the most popular, easiest to sprout, and the health benefits are just incredible! You can read more about Nutrients in Broccoli Sprouts in our article section.
Another way to integrate sprouting seeds into your diet is to harvest your own nuts and seeds at home. This makes it easy to have a little snack or dinner without the need to go out to a fancy restaurant. Simply harvest your nuts at home and store in a container in the refrigerator. Just before you use them, run a toothbrush through them to remove any wax or oil that may remain. Next, place them on a plate in your kitchen to allow them to stay fresh until you are ready to use them. Once you have used them, store them in an air tight container and refrigerate until you are ready to eat.
Sprouting Seeds – Saves Money!
Sprouting your own grains can also help you save money on grocery bills. If you have to buy a lot of sprouting seeds or sprouting soil, you will save money by making your own. You can buy precooked starter sprouted grains at your local farm store or order them online. When you rinse the seeds off, put them in a sealed glass jar and store them in the fridge. This will help them to retain all the vitamins they have while still in the seed form.
Cheesecloth is an inexpensive substitute for a cheesecloth bag when you are creating your own sprouting seeds. Place some cheesecloth in a zip lock bag and pour your seeds and water into it. The seeds will be suspended in the bag while it simmers. Place the cheesecloth inside a jar and cover it with a lid to keep it in a cool place and maintain its freshness.
If you plan to make use of sprouting seed blends, you can add as little or as much as you like. Adding more seeds will make the sprouting process take longer, but will give you better results. It is also important to start out with small amounts of sprouting seeds so that your plants and sprouted foods will grow well. If you use too much, your food may have too much water and the sprouting process will take longer. A great rule of thumb is to never harvest more than one-fourth to one-half cup of your mixture at a time. You want your veggies and sprouted food to be as fresh as possible.
Sprouting Seeds is easy!
Sprouting seeds indoors is not difficult to do, but it does take patience. As long as you have the right supplies, it shouldn’t take more than a week to see your first sprout. Make sure you store your sprouted foods in glass containers that have tight fitting lids to keep insects out. Seeds sold in the grocery store can spoil more quickly than those stored at home. When you sprout your own food, you will know exactly when it is ready to eat.