Sprouting

First of all let me just shout out a special thanks to Lucy Hansen for showing me how easy it is to sprout your own grains and for buying me my first sprouting tray and seeds for Christmas! Honestly she knows way more about healthy living than I do, in fact if I ever want to know about natural remedies or anything health related I go to her and I appreciate the many thought provoking conversations we have about health!

Ok now onto the topic of the day, SPROUTS! I remember as a kid my mom would occasionally buy alfalfa sprouts and we would put them on sandwiches or just eat them straight out of the package and I loved them! It was kind of a novelty that we really didn't buy that often, probably because they were a little on the expensive side, but everyone in the house would gobble them up. What I didn't know back then is just how healthy this little superfood is and how easy they are to grow! (seriously those alfalfa sprout farmers must be raking in the dough). Here are some facts about sprouts...

• Sprouting activates food enzymes in the grain and increases its vitamin, mineral, fatty acid, protein and fiber content. It really is amazing that simply adding water causes the genetics of the grain to do this!
• Sprouts are an alkaline food which promotes good heath
• There is a wide variety of beans and seeds that can be sprouted
• Sprouting is a convenient way to grow your own fresh salad year round.
• If you keep grains and beans for food storage, it is a novel way to use that storage, either in rotation or in a time of need.
• Sprinkle in any soup, salad, or dish for added flavor and nutrients!

I recommend buying a sprout tray (easier and more effective when using one) and there are all different types but it doesn't really matter what kind, just something that will allow you to rinse and drain the seeds in the pan. I use a single tray Sprout Master. 

Soak the seeds overnight. I used about 2 tablespoons of alfalfa seeds with about 1-2 cups water.

 The next morning dump them in the sprout tray and rinse. Soaking helps release some of the toxins so you want to rinse them real good. Then spread out fairly evenly in the tray. I don't fuss too much over how even it is, they will grow straight up either way. I also keep the lid on the tray for the first couple days.

By the end of the 1st day they already look like this. Make sure you rinse again before bed.

 Day 2 - Rinse morning and night again, making sure to drain thoroughly.

 Day 3 - Rinse/drain morning and night. I keep the lid off all day and the light turns them more green.

Day 4 - I can't keep my hands off them! I usually rinse/drain that morning, keep the lid off all day, then by the end of the day when they are fairly dry again, put them in a container and in the fridge. 

The tray I use also has a divider to sprout different grains at the same time. On the left is alfalfa sprouts and on the right is a mixture of adzuki, triticale, mung beans and green peas. 

The grain/bean mixture is actually ready to eat while you'll notice the alfalfa is obviously not ready yet. Different grains and seeds will have their own germination time so at this point I would just put the grain mix into a container and in the fridge and keep sprouting the alfalfa a couple more days.

And that's it! SOOO easy and a great way to add some nutrition to your every day diet!