Your Healthy Sprouts in Winter Season

Sprouting your own seeds is a healthy way to eat fresh vegetables even if you live in a tiny city apartment and it's a winter time. Sprouts are a healthy source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Because they are living foods sprouts retain a high level of their nutritional value.

Fun and satisfying sprouting by Basia, December 2014 

You just need some containers, purchase sprouting seeds, add water and get sprouting! And it takes a few days to have them on your table.

Some reasons to grow own sprouts are:

• Easy to produce
• Always fresher taste
•  Low carbon footprint
• Year round source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
• Cheaper than from a store
• Growing them is satisfying and fun
• Educational project for the kids

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Educational, fun and satisfying sprouting project by Basia, December 2014

How to Grow Sprouts

All sprouts are grown in the same manner but the major difference is the time needed for sprouting. Some seeds, like alfalfa, sprout quickly and are ready for eating in three days, others, like garlic, may take as long as three weeks. Most grow within days of starting them, and can be eaten raw, juiced, or added into many dishes for a crunchy, flavorful bite.

You will need to have the following items:

• 1 big and 1 smaller plate
• Sprouting seeds
• Cotton or paper towel
• Water

Follow these steps to grow sprouts:

• Rinse seeds in fresh, chlorine-free water well.
• Center a smaller plate upside-down in a large flat-bottom plate.
• Line a smaller plate with a damp layer of cotton or paper towel.
• Spread seeds evenly out flat on the cotton.
• Place the plate in a bright, well-ventilated spot that is out of direct sunlight.
• Check cotton two or three times a day to make sure it is not dried out .
• If it’s needed, sprinkle the cotton with a little more chlorine-free water until it is damp throughout.
• Don’t soak it too much, as mold can form.
• After a few days, check your sprouts to see if they have grown little tails.
• You can eat them at any point after the soaking stage, as they are officially germinated at that point, but if you like you can collect them after the shoots appear and before the secondary leaves appear.
• Rinse them in cool water, drain and eat.
• You can also store them in the refrigerator for later.
• Harvest your sprouts and enjoy them in salads, sandwiches, or all by themselves.

Types of Sprouts and Their Uses

Type	Flavor	Use
Alfalfa	Nutty	Salads, sandwiches
Watercress	Mild	Salads, sandwiches
Chia	Mild	Salads, sandwiches
Bean	Nutty	Stir fry, casseroles
Broccoli	Mild	Salads, sandwiches
Buckwheat	Nutty	Breads, baked goods, snacks
Garlic	Piquant, delicate, spicy	Salads, sandwiches
Lentil	Peppery	Soup, stews. casseroles
Pumpkin	Buttery	Breads, cookies, salads, snacks
Radish	Spicy	Salad, sandwiches
Sunflower	Buttery, nutty	Breads, cookies, salads, snacks
Wheat	Buttery	Breads, cookies, salads, snacks

Where to Find Seeds for Sprouting

When you decide on growing your own sprouts go to a store with a healthy food section or buy them on the Internet. Look for reputable companies that have been in business for a while and that carry organic seeds.

The Food and Drug Administration has posted a warning that you can get salmonella from sprouts. Buying organic seeds that is sold for sprouting purposes virtually eliminates these risks.

Sprouting seeds is so simple but we must remember to buy only seeds packaged and marked for sprouting. 

Good companies that sell seeds for sprouting are:

• Sprout People
• Mumms
• The Sprout House
• Handy Pantry
• Mountain Rose Herbs

Other Ideas for Seed Sprouting

If you're still wondering how to start seeds sprouting and what to do with them the following resources will help you.

• LivingFoods: This website for raw and vegan food lovers containers detailed instructions for novices at seeds sprouting. While you're on the site, check out the other resources for vegan foods.
• Jason'sHomestead shows you pictures of his own sprouting setup using Styrofoam cups and what looks like recycled cups. It's an easy guide with pictures to help you understand each step of the sprouting process.
• Happy Juicer provides a detailed introduction to sprouting for health. It includes reasons why sprouted seeds are good for you, step by step instructions for making a seed sprouting container, and resources for sprouting.
• Sprout People: If you absolutely cannot figure out seed sprouting, Sprout People can help. Not only do they include detailed information, they also go through each type of sprout and share with you recipes, how-to articles, nutrition information and much more.