For the longest time, I resisted the sprout!
It felt scary, too hard to do, or too time-consuming!
Sound familiar?
But the truth is, these often mistaken for “extras” are THE shining star of any meal, snack, or smoothie, and they can change your life! Sprouts are PACKED full of nutrients like magnesium, phosphate, folate, and vitamins and minerals! Many people are surprised to learn sprouts even contain protein! Because they are also full of antioxidants they’re a great addition for their cancer-fighting properties. And if that’s not enough, research their full benefits on metabolism, hormones, brain function, heart health, and more!
Now that we know WHY you need sprouts in your life, let’s talk about when. This is a topic with many opinions and discussions but first and foremost, we say ANYTIME/ANYWAY that you can. Some say research suggests having sprouts in the evening is best, so you may opt for a late-night sprout salad topped with a quick lemon-vinaigrette and fresh berries. Or, maybe you prefer a smoothie! Either way, when you consider what many people eat from morning to night, do what works for you! If throwing a handful into your morning smoothie makes the most sense for you, go for it! Just get them in your diet!
Lastly, when it comes to sprouts, many people have been told to fear them and stay away because of bacteria. And while this is important to keep in mind, it shouldn’t stop you from incorporating them into your diet. Like anything, you need to use common sense, get acquainted with what you’re doing, and use good cleaning practices. Making sure your jars are sanitized, you keep good airflow and a cool, dry place, and are rinsing & draining correctly are most important!
HERE IS HOW WE SPROUT!
STEP 1: Sanitize your jars
STEP 2: Rinse and soak seeds
You want to soak most seeds about 8 hours. For this reason, we find it easiest to rinse and soak just before bed so they are ready to empty by morning. We use 2 TBSP of seeds to about 1 C water to be sure they are nice and covered and bathing. Let them get some real R&R!
STEP 3: Drain
Screw on a mesh lid after draining and tip upside down for a few hours.
STEP 4: Rinse and Drain. Rinse and Drain. Rinse and Drain.
You want to rinse the sprouts about 3 times a day for a few days. This may seem daunting at first but if you can get in the habit of rinsing with meals, it helps to find a schedule. We also keep them propped on a stand for this reason, right on our kitchen shelving where it’s easy to access (meaning I can remember) in a cool, dry spot.
STEP 5: For basic sprout seeds, sprout seeds to the desired length you choose! If you taste it and feel like keeping them growing a bit longer, go for it! The key here is to understand when you’re taking care of them and giving them a little attention, you can play and get creative with lengths, what to eat which type with, and when to eat them.
Here are a few of our favorites:
-BROCCOLI
-5 SALAD MIX
-PROTEIN POWERHOUSE BLEND
…And more!
HERE is a good mix to try and get started to see what varieties you like!
THESE are the sprouting lids we use on our wide mouth mason jars and HERE are the stands we have!
We hope this will inspire you to consider a life with sprouts in your life!
A very easy way to get a daily dose of sprouts into your diet is through smoothies!
We love wild blueberry and banana with sprouts of all types!
ENJOY and HAPPY SPROUTING!
Love Y’all!
