The wonderful world of sprouts!

Something that we have started doing in the last few months is growing our own sprouts.  When sprouted, seeds give off more energy in the form of enzymes, vitamins and minerals.  Also, during sprouting, the starch is changed to simple sugars which makes them very easily digested.  Sprouting increases vitamin content many times over and also develops chlorophyll.  All these are great reasons to incorporate sprouts into our diet but one of my favorite reasons for sprouting my own seeds instead of just buying them at the store is COST.  

For the same price, you can buy one plastic container of alfalfa sprouts OR you can sprout 40-50 cups yourself!  Another benefit to doing it yourself is the variety of seeds that you're able to sprout.  We've tried alfalfa, buckwheat, lentil, clover, radish, mung beans, chick peas, sunflower and a great "sandwich booster" mix which is a combination of canola, clover and a couple of others.  
If you're wondering how to sprout, wonder no more!  All you need is:

A large mouth mason jar

 

A sprouting screen (available from www.rawnutrition.ca or your local health food store)

OR you can use an old nylon stocking or cheesecloth.

The Method:

1. Soak seeds for 10-12 hours, changing the water once.  
2. Drain water from jar through the sprouter (or nylon/cheesecloth) top
3. Fill the car with cold tap water and "rinse" seeds.  
4. Drain water through the screen.
5. Turn jar angled downward in a shallow container or on a dish draining rack.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 at least twice per day, more if the weather is hot.
7. Depending on the seeds, sprouting time will vary from 1-7 days.  Alfalfa, for example is 5-7 days and lentils are 1-2 days. 

I add these delicious sprouts to everything - salads, sandwiches, stir fries - whatever you can think of!  And if you are really interested in sprouting, you can get all kinds of special sprouting equipment and accessories.  Check out www.rawnutrition.ca for an amazing supply of seeds, sprouters and many more things! 

Let me know if you try sprouting and how you like it :)