Joys of Sprouts

In the worship of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, the ancient Greeks beheld the mysteries of life itself in the simplicity of the single grain of wheat. They understood the incredible potential of the tiny seed. In it lies the power to sustain, nourish and satisfy. In the germination and sprouting process is contained the vital energies which transform the seed into a tall strong plant which can ultimately reproduce itself many times over. And so today we are rediscovering, in our own homes, these very mysteries. Sprouted seeds and legumes are being eaten and enjoyed in unprecedented quantities in the 21st century. Sprouting provides fresh salad ingredients any time of year and is a fun thing to do with even very young children. Nutritionally, sprouted seeds contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes, oxygen and proteins in an absorbable forms, which the most sophisticated supplement pill could not rival. Starches become simple natural sugars, splitting long-chain amino acids and converting saturated fats into free fatty acids, providing more nutrients gram for gram than any other known natural food. Sprouting easily satisfies the demands of 21st century sustainability - it's cheap, it's fast, it doesn't take up much space and, hey, it's even FUN - on top of being so completely good for you! Here are some tips to get you started. Overnight: soak almonds, hazels, cashews, sunflower seeds, etc. Then drain & rinse. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for just a day or two. This is enough to improve digestibility and flavour; add them to salads or to cooked rice. Sprout for 3-5 days: following a simple soaking and rinsing system, alfalfa seeds, lentils, beans, wheat germ, will produce succulent shoots, providing a little salad patch in the tiniest corner of your own kitchen. After soaking seeds or grains to grow shoots, make sure to keep the water. It now contains enzymes, vitamins and minerals that can benefit your houseplants. If you're interested in starting your own kitchen garden we've got what you need to get started. BioSnacky produces a small jar with a screw-on mesh lid and integral stand, so that you can easily drain off water. There is also a 3-tiered set of trays, which allows you to sprout several varieties of seed without any extra effort. BioSnacky also offers a nice selection of organic seeds for growing at home, and we've got other grains and seeds in the bulk section that are viable for sprouting too! Come in and ask a customer service consultant for tips! Article provided by A.Vogel