AN EASY, ZERO WASTE WAY TO GET MORE NUTRIENTS

Sprouts are a go-to for getting lots of nutrients into your meals with minimal effort and cost. These mini plants were once the buzzword in the salad world, seemingly everywhere. They are coming back into vogue due to how easy and cheap they are to grow and keep right in the kitchen where you need them. They don’t generate waste and don’t need cooking. Plus, they pack a power punch of nutrients to keep brains and bodies humming!

Sprouts at the supermarket generally come in single use plastic packaging, making it difficult for those trying to reduce single use plastic to easily incorporate sprouts into their diet. However growing your own sprouts at home is actually really easy and fun to do. Home sprouting is also potentially healthier as sprouts that have been commercially produced and packaged can harbour illness-causing bacteria. So read on as we show you how to grow sprouts at home.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A SPROUT?

A sprout is a new shoot or a seed from plants, grains or legumes that has been germinated. Examples of seeds commonly sprouted include wheatgrass, alfalfa, lentils, mung beans and soybeans.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE ADDING SPROUTS TO THE MENU?

Sprouts are a mainstay of any healthy food diet. They are infused with vitamins A, the B’s, C, K, silica and amino acids to help you achieve vibrant health. They are also an easy way to up the fibre content in your day and help manage cholesterol.

Eating sprouts like alfalfa, broccoli or bean is like eating a little plant with the nutrition all in place. Sprouts are essentially the growth from a seed before transforming into a plant. Sprouts provide a number of enzymatic, digestive and nutritional properties. Foods like legumes and beans, that can often cause gas issues, are easier to digest in sprout form.

HOW TO GROW SPROUTS AT HOME USING A HEMP NUTMILK BAG

Growing your own nutritious sprouts at home doesn’t mean buying loads of fancy equipment. All you need to grow sprouts is a hemp NutMilk Bag!

The open weave and mesh type hemp fabric facilitates airflow and makes it easier to drain off water after soaking and rinsing.

CHOOSING SEEDS

Pretty much any seed can be sprouted, but it’s best to go for organic non-GMO. Some have a handy ‘sproutable’ printed on the label.

Try to avoid any seeds that have been chemically treated, toasted, cracked, roasted or milled.

Purchase in sealed packages and not from bulk bins to minimise bacteria.

You can also grow:

• Beans

• Grains (Bigger grains do better, but the weave of the hemp sprouting bag means you can even sprout millet)

• Nuts and Seeds (From almonds, to sunflowers)

• Greens - alfalfa, clover, mustard, radish, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnip, kale and just about any of these superfoods you like.

WHY YOU SHOULD USE A HEMP NUTMILK BAG TO SPROUT SEEDS

• The NutMilk bag is French seamed (without overlocking on the inside) which means your sprouts won't get tangled in the bag!

• Hemp is naturally anti-bacterial and won't grow mould although constantly wet!

HOW TO START SPROUTING

1. Get your NutMilk Bag ready by ensuring it is clean

2. Rinse seeds with cool water and drain

3. Remove any debris or seeds that aren’t intact

4. Soak for 8 hours. Put seeds in your NutMilk hemp sprouting bag and then in a jar or bowl so that the seeds are totally submerged.

5. Rinse and drain to ensure the water drains out.

6. Rinse twice a day. *Hemp NutMilk bags are well ventilated so you avoid the mould, but this does mean you may have to rinse more often.

7. After 2-3 days your sprouts are ready.

8. Turn your sprout bag inside out and enjoy the harvest!

9. Simply rinse it to remove any sprouts left and hang to dry.

10. Store extremely well-rinsed and drained sprouts in an airtight glass container if not using immediately and refrigerate.

So, there you have the long and the short on sprouting at home. It’s nice and simple, a great activity to get kids involved in, and looks cool in your kitchen too. Let us know if you have successfully sprouted and what health benefits you may have noticed.

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