Grow Your Own Healthy Holiday Snack: Microgreens

Get the whole family involved in growing your own healthful holiday treat.  And, believe it or not, it can be quick, easy, nutritional and fun. 

Try growing your own microgreens as a garnish, snack or ingredient for your favorite salad.  Simply purchase seeds of lettuce, radishes, mustard, greens and even sunflowers.  Buy organic seeds labeled for sprouting or use as microgreens to insure they have not been treated with harmful chemicals.

Sprout seeds in a shallow container with drainage holes and filled with vermiculite or a well-drained planting or seed starting mix. 

Pre-soak the seeds overnight in warm water for faster sprouting.  Sprinkle seeds over the soil surface, lightly cover and water gently and often enough to keep the soil moist. 

You can cover the planted container to increase humidity and speed sprouting. Once the greens break through the soil, remove the cover and move the container to a sunny location or under artificial lights.

In a week or even less you will be harvesting your first crop of microgreens. 

A bit more information:  Sunflower microgreens have a nutty flavor so you and your kids may find them to be a good snack when eaten alone. Or use these and other microgreens to add a bit of flavor to salads, sandwiches or to flavor dishes you prepare. And if the kids have not devoured all the greens, you can store them in a sealed plastic or glass container in the refrigerator.

Tags

lettuce sunflower kale radishes sprouts microgreens health mustard-greens collard-greens

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