Trying to lose weight? Add these little power houses to your diet!
What are Sprouts?
Sprouts are the germinated seed of a vegetable; they are young plants on their way to full growth – at least until some are harvested from those plants to be, well, sprouts for eating. You can find sprouts pretty much wherever you find food, particularly grocery stores and farmer’s markets. I grow my own in my kitchen. I usually buy the prepared coconut mats with the seeds already in them. All you need to do is put water in the tray, soak the coconut mat with the seeds for a couple seconds, and then watch them grow. In a couple days you can harvest and enjoy. You can find a link to the company I prefer on my website www.houseofshape.com/hos-favorites. Super easy, convenient and fresh!
Types of Sprouts:
Most sprouts you’ll encounter fall into four categories:
Bean and pea sprouts: These include mung bean, kidney bean, black bean, lentil and snow pea sprouts.
Vegetable sprouts: These include broccoli, alfalfa, mustard green and red clover sprouts.
Nut and seed sprouts: These include pumpkin seed, sesame seed, and sunflower seed sprouts.
Sprouted grains: These include wheatgrass and quinoa sprouts.
Some of the more popular sprouts include alfalfa, mung bean, red clover and broccoli.
And, no, Brussels sprouts aren’t part of these sprouts. They’re grown like regular plants, but not in a warm water environment like sprouts. Brussels sprouts are actually in the same family as cabbage, kale, broccoli and cauliflower.
Benefits of sprouts:
Sprouts are jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, varying from sprout to sprout. Sprouts carry essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and are a great source of antioxidants.
For instance, Broccoli sprouts will be loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid and they are a really good source of the powerful antioxidant sulforaphane.
Sprouts can also carry other nutrients like B vitamins and minerals like phosphorus and magnesium. Plus, they’re low in things like fat, sodium and calories. They can also bring a variation to your salad, wrap or sandwich. In addition to the listed health benefits, they can also add a bit of texture and/or a different flavor to your meal.
Here is one of my favorite sprouts salad recipes:
INGREDIENTS:
SERVING: 2
1/2 cup sprouted garbanzo bean sprout
1/2 cup sprouted lentil sprouts
1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts or broccoli sprouts
1 medium chopped tomato
1 medium chopped onion
2-3 chopped green chilli
1 table spoon chopped cabbage
1/2 teaspoon chat masala
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Sea salt as required
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a bowl, add garbanzo bean sprouts, lentil sprouts, chopped onion, tomato, cabbage, green chilies, black salt, chat masalas and lemon juice.
Mix well and serve all at once.
Your House of Shape coach Angela
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