Sprouts and Microgreens: Enzyme Powerhouse and Teaching Aid

Jordan Freytag + photo

Jordan Freytag

Feb 15
3 min read
bubble 0

Growing initiatives in schools and community centers around the country are teaching kids and members of the community how to grow their own sprouts and microgreens and the health benefits of including them in their diets. We see the importance of educating kids and adults about these high-nutrition food sources because, in this day and age, clean food packed with nutrients is hard to come by and eating sprouts fills you with the nutrients to lead to longer and fuller years.

One thing both microgreens and sprouts are full of is enzymes. And according to Dr. Mercola, a diet rich in enzymes boosts endurance, optimizes digestion, and slows down aging by regenerating cells. “Sprouts are a particularly excellent source of live enzymes,” He states. Yes, raw vegetables are plentiful in enzymes but sprouts contain roughly 100 times more enzymes.

According to Sproutnet.com, the four sprouting seeds with the highest enzyme content are Rye, Wheat, Mung beans, and Alfalfa—but really, all sprouted seeds contain high concentrations of food-based enzymes that aid in energy production, absorption of oxygen, getting nutrients into your cells, etc. The various functions that enzymes support work together to improve one one’s feeling of vitality and overall health.

We think spreading knowledge about the health benefits of microgreens and sprouts and how easy they are to grow is really important. That is why we’ve taught short comprehensive classes about sprouting and “microgreening” right in our headquarters. We do this through the U of U’s Continuing Engagement and Community Education. For those of you in the Salt Lake area, check in with us for upcoming classes. We educate because we want people to be able to make a positive change in their eating habits if they want to. We want to be able to show them how easy it can be. We teach about the jar method and the tray method for spouting, and we review growing microgreens both with soil and hydroponically.

Robb Baumann teaching a class on how to grow microgreens

We’ve received feedback from teachers who have initiated sprout and microgreen growing programs in their classrooms and seen how well the children respond to them. One such teacher told us that by using a greenhouse on school grounds, the educators were able to involve children in a fairly large scale microgreens project. Each child was able to participate in growing a tray of microgreens, resulting in a microgreens-infused lunch for every child. This activity demonstrated how they can fuel their bodies cleanly and sustainably with just a little know-how, effort, and patience.

For more on educating your children (or anyone, really) about growing, check out our Tips for Encouraging Kids to Garden since getting your child or children involved in gardening is a good way to teach about the environment and health!

Our Recommended Picks

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

0 Comments

No Comments yet! Be the first to start a conversation

  1. Growing Microgreens at Home: A Beginner's ExperienceMicrogreens A Beginner's Experience with green microgreens

    Growing Microgreens at Home: A Beginner's Experience

    Written By Lara Wadsworth Microgreens seem to be used at every gourmet restaurant, are being talked about in every health magazine, and are having more and more scientific research released about the purported health benefits of these little plants. Wh...


    Ashleigh Smith + photo

    Ashleigh Smith

    2025-04-15
    10 min read
    bubble 0
  2. How to Harden Off Seedlings in 5 Easy StepsA woman carrying a tray of seedlings outdoors

    How to Harden Off Seedlings in 5 Easy Steps

    Written By Lara Wadsworth Hardening off is the process of gradually exposing your seedlings to new outdoor conditions to help them adjust without experiencing transplant shock. This is when a seedling becomes delayed, stunted, or even dies after being ...


    Ashleigh Smith + photo

    Ashleigh Smith

    2025-04-15
    6 min read
    bubble 4
  3. Questions to Ask Yourself For A Better Gardennull

    Questions to Ask Yourself For A Better Garden

    Written By Lara Wadsworth Planning a garden each year can feel very daunting. With so many possibilities, it can be challenging to know what to plant and where. But the key to success lies in careful review of the previous year and asking the right que...


    Ashleigh Smith + photo

    Ashleigh Smith

    2025-04-08
    7 min read
    bubble 0
  4. Why Your Seeds Aren’t Sprouting: Germination Tips and Troubleshooting GuideA seedling emerges from the ground

    Why Your Seeds Aren’t Sprouting: Germination Tips and Troubleshooting Guide

    Written By Lara Wadsworth Thousands of people every year flock to garden centers nationwide to buy young seedling plugs. While it is incredibly convenient to buy seedlings ready to be planted in the garden, starting seeds at home has some significant a...


    Ashleigh Smith + photo

    Ashleigh Smith

    2025-04-02
    14 min read
    bubble 0