One of the biggest complaints parents have is getting their children to eat and enjoy healthy, nutritious foods. Choosing nutrient-dense foods that your child will eat can be difficult. One of the easiest ways to ensure your child is getting the nutrients they need for proper growth and development is to incorporate microgreens into their diet.
Many parents are afraid to feed their children raw microgreens; however, raw microgreens are entirely safe for children of all ages. Microgreens are rich in vitamins and minerals that ensure healthy development.
We recommend using a soilless growing medium rather than growing hydroponically. Hydroponically grown microgreens are at an increased risk of developing fungi and mold due to reduced ventilation and sun exposure. Growing in a soilless growing medium like coconut coir and using grow lights and circulation fans help to reduce the risk of fungi and bacterial development.
To help reduce the risk of microbes, cut the microgreens slightly above the surface of the growing medium. We recommend harvesting about one-half of an inch above the soil surface. Make sure your scissors or knife is sharp and clean before beginning to harvest.
Microgreens are wonderful additions to your child's diet; however, they should not be the only vegetables your child eats. You must incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables in your kid's diet to ensure they are receiving a variety of phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals.
On average, your child's diet should include no more than one-half cup of microgreens each day. Adding a couple of tablespoons of microgreens to each meal will provide your kid with the nutrients he/she needs. Feeding your child more than the recommended amount can lead to digestive discomforts like diarrhea or upset stomach.
Young children's taste preferences and palate are just developing. Microgreens come in a variety of flavors, including sweet, nutty, bitter, spicy, and mild. Children often prefer sweeter tasting microgreens, especially when first being introduced to microgreens.
Microgreens can be added to smoothies, used in desserts, added as a pizza topping, or incorporated into your child's favorite sides like macaroni and cheese. Here are the top five microgreens that kids love and why you should incorporate them into your kid's diet.
Basil microgreens are packed full of nutrients that provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Each serving of basil microgreens contains vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K along with a variety of minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron.
Basil microgreens are the perfect addition to your kid's favorite Italian foods. Stir some basil microgreens in a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs or top a pizza with these tasty microgreens.
Beet microgreens are vibrant, beautiful, and absolutely delicious. They are packed with nutrients like magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, vitamins, C, E, A, and K.
The sweet earthy flavor of beet microgreens provides a great background for a smoothie. Add your beet microgreens with flavorful fresh fruits like berries and bananas.
Corn microgreens are packed with nutrients like magnesium, calcium, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, and B vitamins. They are also rich in fiber and protein, which kids need for optimal growth ad digestion.
What kid doesn't love the sweet succulent flavor of corn? This microgreen is amazing when incorporated into another of your kid's favorite dishes – macaroni and cheese. Simply stir a couple of tablespoons of corn microgreens in your child's bowl of macaroni and cheese for a tasty, healthy treat.
Kale microgreens are chockful of antioxidants including vitamins C, A, and E. Additionally, kale contains potassium, iron, calcium, and zinc to strengthen the immune system and help grow strong bones and muscles.
Kale microgreens are from the brassica family and provide a broccoli flavor with nutty undertones. The crunchy texture of kale microgreens is the perfect accompaniment for fresh salads, soups, and sandwiches.
Sunflower microgreens contain omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that help with brain health, protein for muscle development, and a plethora of vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, vitamin k, vitamin C, and vitamin A.
Sunflower microgreens have a sweet nutty flavor, making them the perfect microgreen for picky kids. Sunflower microgreens can be incorporated into a delicious salsa for tacos and other favorite Mexican treats kids love. Grab tomatoes, cilantro, onion, and a handful of sunflower microgreens, dice the ingredients up, and let the flavors mingle together for an amazing Pico de Gallo or salsa.
Microgreens contain concentrated amounts of nutrients to help kids grow and develop. The variety of flavors and textures make it easy for parents to find a microgreen that their child will love.
In the beginning, parents should slowly introduce microgreens into their kids' favorite dishes. As the child's palate becomes more accustomed to the flavor and texture of a microgreen, you can increase the number of microgreens in the dish.
If your kid doesn't like microgreens, in the beginning, take heart. Continue offering microgreens to your child by introducing different microgreens. There are so many different flavors, textures, and ways to serve microgreens, you are sure to find some that your child loves.
