Microgreens have been gaining in popularity since the 1980s. These delicious greens are also referred to as vegetable confetti or micro herbs. Microgreens are packed full of flavor and are a welcome, colorful addition to soups, salads, sandwiches, and more.
Although small in size, microgreens pack a punch when it comes to nutrition. Microgreens have higher nutrient levels, making them the perfect addition to your diet. If you are new to microgreens, one thing you may be wondering is can you eat too much microgreens.
The short answer to this question is no, you cannot eat too many microgreens. Microgreens are simply nutrient-dense vegetables and can be eaten as such.
Microgreens are considered a superfood and can be enjoyed as often as you want. Microgreens are not the same thing as sprouts. Furthermore, they have not been associated with foodborne illnesses like food poisoning.
Microgreens are simply vegetables harvested at a very young age, between the age of a sprout and the age of a full grown plant. Sprouts have a growing cycle of 2 to 7 days, whereas most microgreens are harvested between 7 and 21 days after germination. Microgreens are harvested when the first true leaves of the plant begin to grow.
Microgreens stems and leaves are edible. When harvest time comes, the stems are cut near the soil level and the whole plant is eaten. This means minimal waste and maximum nutrition. Furthermore, because harvesting is done about a quarter of an inch to a half of an inch above the soil surface, the risk of contamination is minimized.
Microgreens contain approximately 40 times the amount of nutrients that their mature counterparts have. When microgreens are harvested at the first signs of true leaves, the plants contain all of the nutrition that the plant would need to grow to full size. When these plants are harvested as seedlings, you receive these nutrients and all the benefits they provide.
Microgreens are simply small vegetables and are safe to eat in large quantities, provided you wash them properly to prevent any foodborne illness. Microgreens do not typically cause food poisoning; however, there is always a chance of cross contamination. Because microgreens are typically eaten raw, it is extremely important that you properly clean your microgreens.
Technically, you can eat the roots of microgreens; however, eating the roots of microgreens increase the risk of foodborne illness. To help prevent this, cut your microgreens right above the soil level. Cutting your microgreens slightly above soil level will reduce the risk of a foodborne illness by 50 percent, which is why microgreens are considered safer to eat than sprouts are.
You can eat as many as you want. The recommended servings of fruits and veggies according to the USDA is between 5 and 13 servings. All of these servings can potentially be microgreens.
You can enjoy microgreens at every mealtime. These delicious greens are very versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. They can be eaten in salads, soups, sandwiches, smoothies, casseroles, and much more.
Microgreens add flavor, crunch, and color to all of your favorite dishes. Here are just a few ideas of how you can incorporate more microgreens into your diet. You can add them to:
You can add substitute microgreens in any dish where you would normally use salad greens or shredded lettuce. Adding microgreens to your dishes adds texture, flavor, color, and nutrients, making them a great way to boost your nutrition naturally.
When using microgreens in a dish for the first time, you must consider the flavor of the microgreen and how it will impact your dish. Typically, microgreens taste like their mature counterparts with additional underlying flavors. With time and practice, you can use microgreens to create new, amazing flavor combinations.
The typical American diet is lacking the recommended number of fruits and vegetables. Microgreens allow you to incorporate more nutrients into your diet. Microgreens contain large amounts of fiber, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and antioxidants.
Incorporating more microgreens into your diet will improve your health. The extra vitamins and minerals in microgreens will ensure your body is receiving everything that it needs to protect against illness and disease.
Microgreens are often eaten raw, which causes many people to worry about the risk of food poisoning. The risk of a foodborne illness (salmonella, listeria, E. coli, etc.) depends on how the microgreens are prepared and where they come from. Although the risk of foodborne illnesses is minimal, the growing methods for microgreens minimize the risk of food poisoning.
Microgreens are not grown in warm humid conditions, which would encourage bacteria growth. Instead, they are grown under grow lights and circulation fans, which minimizes the risk of mold and other foodborne illnesses.
Microgreens are usually grown by independent microgreen gardeners who only grow small batches of greens. Small batch gardening allows the microgreen grower to better control the moisture level, airflow, and hygiene of their microgreens. These microgreen growing protocols greatly reduce the risk of a foodborne illness.
Microgreens are easy to grow and only require a small investment. Once you have purchased your microgreen supplies, you will be able to enjoy fresh, healthy microgreens within a week or two of planting.
When you first begin growing microgreens, the sheer number of choices can be a little overwhelming. Choose an easy to grow 1 to 2 thumb microgreen and plant a tray of microgreens. Once you gain confidence, you will begin spreading your wings and fully embracing microgreen gardening.
Microgreens are tiny vegetables that are harvested when they are only a few inches tall. They are filled with polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that improve your health. You can eat as many microgreens as you want without any worries.
