Melon microgreens are a great new way to add a lot of healthy benefits to your diet. Microgreens are small, purple, succulent gourds that are very low in calories and high in nutrition. They are native to Asia but have now made their way over to the United States and other parts of Europe. Planting microgreens is fairly easy and if you follow the proper steps it should be an easy task for you.

To begin with you will want to try adding them to your diet on a fairly regular basis. Try adding them to smoothies in the morning, sprinkled on salads at dinner, blended into drinks like coffee, or as a topper on pizzas. If you want to try adding them as a great compliment to your yogurt, you can mash up one or two of the leaves with a little bit of lime juice. You will also find that they make a great addition to soups and stews. Use a blender or processor to puree your melon microgreens for maximum benefit.

Because eating microgreens is such a healthy alternative they can make a great meal replacement. They pair wonderfully with a variety of different vegetables including broccoli, spinach, carrots, asparagus, celery, peas, potatoes and beans. If you are eating them as a salad or a side dish with chicken salad they will go great with roasted chicken or turkey.

Another great way to use your melon microgreens is to make a delicious, spicy salad. If you haven’t tried blending chopped micro greens with chopped tomatoes and red onions you really should give it a try. Serve it with some crusty bread slices and a drizzle of olive oil. Top with a wedge of lime and enjoy a delicious salad. Chives and garlic go well with this recipe as does croutons for added flavor.

As an interesting side note, if you like the taste of spicy salad mix you can easily add a sprig of Cayenne pepper to your favorite melon microgreens. This adds a nice, spicy touch to a delicious salad. If you do not want to make a spicy salad mix instead use a sliced scallion and cube of mozzarella cheese along with the microgreens. They will be nicely complimented by the other ingredients in the mix.

As far as being a good meal replacement goes, peas in a chili pepper soup makes a delicious option. It is full of nutrients and can help to reduce your hunger at meal time. The radish and chives microgreens also go great in a black bean chili. It can stand alone or be served with tortilla chips as an added dip. You can serve the soup right out of the fridge, or you can heat it up and use it in the oven or on the stove top.

The tomatoes that go into your spicy spring rolls mix make a tasty snack for kids and adults alike. The tomatoes are full of vitamin A and are rich in antioxidants. If you are not the kind of person who likes to munch through a whole head of raw vegetables you might want to consider including canned or fresh radish and carrot juice in your meal plan. Both radish and carrot juice are good for you and are better for your diet than bottled water. For even more nutrients, just soak a handful of the tiny trees microgreens in some water for about 20 minutes to give them a boost.

The small and tender leaves of the Melon can go wonderfully with mixed greens, other forms of vegetables, meat and cheese. You can serve the melon in a salad, alone, with a cheese dip or as a great compliment to any other ingredients in your spicy salad. Try serving the little gems with other brightly colored veggies for a colorful, contrasting touch. You will be surprised at how easy it is to create a delicious, colorful centerpiece for any dinner party.