Is MicroGreens Bad For You?
Eating Microgreens – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Microgreens have some amazing qualities for growing in your garden. They are high in antioxidants, so help prevent cancer. They are a good source of vitamins A and E, as well as beta carotene, which is an antioxidant found in carrots and cantaloupe. In fact, eating microgreens is like eating a carrot or two. These adorable little vegetables are packed with healthful benefits.
Some varieties of these beautiful vegetables are ornamental, making them lovely additions to pots and other arrangements. However, most edible microgreens are used in recipes. The key to eating these healthy vegetables is to be mindful of how much you actually eat. Too much can be unhealthy, but too little can make the food taste flat. This is a fine balance to be attained by carefully weighing the amount of microgreens you consume and using other ingredients to disguise the flavor.
Most of the flavor comes from the skins, which contain bitter plant juices that are not pleasant to most people. For this reason, it is always advisable to rinse off any microgreens that come in contact with sauces or fruit-based dishes. If the microgreens do get on a piece of lettuce, for example, the bitter juice can cancel out the sweetness of the salad.
When choosing containers for growing microgreens, you want to be sure that they are airtight and moisture resistant. These vegetables don’t like moisture. You want to be able to cover them, or at least partially cover them, during hot weather. If you are planning to plant more than one kind of microgreen at a time, you may want to use a larger pot that has more length. In this case, the plants will have lots of space to grow.
Good eating habits are also an important part of the whole “you are what you eat” equation. Try to avoid foods containing too much sugar. Too much sugar in your diet can actually make your body produce more glycogen. This excess glycogen is stored as fat, so it’s a good idea to limit your consumption of high glycemic carbohydrates like sugars.
Microgreens are a great addition to your diet. They’re colorful, relatively inexpensive, and filling. The good news is that eating several small meals containing microgreens is actually good for you. They fill you up, take the hunger away, and are very satisfying.
Eating vegetables like kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and lettuce is especially easy with these kinds of foods. You can easily disguise them on a plate with another vegetable like beans or spinach. Just remember, vegetables like these should never be combined with meat, cheese, or any dairy products! If you’re not used to eating a lot of vegetables, add some nuts like almonds in small amounts. Nuts have additional health benefits, so they don’t hurt.
As for other types of vegetables, try different ones until you find something you like. Some favorites include peas, carrots, beets, onions, bell peppers, and cucumbers. Sprinkle some flaxseed oil over vegetables like this before eating them to keep them healthy. When eating whole grains, add them to salads.
It’s best not to be too picky about microgreens. After all, the name says “micro”, right? Eat them all you want! Or at least, eat them as a part of a healthy diet. They do taste good, so you might as well eat them!
Try steaming your greens instead of frying them when preparing them. Microgreens taste best when steamed. You can steam them until tender but not crisp, which give them a nutty flavor. They’re great as an ingredient in stir-fry or other dishes where you want a slightly crisper flavor.
To make sure you’re getting the most nutrition out of your greens, eat them raw and unpeeled. Steaming ensures that much of the nutrients are locked in. Eating vegetables like this in a steamer allows them to be digested more quickly and efficiently, helping you get the most out of your serving. Even eating them lightly steamed on crackers works!
And while microgreens are great for you, they’re also great for packing on the pounds. They’re loaded with vitamins, iron, and antioxidants, so eating lots of them can help your overall health. You can make your own salads with the leaves to make an easy meal that packs a big punch of nutrients. Or snack on them raw between meals, or bake them into delicious cookies or brownies. Either way, eating vegetables like this can be a satisfying and filling part of your diet.