Sprouting for Cats

Believe it or not, animals can benefit from sprouting just as much as humans.  In fact, most animals love vegetables!  Here's a hint, if  your cat is eating your house plants or is practicing to be an escape artist to the great outdoors - they probably crying out for some grass.

Grass is very beneficial to cats.  "The juices in grass contain folic acid. This is an essential vitamin for a cat's bodily functions and assists in the production of hemoglobin, the protein that moves oxygen in the blood."  Cats are actually designed to eat grass and therefore can eat all they want without issue.  That being said, one of the main reasons cats eat grass is because of hair balls or digestion issues, as the grass can help the cat throw up.  Not pretty, but it is a fact of life for us cat owners.

I have been sprouting kitty grass for Morticia, my 16 year old kitty for a few months now. She loves having her own private supply!

After receiving veterinary treatment for heart failure, I noticed that Morticia's cravings for grass increased ten fold.  I don't know if there's a direct correlation, but I tend to trust an animal's instinct over man's, so I began growing pesticide-free, chemical-free grass for her to chow down on.  According to the vet, Morticia should have died over a year ago - she's still meowing, so I'm still sprouting!

Miss Morticia & her grass

Cat grass has the shelf life of about a week.  So it's no surprise that the stuff you buy at the store is looking a little peaked before you even get it home.  It's actually more beneficial and economical for you to sprout your own. I have found that I am able to keep my home grown cat grass around for about 2 weeks, before things start going south.

What I love most about sprouting grass - it's super simple & requires no dirt!  You sprout cat grass just as you would regular sprouts.  The only difference is that you start the seeds (1-2 days) and then spread them out on a contained water absorbing surface to promote growth & continue to water daily - that's it!  I've been successful growing grass on a folded up paper towel in a plastic sushi container.  Or you can get fancy with a Baby Blanket and  plastic Tray.  Within about 3 days, your grass is off and growing and ready for your cat!

I get my Kat Grass seeds & supplies through Sproutpeople.org, which just happens to be a certified organic sprouts supplier.  Currently, they have a winter package, which contains all the supplies needed to be your own kitty grass farmer for up to 6 months! They also have sprout seeds available for dogs, birds and smaller animals such as bunnies, hamsters, turtles and iguanas.

Check out this video for more info & step by step instructions on growing grass:



Keep Our Pets Healthy!
The Hoff


P.S. Cat grass doesn't do it for every cat, Hawkeye, my son won't touch the stuff...kids!

Sources: Why Do Cats Eat Grass?

Sprout Mixes

Been sprouting one type of a seed at a time?

That's so last season.

Open up your world to Sprouting Mixes!

Sprouting mixes offer you a vast world of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.  It's like sprouting on steroids, because you're combining various types of foods at their peak state of nutrition!  You also get some pretty unique flavor combinations.

You can create your own mixes by simply pairing seeds together that sprout within the same time frame.  But, if that's too hands on, check out these fascinating sprout mixes:


Mixes Available from Sprout People:

Beanie's Awesome Mix: Green, Crimson & Red Chief Lentils, Green, Marrowfat & Yellow Peas, Beige Garbanzos and Adzukis

French Garden: Clover, Arugula, Cress, Radish, Fenugreek, Dill

Halloween Treat: Black Garbanzos & Orange Lentils

Italian Blend: Clover, Garlic, Cress

Mother's Mix: Red Clover, Alfalfa, Broccoli, Fenugreek, Natural & Black Sesame & Garlic Chive

Neville's Midnight Moon (Mix #47): French Blue & Crimson Lentils and Speckled Peas

Nick's Hot Sprout Salad: Clover, Radish, Fenugreek, Mustard, Dill, Cress and Celery

Oriental Greens: Alfalfa, Clover, Oriental Mustard, Mizuna and Tatsoi

Russian Mix: Clover, Onion, Mustard, Dill, Fenugreek

San Francisco Mix: Peanuts, Mung Bean, Adzuki Bean, Black, Crimson, Eston, French Blue & Green Lentils, Green, Speckled & Bill Jump Peas, Black, Brown & Beige Garbanzos

Spicy Mix: Alfalfa, Clover, Radish, Fenugreek


And that is just scratching the surface of what's available...

Yes, there are more to sprouts than bean & alfalfa - get out there and explore!

Sprout Happy!
The Hoff

Sprouting Chart

Chart courtesy of: Raw Food Living

Moldy Sprouts

Hopefully after reading my post on Sprouting: What Is It? or following my day by day account on the sprouting process, I inspired you to start sprouting for yourself!

Root Hair

But you may be running into mold trouble.

Maybe.

When I first started sprouting, I panicked because I saw what I thought was mold forming on my delicate little sprouts.  How could this be?  Sprouting is so easy, how did I manage to screw this up!  Actually, it was not mold that I was seeing.  In fact what I was experiencing was Root Hairs, fuzzy little white hairs that mimic mold, but are in fact part of the root.  Simple rinsing will put these little guys back into place.

But, what if you really are experiencing mold?

First, throw your sprouts out and start over, no use getting sick over moldy sprouts.

Here are some things that can lead to moldy sprouts & how to fix:

1. Poor air-circulation - keep jar upside down at 45 degree angle
2. Insufficient drainage - keep jar upside down at 45 degree angle
3. High humidity - use a fan for circulation and/or add a 3rd rinse per day
4. Non-sterile jar & lid - soak in bleach/water solution for 10-20 minutes, rinse thoroughly
5. Growing sprouts in a cabinet - grow sprouts out in the open, but not in direct sunlight
6. Rinsing with warm or hot water - only use cold water

Happy Sprouting!

The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 7

Day 7

Day 7 and it's time to eat my sprouts!  You don't want to grow your sprouts too long, because they may get bitter.  Ideal sprout length is between 2 1/2 to 4 inches.

My picture does not do these sprouts justice; I would say my 4 tbsp of seeds yielded about 2 1/2 cups of sprouts!

I dumped the sprouts into a bowl filled with water.  This allowed those green skins/hulls to float to the surface while my sprouts dropped to the bottom.  I skimmed off the hulls and threw my sprouts into my salad spinner to aid in their drying.  Getting rid of the hulls is an optional step, they are edible and you probably won't even notice them.

Then I laid the sprouts out on paper towels until I was confident they were dry.  Then off to a freezer ziplock bag they went, with a paper towel to remove moisture and into the frig, where they should keep for about 7 days.

If it weren't the dead of winter and I could get access to some reliable sunlight, I would have left my sprouts in the sun for at least 15 minutes.  Not only helping them dry but to activates the enzymes that produce chlorophyll A and allow the sprout's leaves to turn green.  But, they will be just fine without it for now.

Be sure to inspect your sprouts for mold, if it is present, throw away your sprouts.  I know this can be hard (you've bonded), but better safe than sorry.  If you rinsed and drained properly, odds are this will never happen.

Now, I have to say that these Mung Bean Sprouts are nothing like you buy in the store and what I previously wrote about so affectionately.  I'm not enjoying these sprouts as much, they don't taste so great alone, are much smaller and have a bite to them.  Also, they taste "green", which is the only way I can figure how to articulate their flavor.  I can only imagine that I am so used to eating "old" food, that fresh food is foreign to my palette.  I am not going to give up, though!  I am happy to say that they virtually disappeared in my daily wrap, so all is good!

I hope my adventures in sprouting have inspired you to give it a try.

Happy Sprouting!
The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 6

Day 6

Day 6 and my sprouts are almost ready to eat!  My gut is telling me to let them go another day.  There is only about a 1/2" of space left in the bottle, the sprouts have taken over the rest!

I'm using tap water to rinse my sprouts only because I have water filters on the main lines coming into the house.  If you don't have water filters, it is best to avoid using tap water as the addition of chlorine can result in poor sprouting.  If this is the case, you can use spring water.  I avoid using distilled water as the minerals have been stripped out.

One more day - Day 7!
The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 5

Day 5

Day 5 and lots of action!

The seeds are very plump, the tails much longer, almost all the green skins have fallen off to expose an almost beige seed, which is starting to turn a purplish color on the ends.  Opposite of the white tales, the seed is starting to split and a little green lizard like tongue is making an appearance.  Tiny little leaves are starting to form as well.  The bottle is 3/4 full and if these little guys aren't ready to eat soon, I'm going to have to take half of the sprouts out and continue growing in another bottle.

My gut tells me these sprouts are not ready to eat, but I suspect any day now - Day 6!

The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 4

Day 4

Day 4 and my sprouts now take up half the bottle.  The little white tales are getting longer and the seeds are getting bigger!

After rinsing, I turn the bottle to encourage the sprouts to stick to the sides instead of clumping together in the lid.  This helps with  airflow and allows them to dry in order to prevent mold from forming.

Any day now - Day 5!
The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 3

Day 3

Day 3!  Lots of action today.

I once again rinsed & drained my little seeds, once in the morning & again in the evening.  Swirling the water around in the jar to ensure each little seed was washed.  My seeds are growing - starting to fill up the jar, some of the green skins/hulls have completely fallen off and little white tails are starting to make an appearance - kinda looks like tadpoles!

Very Exciting - Day 4!
The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 2

Day 2

Day 2 into my sprouting experience and I have once again rinsed & drained my sprout seeds and left the jar titled upside down in order to allow an excess water to drip out & air to flow into the jar.  The rinsing is very important because you are getting rid of any bacteria that could lead to mold.

Not much of a change today, other than the little green skins have broken apart to expose the white seed they were covering.

Till Tomorrow - Day 3!
The Hoff

Sprouting: Day 1

Day 1

As you know from my previous post, I have decided to take on sprouting as my next challenge!

I'm going to chronicle my experience, to give you an idea of what to expect on your sprouting adventure.

So, this is Day 1.

I have decided to start with Mung Bean Sprouts, because I have read that they are pretty hardy and difficult to screw up.

Following the directions on the package of my seeds, I rinsed 4 tbsp of Mung Bean to ensure all dirt or soil was removed and there were no tiny stones.  Tossed those into my glass canning jar and covered it with water.  Actually, you only need to go above the seeds with a 1/2" of water, but I wasn't taking any chances so I filled up the jar!  I used room temperature Spring Water for this, for no particular reason.  Filtered tap water would be just fine as well.

I placed the jar out direct sunlight and let it soak over night.

In the morning, I dumped the water, using the handy screened top and then rinse the seeds with running, filtered tap water.  Swirled the water around a bit and then dumped it all out, shaking the bottle to get every drop out.  I then left the bottle upside down at a 45 degree angle in my dish rack, again, out of direct sunlight for the entire day.

When I returned home from work, I repeated the "washing" ritual from the morning and let the bottle sit and drain overnight.

Can wait to see what tomorrow brings...Day 2!
The Hoff

Sprouting: What Is It?

Recently, I have discovered the magical world of Sprouts and the art of Sprouting!  I was blown away by how something so tiny and so simple to grow, could deliver such a powerhouse of nutrients and health benefits - truly amazing!

Sprouting is simply soaking seeds in water and then allowing them to germinate until the very first signs of plant growth appear.  Then you eat them - super simple!

I personally never buy alfalfa sprouts from the grocery store due to an unusually high incidence of E. Coli, salmonella and  listeria contamination.  That and sprouts, even organic, are commonly sprayed with chlorine or food grade hydrogen peroxide to prevent mold and extend their very short self-life.

Benefits of Sprouts

Due to the numerous enzymes, sprouts are rich in easily digestible energy.

They are abundant in antioxidants, full of protein, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  Chlorophyll is the ultimate blood purifier, intestinal cleanser and removes toxins from the body - in fact sprouts are nature's great cleaner!

Sprouts contain beneficial fiber.

Sprouts are very alkaline and can help balance the body.

It's best to eat sprouts raw to preserve all their beneficial nutrients.

Each different type of sprout comes with it's own unique benefits, but just to give you a perspective of the type of health benefits you can expect, one ounce of Broccoli Sprouts is the same as 3 pounds of Broccoli from a nutrient standpoint!  How is this possible?  Well, each sprout has the complete nutritional makeup of a full grown vegetable and one ounce, about the amount that fits in the palm of your hand is about 100 sprouts.  So when you eat one ounce of sprouts, when it comes to all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals you are eating 100 vegetables!

Sprouting Is Cheap!

Fancy equipment although available is so not necessary for sprouting.  Canning jars are a popular and cheap choice to grow sprouts.  You can use a fancy plastic lid with a built-in mesh screen to aid in drainage or make your own.  Sprouting seeds are cheap when you think about how much you can grow with just a few tablespoons of seeds.  And water, everyone has access to that!  That's really all you need to sprout.  Google sprouting and you will find all kinds of websites eager to help get you started, such as Back Yard Nature.

I Don't Have Time!

Yes you do.  Sprouting requires minimal time and effort.  Once you have rinsed and soaked your seeds, simply rinse with water twice a day.  Within 3 - 6 days, you have sprouts!

I Kill Plants!

So do I, but trust me, sprouting is so simple that you & I can do it! We really just have to get the process started and the sprouts take care of the rest. Mother Nature, go figure!

Getting Started

One good source for organic sprouting seeds is MountainRoseHerbs.com.  You can buy in 4oz, 8oz or 1lb increments.  Seeds can start at $2 and go up to $24 depending on which variety and how much you want. 

Canning jars are the typical go-to vessel for sprouters and can be found at Walmart and perhaps even your grandparent's basement.  Make sure you get the wide mouth opening in at least the quart size.  If you want a bigger jar (half gallon), you may have to buy online from Ball or Amazon.  Although, I have heard this size can be found at a hardware store.

You can buy sprouting lids, which come in metal or plastic.  Make sure to get the plastic as the metal are prone to rust.  You can also make your own lid using a rubber band and anything that will allow water to filter through and air to circulate in - some common materials used: cheesecloth and nylon.    If you are prone to fruit flies in the summer months, an alternative screening solution will work better than the ready-made lids.

Or just buy a sprouting kit!  I got mine kit from The Wellness Forum.  They don't have online ordering, so you have to call to place an order - 1.800.761.8210

The kit is $45.95 and includes everything you need to get started: 2 quart glass canning jars, 2 sets of lids (3 each with varied size screens), one pack of Mung Bean, Radish & Broccoli seeds.

Sprouting Is Easy!

1. Rinse seeds
2. Soak seeds overnight
3. Drain and rinse seeds again, keep jar at a 45 degree angle to allow water to drip out and air to flow in
4. Repeat Step 3, twice a day - once in the morning, once at night
5. After 3-6 days, (depending on type of seeds) sprouts are ready to eat
6. Expose to sunlight for up to 15 minutes, allow to dry and store in frig for up to a week

Best of all, there is no "right season" to grow sprouts, you can do it anytime of year.  Which means, when the cold, cruel snows bury us, we can still have fresh veggies whenever we want!

Storage

Sprouts can be kept in the frig for up to two weeks.  Just make sure to keep them dry.

You Grew Them, Now What?

Let the eating extravaganza begin!  Eating sprouts, due to their size, is the equivalent of eating hundreds of full grown plants!

Use them in:

• Salads
• Sandwiches
  
• Wraps
• Soups
• Smoothies
• Juices
• Stir-fry's
• Side dish

Check out this cool YouTube video, courtesy of Dara of Live Love Raw for more info & inspiration!

Go Sprout!

The Hoff

Sources: 
http://sproutpeople.org/
http://www.energiseforlife.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al_rAx5optw&feature=relmfu