I have some vague memories of learning how to sprout at a very early age at my montessori pre-school. My brother and I have often discussed what exactly our hippie teachers were teaching us to grow under those bright lights.Sprouts are a great introduction for ourselves and our families into how easy it is to grow our own food. And this kind of home-grown goodness doesn’t require anything other than a mason jar and some water and can be the basis for a very local and very healthy diet. Getting your kids involved, or having them take charge of the sprouting is a fabulous way to teach them the basics of plants, living and whole foods. The best bit is that since they grew them, they will take huge pride when their sprouts become part of the family’s dinner.Filled with nutrients needed by the growing plant, and dense with vital enzymes, seeds are the very core of life.  Seeds start it all! All the energy and life of a plant goes toward making seeds. Each seed holds vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in reserve, awaiting the suitable environment to begin growing.Here is the science behind it… When air, water, and appropriate temperature are provided, the seeds get busy. They begin to sprout, and a super powered flow of energy is released.  Enzymes are produced to convert the concentrated nutrients into those needed by the growing plant.A huge benefit for us is that as the sprouting process continues, carbohydrates are made easier to digest and absorb. Complex proteins are converted into more simple amino acids and fats are changed into fatty acids, which are easily digested. Vitamin C, along with some other vitamins found only in trace amounts in the seed, is produced in larger amounts during sprouting. The minerals in sprouts are chelated; meaning, they are  in their natural state, and bound to amino acids making them easily absorbable.Sprouting AdvantagesEnzymes are activated- necessary for food digestionProteins convert to free amino acids- building blocks of ...