Back in the 1980s, microgreens were introduced by chefs in California to improve the visual appeal of gourmet dishes. If you have been to a fine restaurant of late, then you must have noticed the tiny greens chefs sprinkle on your meals with tweezers.
Known to be cool and containing a high concentration of nutrients demanded by full-grown adults, they are also good for your baby’s lunch. While greens aren’t exactly what your baby will willingly have for lunch, there are plenty of ways in which to include microgreens into their lunch.
If you are looking for the best types to use, then I think these 7 best microgreen types for your baby’s lunch will be a good place to kick start your search.
Why your child needs to consume Microgreen
The health benefits of microgreens cannot be taken lightly. If you want to see your baby grow up to a healthy and strong human being then you shouldn’t even think twice about including microgreen in your baby’s lunch. As a parent, you should invest in your own herb garden from which you can be getting your microgreen quite easily.
It is a known fact that microgreens contain a slightly higher concentration of most of the necessary nutrients as compared to mature herbs or vegetables. Microgreen will provide your child with higher levels of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, and phytonutrients.
These are all nutrients that will help your child to grow to have strong bones, a better immune system as well as a generally healthy life.
7 Best Microgreen Types for Your Baby
Baby greens and kids are a match made in heaven. And moms, you will agree with me here that both of them beam with vitality and zest as they grow from tiny little beings. They have a liking for being in the dirt too.
Moreover, the nutrients that microgreens are oozing with such as minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants are beneficial for holistic baby development. Here are 7 of the popular greens that babies can benefit from, especially when made into a smoothie.
Adzuki Bean
The Adzuki bean is mostly consumed in Asia as a dessert and dish. It possesses a nutty, rich sweet taste. As for the appearance, it is green throughout, including the leaves and stem. Besides being rich in vitamins, adzuki bean also has a high protein level, facilitating the management of diabetes in adults.
Adzuki bean grows in the same temperate conditions as mung bean and soybean. Their moderately sized leaves are crunchy, making them a suitable replacement for lettuce. If your baby isn’t the finicky eater, then you can serve this microgreen as a salad. Otherwise, blend the greens into a fine taste and flavor with her favorite drink.
Radish Microgreen
Most of the aforementioned greens have a mild taste, but not the radish microgreen. If by any chance mild tastes aren’t your thing and it runs through your family, then here is a lunch plan for your baby. As little as they seem, these sprouts have the same spicy taste as the flavory larger selves.
Let me warn you, the heat it delivers to dishes might be too much for some kids. So try a little bit at a time. If you notice them being overwhelmed, then call it wraps for lunchtime. Provide an alternative such that the kid has enough to eat.
Apart from Vitamins K, C, E, B, and A, these microgreens contain minerals such as zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and calcium. That’s not all, fibers and roughages are part of the deal too. This two help keep the digestive tract running smoothly.
Kales
If you have been to the market of late, you must have realized how trendy kales are. The hype is for a good reason though. Kales is considered one of the most nutritious microgreens among the brassica family. It packs super amounts of Vitamin K.
Actually, kales and broccoli contain as much as 100% of a baby’s requirement per day of this essential vitamin in every serving. Moreover, kales are another vitamin C powerhouse. Eaten solely, it tends to have a bitter taste. Vitamin K and C are known to boost the baby’s immunity.
Massaging it with apples, apple cider vinegar, dried fruit, lemon juice, or tahini eliminates (masks) the bitter taste, making for an edible lunch for your little one.
Broccoli
As I have just noted, broccoli probably contains an oversupply of Vitamins. This is a great addition to a baby’s dietary needs as it eliminates the risks of the kid developing infections as a result of a poor immune system.
As a cruciferous food, broccoli is rich in sulfur. This nutrient is beside the vitamins it has in plenty. However, note that broccoli has few calories but makes up for this with sulfur and vitamins. In there is also a significant amount of minerals, antioxidants, and Vitamins A, B, and C.
Versatility is another reason I consider this microgreen one of the best microgreen types. Parents have the option of making it into a paste, a spread of hummus, and crudités. It all depends on how your kids prefer to have their greens for lunch.
Arugula
Also a member of the brassica family, arugula is one of the latest entrants to the microgreen groups of superfoods. It is only recently that this food was isolated from the wild. Each leaf of an arugula plant oozes antioxidants, phytochemicals, minerals, and vitamins.
In as much as it encompasses lots of valuable nutrients, the quantities are comparatively low in comparison with other microgreens. I know most of you have interacted with arugula as a salad dressing on pizza for a refreshing taste.
For the baby’s lunch, toss a handful of arugulas into the blender for juice or smoothie. If you are tacos, sandwich, or burger lover, then you can replace the usual lettuce with a pinch of arugula.
Pea Shoots
During one of my visits to New York City, I tried pea shoots for the first time. To say I was fascinated is a little of an understatement. Coupled with the fact that you can easily grow these microgreens in your garden, you and your dear one will be hooked up from the first bite.
With a mild taste to boot, the tender crispness of your meals increases by adding a touch of pea shoots. Once in a while as you whip up a delicious lunch for your family, toss some of the pea shoots into the vegetable, stir fry and let them enjoy the brightness these come with.
Pea shoots are no different from other microgreens in their supply of vitamins. Other nutrients include beta-carotene that the human body later converts to vitamin A, fiber, and Vitamin C, folate, necessary for bodybuilding.
Wheatgrass
For the past ten years that I have known microgreens, one of them that seems not to go away anytime soon is the wheatgrass. For as long as I can remember, wheatgrass has been a staple food in many households owing to its overall impact on our health.
The beauty of wheatgrass is the ease with which it blends with other fruits in juices. When blended, the taste is masked but the ingredients remain the same. By feeding your baby on wheatgrass from time to time, they will be benefiting from minerals, tones of vitamins, and antioxidants.
Conclusion
Adding greens into your baby’s diet isn’t just a smart idea, but also an easy one. There is virtually no end to ways in which these can be incorporated into a toddler’s lunchtime diet. It can be in the form of salads, smoothies, juices, garnish, or salads.
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