Microgreens Nutrition

What is a Microgreen?

Microgreens are essentially 'baby versions' of your favorite leafy greens! Microgreens are usually harvested 7-21 days after germination, when the plant's first leaves (cotyledon leaves) emerge. 

How do they compare to Adult Greens?

Microgreens are absolutely more nutrient-dense than their adult greens counterparts. An American chemical study looked at nutrient levels of 25 different microgreens and compared them to full-sized leafy vegetables and herbs. Nutrient levels in different microgreens varied, but they always had higher levels per gram of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A than mature crops.

Why Microgreens?

Not only are the nutrients highly concentrated in microgreens, but so are the concentrations of flavors and colors. These factors are loosely correlated, so an easy rule of thumb for picking which greens to eat is to choose the most colorful ones. This remains the case with microgreens! The smaller leaf size and high nutrient concentration make microgreens particularly flavorful and colorful. This is why so many chefs like to use them as garnishes. Microgreens have more flavor than baby greens + sprouts and also a higher nutrition concentration.

Of course, there are many ways to eat microgreens-- they make flavorful and delicious salads, pestos, are excellent piled on sandwiches and tacos, added to smoothies and shakes, and of course, make great garnishes. No matter how you consume them, microgreens are a great way to add some nutritional value to any meal! The use of microgreens vary from salads, smoothies, snacks, to five star garnish.