Sprouts are seeds of various foods, often beans or alfalfa and usually vegetables, that have been allowed to germinate and grow for 5 to 10 days. They have exceptional nutritional value because [Page 1300]they derive from the concentrated packet of nutrients intended to feed the plant through its initial stages of growth. Sprouts have been used in Asian foods for millennia. They became popular in the United States and other Western countries in the 1960s, when natural and healthy foods or “health foods” became popular. In Western culture, they are usually used on salads or in sandwiches, for juicing, or cooked in Asian dishes such as egg rolls, spring rolls, or stir-fries. They add a satisfying crunch and eye appeal to dishes. Sprouts are popular ...