Sprouting is
the practice of germinating seeds (e.g., mung beans, sunflower seeds, etc.) to be eaten raw or cooked1)
It can be a way to get fresh vegetarian food or greens in a van.
The usual process is:
Keeping the jar upside down keeps the sprouts moist but not sitting in moisture.
Dedicated sprouting gear does exist, though mason jars with breathable lids (cheesecloth, screen, etc) works fine. Widemouth jars are easier to clean and remove sprouts from.
A full list is on wikipedia.