Easy Healthy Summer Breakfast - Muesli

Are you in need of some new easy breakfast recipes? Easy summer muesli is a simple, easy delicious and refreshing breakfast idea.

“Breakfast, the most important meal of the day.” How many times have you heard the refrain from health, nutrition and weight loss authorities?

The right breakfast fuels me until lunch, so most days I make sure to give my body something it likes.

The wrong breakfast — one with too much sugar and processed carbs — sets me up for a craving and binging roller coaster ride I’d just as soon avoid.

Skipping breakfast produces a similar result — overeating whatever is readily available (usually something less than healthy) to quell my excessive appetite.

I love breakfast and have learned through lots of trial and error that the best one for me includes some combination of complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fat.

There are plenty of easy breakfast recipes calling for oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and veggies out there. During the winter months I love to warm my belly with a bowl of oatmeal or serving of baked oatmeal.

But summer can be a bit of a breakfast challenge, especially if you live in the desert like I do. My appetite withers, but fruit alone isn’t enough to sustain me.

Just thinking about breakfast foods that work in the warm months — steamy oatmeal with fruit, crustless quiche, veggie and cheese omelets — weighs me down.

The important thing is to lighten up in your thinking. There are lots of easy breakfast recipes that are perfect for summer including some of my personal favorites - easy healthy smoothies, fruit and yogurt parfaits,  magical healthy yogurt breakfast cream, healthy muffins, healthy blueberry muffins and healthy breakfast cookies, and homemade granola bars that can be made ahead or cottage cheese in a variety of ways.

My favorite easy breakfast recipe of the moment is muesli, a new discovery for me.

Muesli, combination of soaked grains, nuts, dried fruit and yogurt makes a perfect warm weather breakfast. It’s one of my current favorite easy breakfast recipes for summer. Just stir it up the night before and breakfast will be waiting for you in the fridge the next morning.

Here are a couple muesli recipes for you to try:

Easy Breakfast Recipes for Summer #1: Cranberry Muesli Recipe

Combine the following ingredients in a medium bowl and then cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 1 day:

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 6 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
• 1 tablespoon unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ or ground flaxseed
• 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Just stir and serve.

This recipe for cranberry muesli makes 2 servings.

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving (1/2 recipe): 190 calories, 6 g fat, 26 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 8 g protein and 5 WW Points+ value.

Easy Breakfast Recipes for Summer #2: Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal Recipe

Here is a non-dairy alternative to muesli, that milk-soaked cereal staple of the Swiss. I opt for this when I am trying to watch my dairy intake.

Combine the following ingredients in a medium bowl and then cover and refrigerate overnight:

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 cups vanilla soy milk or your favorite non dairy milk alternative
• 1/4 cup dried fruit of your choice, cut into bite-sized pieces if necessary
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Just stir and serve topped with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.

Serves: 4

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving (1/4 recipe): 248 calories, 5 g fat, 43 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 10 g protein and 6 WW Points+ value.

This Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal Recipe is adapted from The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great by Pam Anderson.

Do you have any easy recipes for breakfast or easy summer recipes to share?