Easy Healthy Summer Muesli (AKA Overnight Oats)

WW Recipe of the Day: Healthy Summer Muesli

Full of flavor, easy and delicious, this easy muesli - the Swiss version of overnight oats - is one of my current favorite breakfast recipes for summer. Just stir it up the night before and breakfast will be waiting for you in the fridge the next morning. How convenient is that?

 

What Exactly is Muesli?

Muesli (also referred to as "Müsli" or "Müesli") is a breakfast and brunch dish based on raw rolled oats and other ingredients like grains, fresh or dried fruits, seeds and nuts. It was developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his long-term care facility.

Muesli is similar to granola, but is unbaked so it doesn't contain sweetener or oil. People enjoy it like they do granola (served with milk or sprinkled over yogurt) or they soak it overnight to create a cool, porridge-like consistency that's particularly nice in the warmer-weather months.

Here's an image of dry oats with chopped walnuts and dried fruit in a glass jar:

You can buy muesli ready-made in a packaged dry form, or you can make it yourself, which is what I like to do.

The wonderful thing about this simple, healthy breakfast is that you can easily tailor it to your taste or mood or what you have on hand!

Any combination of nuts, dried and/or fresh fruit would be marvelous!

This photo shows a tasty version of muesli topped with fresh blueberries and sliced strawberries:

Why I Love Muesli for Breakfast

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.

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.

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.

But ever since discovering overnight soaked muesli, it has quickly become a personal favorite. But it can be a bit of an acquired taste. If you like overnight oats, I think that you'll love this easy summer muesli.

In this photo, I'm mixing my muesli with some plain non-fat Greek yogurt and a splash of cranberry juice:

How Do You Prepare Muesli?

You can also cook muesli on the stovetop like oatmeal—simply simmer it in milk or water for a few minutes.

Or you can soak muesli in milk/yogurt/fruit juice or some combination overnight in the fridge and eat it cold. Come morning, the grains are soft and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I usually thin it out with extra liquid and top it with fruit.

Favorite Homemade Muesli Ingredients

Making your own muesli is SUPER EASY.  Doing it yourself is also a lot cheaper and lets you customize your mix to your preferences. All you need is some rolled grains (oats or a mixed cereal ) and an assortment of nuts and dried fruits of your choosing—you don't need a real recipe.

All you do is dump some ingredients into a bowl, mix and store in a container. Using a basic ratio of 4 parts grain, 1 part nuts/seeds and 1 part dried fruit, you will have a batch of the best homemade muesli in a matter of minutes.

• raw grains (oats, barley, spelt, kamut flakes, etc.)
• chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts,  etc.)
• shredded unsweetened coconut
• dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, dates, etc.)
• seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flax etc.)
• wheatgerm
• spices such as ground cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger
• pinch of salt

In this video, watch Darya Rose make her version of muesli. As she explains it's "stupid easy to make:"

This Easy Summer Muesli Recipe is Just One Example of How to Enjoy It

This recipe for easy summer muesli, is just an example of one way to mix together your grains, fruit and liquids. I often stir together a big batch of dry ingredients and store it in an airtight container.

Then before bed I stir some together with an equal amount of liquid (yogurt/milk/juice or combination) and let it set in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, breakfast is ready and waiting.

This recipe has a little sweetness from the maple syrup and cranberry juice, which can be nice if you're still acclimating to the lack of sugar in muesli. You could also try stirring in a spoonful of peanut butter, low sugar jam or a drizzle of honey instead.

How Many Calories/Points in this Easy Summer Muesli Recipe?

According to my calculations each serving (½ the recipe) has 190 calories and:

7 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
7 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
5 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

It becomes *6 WW (Green, Blue) SmartPoints (and *4 Purple) if you skip the maple syrup. Enjoy!

To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!

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Muesli Recipe Variations & Substitutions

No almonds? Substitute whatever chopped nut you prefer. I used walnuts in this batch.

No maple syrup? Substitute your sweetener of choice. Honey, low sugar jam, etc.

No dried cranberries? Substitute the dried fruit of your choice, such as chopped dates or raisins.

No cranberry juice? Substitute whatever liquid you prefer. Apple juice, milk, non-dairy milk, etc.

Add grated apple to the mixture to make the original Bircher Muesli.

This is what my muesli with non-fat Greek yogurt, cranberry juice and raisins looks like after stirring it all together:

More Overnight Oats Recipes I love: Raspberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats, Blueberry Maple Overnight Oats, WW Easy Healthy Trail Mix Overnight Oats. 

If you've made this Healthy Summer Muesli, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

More WW Friendly Breakfast Ideas:

• Healthy Breakfast Yogurt
• Skinny Pumpkin Pie Yogurt Bowl
• Slow Cooker Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
• Easy Apple Pie Yogurt Parfait

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