Did any of you make a New Years resolution to eat breakfast every day? If you’re still looking for a commitment in 2010, breakfast might be a good place to start. Eating breakfast improves your weight control/loss and helps give you energy all morning long. I never have a problem with eating in the morning, but I do struggle with getting out the door in time, so I am a fan of easy breakfasts that can be made in advance. I recently discovered Bircher Muesli at brunch a few weeks ago. Bircher Muesli differs from the Muesli you might have seen in the cereal aisle of the grocery store, and is much healthier. Bircher Muesli is made of uncooked oats, soaked overnight, and mixed with yogurt and dried and fresh fruits. It was developed around 1900 a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who was a very early pioneer in eating raw and whole foods. It’s easy to prepare, delicious, and keeps me full all morning long. There are many variations on this dish, below is the recipe that I have been enjoying:
Bircher Muesli
Ingredients:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- About ¼ cup of skim milk or apple juice
- ½ apple, chopped or grated
- About 3 tbsp plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt
- About 1 tbsp honey, maple syrup, or agave to sweeten
- Topping ideas:
- Walnuts, almonds, pecans
- Dried cranberries, raisins, or apricots
- Chopped bananas or any seasonal fruit
Instructions:
- Mix ½ cup of rolled oats with milk or apple juice (just enough to cover the oats)
- Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight
- In the morning, add the chopped apple, as well as a few tablespoons of nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt. From this point, you can add your pick of toppings. I’ve been adding chopped walnuts, sliced banana, dried cranberries, and a little bit of honey. Only a tiny bit of sweetener is needed once you add the natural sweetness of dried and fresh fruits. Play around with ingredients, using your personal favorites, or in-season berries. Enjoy!
-Jean
What is your favorite quick breakfast?
5 comments
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January 17, 2010 at 11:55 am
Julia
My favorite quick breakfast is a “banana bread oatmeal”. Typically I use about half a cup of Quick Oats, water enough to cover the oats, sliced/smashed banana, chopped walnuts, cinnamon, and a bit of salt. Add protein or fiber as desired. Cook in microwave for 1 min. Top with milk or yogurt if desired. There are many opportunities for variation, including another one I make called “apple crisp oatmeal”.
February 14, 2010 at 1:24 am
PJ
This is authentic Swiss way to eat this. The trick is the overnight prep. I like to make it for an easy lunch take a long for my teen. If no good fruit in the hosue, I place frozen berries on top of the mixture and they are perfect in the morning. Tend to use Bob’s Red Mill muesli because it’s easy to find and pretty tasty. Not too expensive.
March 22, 2010 at 12:56 pm
elie
I soak 5 grain cereal in skim milk overnight. In the morning I had low fat yogurt, a small handful of pecans and any fresh or frozen food i might have on hand.
This keeps me filled up and my bowels are happy too!!!
November 16, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Variations on Oatmeal « Boston Women's Wellness
[...] oatmeal and I stick together like glue every morning. I switch it up with a cold variation like bircher-muesli in the summer, and in the fall and winter I love having a hot bowl in the morning, always with [...]
March 27, 2011 at 2:51 am
Angie
The best muesli I have ever tried was at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid..I hope I can taste it again soon! My everyday breakfast both summer and winter is Maple & Brown sugar oatmeal. I love putting some cinnamon on it, also I use milk instead of water. Yummy!