As a widespread trend food, the so-called overnight oats (cold oatmeal) have been enriching our breakfast tables for some time. It is basically a breakfast porridge that is very similar to classic Bircher muesli .
Overnight oats, like Bircher muesli, are based on soaked oatmeal. The breakfast dish is practical above all because it is prepared the day before and can be eaten ready-made in the morning.
Enriched with all kinds of fresh and delicious ingredients such as fruits or nuts, overnight oats and Bircher muesli contribute to a balanced diet and make the start of the day a tasty event.
Overnight Oats and Bircher Muesli – is there a difference?
Overnight oats definitely belong in the trend food category. The preparation is quick and easy, and there are endless variations.
They are also healthy and delicious, just like the traditional Bircher muesli was and, of course, still is.
Incidentally, Bircher Müesli was developed and popularized by the Swiss Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner .
Who was Bircher?
The Swiss doctor Bircher-Benner lived from 1867 to 1939 and discovered Bircher muesli for the first time on a hike in the Swiss Alps. He prescribed the cereal as part of a healthy diet for his patients. This is how it became known beyond the borders of Switzerland.
In Swiss, muesli means as much as a small mush. To this day, Bircher muesli is named after its inventor and commemorates its origin.
What is special about Bircher Muesli?
As already mentioned, Max Bircher-Benner recommended his Bircher muesli as a "diet food" as a pioneer of whole foods.
According to his recommendations, Bircher muesli is meant to activate the self-healing powers in the human body and positively influence intestinal function.
Max Bircher-Benner initially soaked his oatmeal in condensed milk. Today, water or milk is mostly used for soaking, and plant-based drinks are also becoming increasingly popular among muesli fans.
The traditional Bircher muesli
The Swiss doctor prepared his Bircher muesli according to the following recipe:
- Cover the oatmeal with the liquid and mix.
- Cover and leave to swell overnight in the fridge.
- Wash and grate an apple the next morning. Squeeze a lemon and add the juice with the grated apple to the oatmeal. Then mix everything together.
- Depending on your taste, you can also sprinkle chopped hazelnuts on top.
Overnight oats – today's Bircher muesli
In principle, the preparation of overnight oats works the same as that of Bircher muesli. Place oatmeal in the refrigerator overnight with milk, water, or yogurt and enjoy fresh in the morning. Depending on your taste, the overnight oats can be supplemented with fresh fruits, berries , nuts , honey, or seeds.
Here's how to vary your overnight oats:
For the vegan version, the cow's milk is replaced by plant milk such as almond or oat milk. Prepared with cream, yogurt, or potatoes, the oats taste particularly fine and creamy.
The original apple can be replaced and/or supplemented with almost any fruit. Chopped fruits as a topping provide colorful variety with the newly invented Swiss muesli, which is now known worldwide as overnight oats.
Sweetened with maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup, it caters to the individual taste of almost all connoisseurs. There are hardly any limits to creativity and variety in terms of ingredients. Chia seeds , pomegranate seeds, and seeds of all kinds give your overnight oats that certain something.
Filled in screw-top jars, the newly invented Bircher muesli can also be taken as a snack or small meal on the go.
Mason jars or jam jars with screw cap closures are ideal for storing the delicious oatmeal safely and gently and taking it with you everywhere.
How healthy are overnight oats and Bircher muesli really?
Whether and to what extent the "healthy" cereal is actually beneficial to health depends on the quality of the ingredients. The basic recipe with grated apple, oatmeal, lemon juice, nuts, and milk is certainly more valuable and healthier than most snacks and finished products available in supermarkets.
High-quality oatmeal has many health benefits. The addition of other ingredients such as chia seeds can increase the health-promoting effect. Yogurt and cottage cheese also offer additional benefits such as an increased protein content.
Whether you stick to just the grated apple, like Swiss Bircher-Benner, or combine different fruits with the oatmeal is up to your taste and creativity.
What is certain is that the combination of cereal flakes , fruits, nuts, and dairy products is a healthy mix of nutrition that contains important minerals, vitamins, and fiber.
Seeds and nuts provide valuable unsaturated fatty acids and ensure a long-lasting feeling of fullness. This prevents the dreaded food cravings that otherwise lead to the consumption of calorie-dense snacks.
Overnight oats, which are so popular with food bloggers online, are more than just colorful fads. As a breakfast or snack, overnight oats are nutritious, healthy, varied, and practical.
Overnight oats – a lifestyle product?
The Swiss doctor's proven blend has now become a lifestyle product and successfully contributes to the well-being of many breakfast lovers.
Especially for families with children, a healthy breakfast with oatmeal can ensure a conscious and imaginative handling of food when it is freshly prepared every day.
As our experience shows, children and adolescents usually react very positively when they can choose and determine the ingredients and toppings for their cereals.
Starting the day with fun, joy, and creativity, in addition to the valuable ingredients, certainly increases the health-promoting effect of this time-tested meal.
