Is muesli really as healthy as you think?

The way that muesli is made, the ingredients it’s made with, and the portion size can actually tip muesli towards the ‘not so healthy’ end of the breakfast scale.

Muesli is often touted as a healthy choice for breakfast- and it can be.

However, the way that muesli is made, the ingredients it’s made with, and the portion size can actually tip muesli towards the ‘not so healthy’ end of the breakfast scale.

Here’s how to pick the good from the not so good. 

The good

Rolled oats are a good source of protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. They are also a low glycemic index carbohydrate, releasing glucose slowly so you to feel fuller and release less insulin - the body’s fat storage hormone.

The bad

Some ingredients to watch out for include honey and dried fruit (which increases the sugar content), and full fat milk (which escalates the kilojoule and saturated fat content).

The ugly

Some commercial toasted mueslis' have just as much sugar and fat as a chocolate bar. While some of the fat in muesli is the good variety found in oats, nuts and seeds, most crunchy muesli is made by baking the oats in oil.

Healthy natural muesli

Serves 2 – 4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup skim milk
• 200ml low-fat natural yogurt
• ½ green apple, cored and grated (skin on)
• 1 tbs shredded coconut
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbs flaked almonds1 tbs sunflower kernels

Method:

1. Combine the oats, milk, yoghurt, apple, coconut and cinnamon in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2. The next morning, sprinkle the almonds and seeds over the oat mixture just prior to eating.

What’s your secret to healthy tasty muesli?