Muesli (spelled Müsli in German and, especially in Switzerland, Müesli) is the name of a mixture of breakfast cereals. The Swiss name is 'Birchermüesli'. The main ingredient for this popular dish is uncooked rolled oats, although more recently many variations exist. A variety of dried or fresh fruits can be added as well as nuts, honey, spices, or even chocolate. Muesli is usually served with milk, yoghurt or cream. Muesli is usually eaten for breakfast, or occasionally at lunch or dinner. Depending on the ingredients, muesli can make a healthy high-energy breakfast. Muesli is commonly pronounced ['mju:z li], but occasionally also as ['mu:z li].

Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner is considered the inventor of the muesli. In the year 1900 he created a cereal with grated apple, lemon juice, milk and nuts to be eaten daily as a protection from illnesses of all kinds. It was produced exclusively in his hospital, but although the recipe was never licensed, the idea spread quickly. The modern muesli has little in common with the original muesli as devised by Dr. Bircher-Benner. What remained, though, is the association with health. Muesli has become synonymous with a healthy lifestyle and balanced nutrition. The Bircher-Benner hospital, however, was shut down in 1993 due to economic reasons.

Today producers all over the world sell a wide variety of pre-packaged muesli although some consumers still prefer to mix their muesli themselves from fresh ingredients and to their own individual taste. The ingredients vary significantly between products.

Sample ingredients:

• rolled oats
• wheat flakes
• barley flakes
• rye flakes
• bran
• banana
• apple
• raisins
• cinnamon
• milk
• seeds e.g. sunflower, pumpkin, linseeds, etc.
• nuts
• dried fruit