When I lived in London, I enjoyed this a lot! I once bought a 25kg sack of oat groats and routinely soaked a cup of oats in the fridge before bed to be enjoyed in the morning for breakfast. I am not sure how long this sack lasted me but for sure, covered breakfast for a whole year! Apples came from the neighbours tree, but I wished I had my own tree with apples that could be stored throughout the year as the conventional types get a lot of pesticide spraying. Apples last longest in cool, dark, humid, well‑ventilated storage (basement, root cellar, fridge at ~0–4 °C) and you can choose organic apples or better swap with neighbours or grow your own. I can never get tired of this recipe. However, if you are Vata body type and/or if it is the winter, you might want to cook the oats, as a warmer breakfast would work better then.
Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner (1867–1939)
A Swiss physician and nutrition pioneer, Dr. Bircher-Benner is best known for creating the original Bircher muesli. He was a strong advocate of whole, raw, and minimally processed foods, believing that fresh fruits, nuts, and grains could prevent disease and support overall health. He founded a sanatorium in Zurich where he applied his philosophy, emphasizing digestion-friendly, nutrient-rich meals as part of a holistic approach to wellbeing. His work laid the foundation for modern thinking about whole foods, preventive nutrition, and raw-food diets.
Note: Some modern internet recipes suggest using rolled oats for convenience or quicker preparation. While rolled oats work well and still make a nourishing dish, they are not the traditional ingredient, the original recipe preserves the grain’s natural structure and vitality. Although, oats are fairly good at keeping their nutritional value and are not overly processed, the whole grain will just give you a bit more nutrition. You will also not need to soak them overnight if you use rolled oats.
For more nutritional facts on Oats, refer to my article: Oats Outperform Most So-Called Superfoods. Here, we are deliberately adding Cinnamon and Lemon to this dish which has the following beneficial effect: Cinnamon warms and gently stimulates digestion, supporting blood sugar regulation, while lemon lightens heavy foods and aids enzyme activity. Together, they enhance digestion, stabilize metabolism, and improve nutrient assimilation and this superb for vata. If your are pitta, then you can reduce these heating elements. Kapha types should leave the honey out and reduce the quantity, but increase cinnamon and lemon.
Oat Groats:
Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner created this dish using whole raw oat groats, which were often soaked overnight to make them easier to digest. The oats were then combined with freshly grated apple, a touch of lemon juice, and some nuts, creating a simple, nourishing meal. Unlike modern rolled or toasted oats, the grains remained mostly unprocessed, preserving their natural vitality. This muesli reflects Bircher’s belief that food should be gentle, wholesome, and supportive of the body’s natural health, emphasizing freshness, simplicity, and easy assimilation.
