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What, you ask, is muesli? Muesli is a raw rolled oats dish,

eaten like a cereal. Rolled oats and some type of liquid (nut or soy milk,
dairy milk or yogurt – although I’d suggest nut or soy and I’ll explain why
later in the article) are the two foundation ingredients. Combine them, and
then let your imagination, your taste buds and your pantry guide you toward a
realm of delicious and healthy additions.

My first experience with muesli was eating it at my grandmother’s
house when I was a young child, and I’ve recently incorporated it back into my diet
here in Dallas,
recognizing it as a heart healthy powerhouse. Also, from an acupuncture theory
perspective, it is a food that is considered nourishing to the Qi. Qi, in
acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, is the energy of the body that is
responsible for all its functions, so making sure we nourish and build our Qi
in every way we can - and our diet is one of the best ways - is important to
our health and longevity.

Muesli is quick and easy to prepare, which makes it a great
addition to a weekly meal-prep regimen, as you can combine the dry ingredients
in small containers for the week, carry one with you in your work- or
school-bag, and add your liquid of choice right before eating. If you like the
oats to be softer, you can still prep the dry ingredients in advance, but
combine them and your liquid in a thermos either the night before, or in the
morning to let the oats soften before you eat them.

What makes muesli heart-healthy? We know that oats can be
helpful in reducing blood cholesterol, and as previously mentioned, raw rolled
oats are the foundation ingredient of muesli. I like to add oat bran to mine to
increase the amount of that healthy soluble fiber.

My current favorite way to make muesli is to put a third to
a half of a cup of rolled oats into a bowl with a tablespoon of oat bran. I add
a little water, just to wet them, and then add about a half of a cup of
unsweetened soy milk (EdenSoy Unsweetened is my favorite brand, since it in
unsweetened and also has no additives at all – just soybeans and water). While
the oats and oat bran are softening in the liquid, I chop about a tablespoonful
of raw almonds and add them to the bowl. I also put in a tablespoon of hemp seeds
and a tablespoon of raisins. While I’m doing this prep, I often also set up a
number of small containers and add the same amounts of dry ingredients to them,
so that I can easily mix up a bowl on another day).

I would suggest choosing a soy or nut milk as your liquid.
Many of us in the west could stand to use less dairy, as in Traditional Chinese
Medicine we see it as being a culprit in creating what in our medicine is
called Phlegm (some of the symptoms of Phlegm could be nasal
congestion, sinus drainage, runny nose, productive cough, excess adiposity, or masses such as
lipomas and fibroids). Another culprit in the development of Phlegm is over use of
sugar and added sweeteners. This is why I suggest choosing an unsweetened soy
or nut milk (make sure to read the label, as most of the ones labeled
“Original” are still sweetened) and to let a small amount of fruit – the
raisins in this recipe - serve as the only sweetener. If you are used to eating
sugary foods, it may take some time for you to get used to this very mildly
sweet cereal, but it is worth it for your health.

To recap, here are the ingredients: rolled oats, oat bran, raw almonds, hemp seeds,
raisins, unsweetened soy milk. Mix, match, and enjoy!

I hope I’ve inspired you to experiment with eating some
muesli.