Difference Between Granola and Muesli (With Table)

Granola refers to a classic breakfast food that consists of crushed nuts, honey, and rolled oats. Granola can be purchased in many forms- from superfood enriched granola to low-sugar granola to gluten-free granola. It is often eaten in combination with fresh fruit, honey, milk, and yogurt. Granola is also used as toppings on different types of ice creams, desserts, and pastries. 

Muesli refers to a ready-to-eat cereal that consists of whole grains and a base of oats that are mixed with seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and so on. It was traditionally prepared with citrus juice squeeze, cream, or milk, sometimes with a sweetener like honey, and soaked in it overnight. Nowadays milk products like yogurt are added to homemade and packaged muesli recipes.

Comparison Table Between Granola and Muesli 

What is Granola?

Granola refers to a breakfast cereal that generally consists of fruits, oats, and nuts. It is almost similar to muesli but generally coated with sugar or other forms of sweeteners like honey to give it a chunky and crunchy texture. It is a food that is made from grains, nuts, mixed with honey, and other sweeteners and natural ingredients. This mixture is baked to make it crunchy. After baking dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, bananas, coconut, and apricots are added. 

It was first invented in 1863 by James Caleb Jackson. Granola was trademarked by the famous cereal maker named John Harvey Kellogg in the late 19th century. Granola is rich in essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber, which makes it a healthy breakfast option, especially for the athletes who need protein and energy that Granola provides.

Granola is rich in manganese that helps in regulating sugar and blood level in the body. For diabetic patients, the dried fruits, seeds, grains, and nuts present in granola helps in controlling and reducing blood sugar levels. The fiber present in granola reduces inflammation in the gut. It also increases oxygen and the flow of blood to the brain.

Granola can be eaten by itself, with yogurt or milk. It can also be eaten with ice creams and creams. Granola should be kept in a cool and dry place without direct light. The best way to preserve granola is to preserve it in an airtight container like a glass jar.

What is Muesli?

Muesli refers to a healthy breakfast cereal containing seeds, oats, dried fruits, and nuts. It is a healthier breakfast option compared to sugary breakfast cereals. It is full of ingredients that make you feel fuller, aid your digestion. It is cold oatmeal based on rolled oats and ingredients like seeds, grains, dried and fresh fruits, and nuts.

It was developed around 1900 by Bircher-Benner, a Swiss doctor for his patients in his hospital. It is a ready-to-eat cereal and is considered to be a popular healthy breakfast option all over the world, especially in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. 

Muesli is a versatile breakfast food that is consumed in several ways. Muesli can be soaked in water, juice, or milk, and eaten as a cold cereal breakfast. It also can be eaten cooked with boiling water or milk as a traditional oatmeal breakfast. Muesli can be eaten by adding it to fruit salads and yogurt. 

Muesli has a high nutritious value. It is rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin C, E, B-12, and fiber. It is rich in grains and fiber that is very good for the digestive system. It also contains high amounts of resistant starch and fiber that make you feel full for a long period. The beta-glucan presented in muesli helps in reducing bad cholesterol levels by 10%.

Main Differences Between Granola and Muesli

1. Granola is a baked food and natural sweeteners are used while baking, on the other hand, muesli is raw food and the sweet taste of this food comes from dried fruits, there are no added sweeteners.
2. Granola was invented in 1963 and trademarked in the late 19th century in the United States, but muesli was invented much earlier than granola. It was invented around Around 1900 by a doctor named Bircher-Benner.
3. Granola is chunks of nuts and oats bound together while baking, whereas muesli is loose and uncooked.
4. Granola has fewer health benefits compared to muesli as granola has added sweeteners.
5. For losing weight granola takes more time compared to muesli as there is added oil, sugar, sweeteners.

Conclusion

Both granola and muesli have several health benefits and keep you full for a longer period. So, these two are very popular as healthy and tasty breakfast options all over the world. Both of these breakfast cereals have the same ingredients- nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and rolled oats. They are rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and other nutritious values.

However, granola uses natural sweeteners while baking but muesli is an uncooked dry cereal breakfast. Muesli does not have any added sweeteners. Granola has a higher sugar, carb, and calorie content compared to muesli has less carb, sugar, and calorie and that makes muesli healthier.

References

1. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=granola&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3Du8FUSDNrZ3MJ
2. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=muesli&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DqSh7REow9oIJ