Bircher muesli is a lighter alternative to porridge first thing, and is just as nutritious.
Served cold, it’s basically oats in milk and yoghurt with added fruit.
You can make your own by soaking porridge oats in milk and yoghurt (roughly equal parts) overnight, then sprinkling over fresh fruit, seeds and nuts.
But what about the ready-made versions — how do they compare?
Here, dietitian Alison Clark gives her verdict and Good Health rates them.
MOMA strawberry and banana
£1, supermarkets.
Per 140g pot: calories, 195; saturated fat, 0.7g; sugar, 16.8g; fibre, not listed; protein, 6.3g; salt, 0.14g
While this has the equivalent of four teaspoons of sugar, it comes from the fruit puree, fruit juice and milk sugar in the yoghurt.
This natural sugar is better as it has added nutrients, whereas white sugar or honey add extra calories with no benefits.
At just less than 200 calories, this pot would be good if you’re watching your weight.
TASTE: Thick and smooth but not too sickly, as many can be
RATING: 5/5
Cuckoo apple and cinnamon spice
£1.49, from Waitrose.
Per 150g pot: calories, 228; saturated fat, 2.4g; sugar, 15.9g; fibre, 6.3g; protein, 6.8g; salt, 0.14g
Some bircher mueslis have oats soaked in fruit juice, but for a filling, balanced breakfast, you really want the oats and dairy as the main ingredients — as they are in this.
The sugar is natural from fruit juice, dried fruit and the yoghurt. It has linseeds, too, a good source of heart-healthy omega-3s.
TASTE: Creamy and light; the cinnamon adds warmth
RATING: 5/5
Pret A Manger freshly made bircher
£2.25, Pret a Manger.
Per 207g pot: calories, 315; saturated fat, 4.2g; sugar, 32g; fibre, not listed; protein, 13.5g; salt, 0.4g
This has granola soaked in yoghurt with shredded apple, whole pistachios, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, sultanas and pomegranate seeds.
The protein (from the yoghurt, nuts and seeds) is almost double what the others provide, which keeps you fuller for longer.
It’s the highest in calories because of the larger size and the added honey — there are nearly eight teaspoons of sugar here, with little nutritional benefit.
TASTE: Very sweet, slightly gritty
RATING: 3/5
Nomadic pineapple, coconut and banana
£1, Tesco.
Per 150g pot: calories, 241; saturated fat, 2.3g; sugar, 20.4g; fibre, not listed; protein, 5.3g; salt, 0.06g
Though the manufacturer says this is ‘simply’ oats in yoghurt, juice is the main ingredient.
The first item on the label is sugar, which suggests a lot has been added — there are five teaspoons in this.
TASTE: Delicious tropical flavour and really creamy
RATING: 2/5