Muesli is a breakfast dish of raw or lightly toasted rolled oats mixed with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, typically soaked in milk, yogurt, or juice before eating, though it can also be eaten dry as a cereal or baked into granola bars and cookies.
It was created in Switzerland in the late 19th century by physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner as a health food for patients at his clinic; the name comes from the Swiss-German "Müesli," meaning "little meal."
Muesli differs from granola mainly in preparation: muesli is raw and usually soaked before eating, while granola is baked with added sugar and oil until crisp and can be eaten straight from the bag. It is common on breakfast menus in Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia, and has spread widely to North American and Australian breakfast tables.