The popular oat-based cereals, Muesli and Granola, are two of the most popular breakfast options ever known. These are not just delicious but also very nutritious. Both are stacked with essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, which helps in improving digestion and keeping the body active. They are safe choices for breakfast; both are eaten with cream, milk, or yogurt; and they are similarly delicious. You may have also noted that they look very alike, leaving you wondering what separates them. So, for those doubts and questions let’s give you all the answers that you’re searching for with a descriptive analysis of muesli vs granola.
Difference Between Granola and Muesli
Let’s not leave any doubtfulness and confusion in your mind regarding muesli vs granola. So, here we have defined both differently and also differentiated them based on their nutritional values and uses.
What is Muesli?
Muesli is a cereal that is uncooked and combines rice, nuts, seeds, and fruits. It is a ready-to-eat breakfast option combined with several ingredients including almonds, peas, dried fruit, etc. consisting of a foundation of oats and whole grains. It is a popular food for breakfast worldwide. Muesli can be relished either hot or cold. The constituents of muesli are not fried, unlike granola, implying they’re raw and loose. Traditionally, it’s soaked in milk or juice overnight and served cold.
Must Read: Benefits of Eating Muesli
What is Granola?
Granola is a baked cereal that usually mixes grains with sweetener and oil to combine all the ingredients. It can be eaten straight out of the bag. Granola is one of the most common and popular breakfast foods made of rolled oats, crushed almonds, and honey. Also, from gluten-free and low-sugar to super food-enriched, it can be obtained in all types of ways. Instead, Granola features all of the same ingredients as muesli, but it’s still baked.
Nutshell: Muesli is an uncooked cereal, Granola is always sweetened and baked.
Muesli vs Granola Nutritional Value Comparison
Since both Muesli or Granola comprise almost similar ingredients, their nutritional qualities are relatively similar.
Given below is a comparison of the Difference between Granola and Muesli 100 g (each):
| Nutrients | Muesli | Granola |
| Calories | 340 | 489 |
| Dietary Fibre | 7.3 g | 9.0 g |
| Sugars | 31.0 g | 20.0 g |
| Protein | 9.7 g | 14.9 g |
| Omega 3 Fatty Acids | 61.0 mg | 620 mg |
| Omega 6 Fatty Acids | 1242 mg | 8591 mg |
| Vitamin A | 546 IU | 19.0 IU |
| Vitamin E | 7.2 mg | 11.1 mg |
| Vitamin K | 2.9 mcg | 8.7 mcg |
| Niacin | 12.1 mg | 2.1 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.2 mg | 0.3 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 3.6 mcg | 0.0 mcg |
| Folate | 243 mcg | 82.0 mcg |
| Iron | 8.7 mg | 4.2 mg |
| Magnesium | 78.0 mg | 175 mg |
| Phosphorus | 243 mg | 456 mg |
| Potassium | 486 mg | 540 mg |
| Sodium | 231 mg | 25.0 mg |
| Zinc | 3.6 mg | 4.0 mg |
Nutshell: Even when muesli does not include added sweeteners, if it contains dried fruit, it has a reasonably high sugar content, just like granola. Also, there are more calories in Granola than in Muesli.
*The nutritional values may vary from one brand to another. This happens because the components like grains, nuts, and dry fruits can cause variation in nutrient values.
Also Read:- How to eat Muesli?
Muesli and Granola : The Healthier Breakfast Option
Both muesli and granola are oat-based cereals and have balanced beta-glucans. Nevertheless, they each have some disadvantages of their own, including high sugar content and the occurrence of antinutrients.
The Good
- Presence of Beta-Glucan: The key source of fibre in oats is beta-glucans. They are soluble, which means that when combined with water, they form a gel and are believed to boost gut wellbeing, stimulate weight loss, and lower levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
- Nutritious Nuts and Seeds: These two types of cereals also contain nuts and seeds that have monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs and PUFAs) that help mitigate risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The Bad
- High sugar content: The sugar content in granola is hugely influenced by added sweeteners such as honey or syrup. Meanwhile, it should be noted that some Muesli brands are sweetened while the cereal, in itself, is not usually sweetened. Also, dried fruit (an important ingredient in both products) increases the sugar content further. The risk of type 2 diabetes, extra weight, and heart disease may be raised by unnecessary sugar consumption.
- Phytic Acid is Bad: A source of phytic acid is the raw oats in muesli. Phytic acid is an antinutrient that further glues to minerals, including zinc and iron, that can inhibit their absorption. However, soaking muesli in water, milk, or juice considerably decreases the phytic acid content of the oat and increases the absorption of minerals.
Muesli or Granola – Which one is Ideal Breakfast Option
As we have already discussed, that both have their pros and cons. Nonetheless, it is also evident that Granola has a higher calorie count than Muesli. For individuals who are calorie conscious, Muesli would be the better option.
Nonetheless, it is suggested that while shopping for granola or muesli, the customer should be very critical of the ingredients and nutritional value. Look out for Muesli options that are unsweetened. And, for Granola, select the one that does not contain candied fruits or chocolate, as the sugar count would be increased further.
How Muesli vs Granola is made is the biggest distinction. Granola is baked and typically includes additional sweeteners along with dried fruits, such as honey or sugar, while muesli is uncooked, fresh, and sweetened entirely with dried fruits. Though granola appears to have a higher calorie content than muesli, both are equally high in sugar and should be eaten in moderation.
Also Read: Top 10 Muesli Brands in India
Conclusion
So, finally, we can conclude the article by stating the difference between Muesli and granola, both possess different good properties and negatives as well. Thus, it depends on your choice of preferences how much and what does your body needs. One must check all the aspects before choosing between muesli or granola.
FAQs
Muesli is can be quite bland to eat so you can add honey, cinnamon, brown sugar, maple syrup, condensed milk, etc, to make it a little tasty and fun to eat.
It is a matter of choices and preferences because muesli can be a good option for some people while granola can be preferred by some. But they both are more or less good for the health.
