Nurse Fuel.

Do you skip breakfast before a morning shift, or grab a slice of plain toast as it flies out of the toaster to munch on the drive in?

Me, too.

This often results in the mid-morning DONK when your energy falls to zero and you get the fine-motor colly-wobbles.

Well, you know how to fix that don’t you.

Here is my own favourite recipe for Bircher Muesli. A filling and nutritious Nurse Fuel that you can have hot in winter and cold in summer and only takes a few extra minutes to transfer to your tank.

Bircher Muesli was first introduced in hospitals in the 1900’s by a Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner.
It was based on a meal that the had been served whilst hiking in the Swiss Alps, and he thought it might provide a good source of fresh fruit for his patients.

My own version of Bircher Muesli is stupidly simple to make.
I have listed the ingredients below, but the amount if each is totally up to you.

Ingredients:

• Dry Rolled Oats.
  I use Uncle Toby’s quick oats.
• Low Fat Natural Yogurt.
  You can use one of the popular flavoured yogurts if you prefer but that packs in the calories.
• Milk.
  Full cream or low fat, your call.
• Sultanas.
• Finely chopped apple.
  Green apples are best. Some recipes suggest grating the apple, but I like chunks of food in my muesli (for the extra mouth textures).
• Blueberries.
  An essential ingredient. Unless you have an anaphalactoid reaction to blueberries.
• Banana.
  Don’t use overly ripe or really green ones. You want them to add just a hint of sweetness.
• Dried apricots.
  Just a few. Sliced. Once again, its about adding a little mouth texture. Get the sense juices flowing.
• Almonds. Add other nuts and seeds if you dare.
• Pistachio nuts (small). I love these things. They do get a little soft in the mix. But that’s OK. If you want to keep the crunch add them as a topping.
• Cinnamon.
  Another essential ingredient. Don’t be stingy.

Method:

1. Combine dry ingredients & fruit in a large seal-able bowl.
2. Add yogurt and stir with wooden spoon until desired consistency is achieved. The oats will soak up some of the yogurt as it stands so aim for a little more soggier than you want.
3. Let sit in refrigerator overnight.
4. Serve.
   Top with sliced strawberries, a spoonful of Passion-fruit pulp, and a sprinkle of blueberries for show.
   You will only need a small serving of this as it is really filling.
   Add a little milk and sweeten with a little honey if desired.
5. Follow with some quality toast ( topped with Vegemite of course), a glass of orange juice (or how about trying a glass of tomato juice?) and a steaming hot coffee.
6. 15 minutes.
   You are now well fueled. Go and nurse.