Birchermüesli was invented by Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner (1867-1939), a pioneer of the biological health medicine and Vollwertkost (wholefood). Dr. Bircher was active in Zürich and he had a great impact on our feeding habits. Read more . Around 1900, he suggested that cereals, fruits and vegetables are more valuable food than meat, but his colleagues did not agree with his points of view. But even if the public opinion did not follow his ideas, he had more faith in his own experiences than the current doctrine. While at that time meat was regarded as the best suited and most valuable food for humans, vegetables and fruits were considered food of the poor people. But Dr. Bircher continued to believe in what he called food of the sunlight , meals based on biological, natural ingredients. He created a recipe which is known today worldwide as Birchmüesli . He was also convinced that health care should be much more than just medical treatments. In 1897, Dr. Bircher founded a sanatory in Zürich, where he practiced a holistic therapy which included wholefood, a daily walk, bathing and sunbathing. He even set up exercise equipment, so we can see his sanatory as a kind of a fore runner of the gym and fitness centers as we know them today.