Healthy Dessert: Chocolate Panini with Strawberries or Raspberries

Olive Sunshine’s Chocolate Panini with Strawberries (or Raspberries) is a healthy dessert. You may be asking, is chocolate is allowed on the Mediterranean Diet? Yes, and chocolate Paninis are super easy to make. I love this healthy and easy dessert because it is simply delicious. A Mediterranean Diet friendly dessert that is healthy, easy to make and delicious? Yes, please.

Is Chocolate Allowed on the Mediterranean Diet?

Yes, Chocolate is allowed on the Mediterranean Diet. Desserts are at the top of the Mediterranean Diet Food pyramid. Foods at the top of the pyramid are meant to be enjoyed but less frequently. The Mediterranean Diet is a way of life and desserts are appreciated at special occasions. I have found that my old favorite desserts actually make me feel poorly. Butter, overly processed foods and too much sugar leave me with a headache, and a belly ache. Even worse, I wake up inflamed. I have found that since adopting the Mediterranean Diet my body LIKES the principles of the diet. The Chocolate Panini with Strawberries is a delicious dessert leaving me feeling fine!

Four Flexible and Healthy Dessert Ingredients

• Wheat Bread
• Chocolate
• Strawberries (or Raspberries)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The four ingredients for the dessert chocolate panini with strawberries are ones we usually keep in the house. Whole grains a staple of the Mediterranean Diet. This easy dessert starts with your favorite store-bought whole wheat bread. As I mentioned, these ingredients are flexible. Use any whole grain bread you enjoy! I use Dave’s Killer Bread Thin Sliced 21 Whole Grain. Not only is it full of organic whole grains, the thin small slices are just perfect to allow that delicious chocolate to take center stage.

When considering chocolate, a darker chocolate, or semi-sweet is going to work best. Typically, I use the Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels. These chips are vegan and have only three ingredient: Unsweetened Chocolate, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter. The cane sugar is less processed than the regular refined sugar in most baking morsels. I have also melted a bar of chocolate, but I prefer the consistency of a baking chocolate. But let’s face it, chocolate is delicious so choosing one should not be hard!

Chocolate Panini with Strawberries or Raspberries? You Choose!

This recipe calls for strawberries, but raspberries are AMAZING as well. In fact, the first time I made this healthy dessert the chocolate Panini with Raspberries. The flexibility of this easy recipe is just one of the things that make it…well easier. After you choose your fruit, all you have to do is melt the chocolate, spread it on the bread and top with fruit. Coat the bread with extra virgin olive and place the sandwiched deliciousness on your favorite grill or panini press! How could it be any easier?

When is the right time for Chocolate Panini with Strawberries (or Raspberries)?

Chocolate is allowed on the Mediterranean Diet, but it should be for a special occasion. Not every special occasion is going to have a birthday cake, or a traditional sweet associated with it. Sometimes, the special occasion is just having your best girl friends over for a movie night. A special occasion could include having all of the grands over for a PJ party and wanting a fun treat that is easy enough for them to make. While a special occasion is not every day (which is why it is special) it should be often enough to remind you to live la vita dolce! Healthy Dessert: Chocolate Panini with Strawberries or Raspberries will serve to to be that sweet reminder.