October 22, 2007

I had offered several choices, from pancakes to peanut butter toast, but Trevor wasn't interested in any of it.

"I don't want scrambled eggs or waffles," he grumbled at the kitchen table. "I want a chocolate bar."

Obviously someone had woken up on the wrong side of his bed this morning. Trev was acting tired and cranky, and it wasn't even 9 a.m. yet. He knew candy was off-limits for breakfast but apparently couldn't decide on a healthier choice for his first meal of the day.

"Someone sure is acting like he needs more sleep," I said as I searched through the cabinets and refrigerator, looking for a way to please his palate without bending the rules and starting his day on a sugar high.

"How does a breakfast banana split sound?" I asked Trevor, who looked up from his pout with surprise.

"A banana split for breakfast? Really?" he asked.

I pulled out a dessert bowl and added a fresh banana, slicing it down the middle. I poured vanilla yogurt on top, to substitute for ice cream, and added a dollop of strawberry jam to look like cherries. I finished it off with a sprinkle of granola on top to substitute for nuts.

"Can I have candy sprinkles, too?" he asked, figuring he might as well go for broke.

"No candy, but here's the chocolate you're craving," I said as I topped it off with a touch of chocolate syrup, much to Trevor's delight.

"I hope you like it," I said as I presented him with the special breakfast.

Trev smiled but still looked a bit skeptical as he began to dig in.

"Hey, this is good," he said, grinning around his spoon. "The yogurt tastes like ice cream with the chocolate on it! And the strawberry jelly is sweet like candy."

Trevor ate with gusto, his mood lifting as quickly as his spoon. The breakfast banana split really seemed to cheer him up and he finished every bite. Trevor was happy because he thought he got a treat and I was happy because I knew it was healthy.

I guess sometimes you don't have to go back to bed to start the day over again.