Foods & Drinks High in Iron for Toddlers
According to kidshealth.org, "Toddlers should have 7 milligrams of iron each day," though many children do not get quite enough. By the time children reach toddlerhood, most are no longer consuming iron-fortified formula or baby cereals. This can make them more at risk for anemia, which can affect the child's growth. Making just a few changes to the toddler's diet can improve iron consumption and absorption.
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Iron-Rich Meats
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Meat can be an excellent source of iron. Some excellent sources of iron come from meat or animal products. For toddlers, try serving cooked beef, pork, turkey, or chicken. For toddlers over the age of two, clams, oysters and shrimp can be introduced. Egg yolks are also high in iron and can be scrambled with a splash of milk for your toddler.
Vegetables High in Iron
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Vegetables rich in iron are: winter squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, beets and tomatoes. Bake, steam or sauté any vegetable before giving it to toddlers, as it must be soft and easy to chew to prevent choking. A favorite toddler recipe is to bake a sweet potato at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until tender (about an hour), then peel the skin and mash the orange potato flesh. Add a bit of butter, cinnamon and a dash of salt. Let it cool and serve to your toddler.
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Other Food Sources of Iron
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Grains can be a source of iron for toddlers. Dried fruits such as figs, prunes, raisins and apricots are high in iron content. Grains can also be a good source of iron and most children tend to eat them without complaint. Some of these sources are: wheat germ, cornmeal, brown rice, farina, cooked cracked wheat whole bran, breads, and iron-fortified cereals. A great way to add iron into a toddler's diet is to toast a frozen iron-fortified waffle, spread peanut butter on the top and then sprinkle wheat germ and a touch of sugar to finish it.
Iron Supplements
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In the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Leif Hallberg says that calcium has been found to interfere with iron absorption. For this reason, it is important to be aware of your toddler's milk and dairy intake as the high levels of calcium contained in these foods may limit the amount of iron that is absorbed by your toddler's body. A great way to hydrate and deliver iron is by offering a vitamin-enriched beverage that provides complete nutrition specifically for children. Another option is to give your child a daily vitamin but as with any medicine, discuss it with your doctor.
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References
Resources
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