Meat is your most bio-available source of iron. Really iron in cereals and vegetables just don't compare.It should be a part of their diet. Nothing says we have to have cereal for breakfast and meat for dinner. Keep some spag bol and serve it with rice for breakfast - many kids eat so much better when they are fresh in the morning. Or some mince on toast. Sometimes it is worth changing your diet a little to something that suits him and you a bit better. I can't see that there would be a problem with crumbed meat - probably he will just suck the goodness out of it.