will she eat mince mixed in with heaps of vegies? Kind of like the opposite you would do for a child that won't eat vegies and you grate them into meat dishes. Or even just sucking on a chop bone is good for them.
I just did a quick google search, there is a list of iron rich foods on loveyourbaby dot com, maybe have a look at that for some ideas?
Meat really is the best food for babies and iron, as this is the only source of iron which is readily absorbed. This is why it is now recommended as one of the first foods to be introduced. Would she eat a pasta bolognaise or something like that? Sometimes mum have luck with scraping meat into things, or with giving their little one some cooked steak to suck or chew on (big enough pieces so they can't choke), or even smooth, strong bones to suck/chew on. Do you think any of these ideas would work?
It's true that vitamin C helps absorption, but you still get way less than from red meat. Humans have a haemo-transporter to get the iron into our blood - but it only works on iron in the form that it's in red meat (and breastmilk!). Spinach (and eggs are the same!) is an interesting one too, as while it is is high in iron, it also contains a substance that reduces iron absoprtion.
Raisons are a good source of iron as well. As well as Black Strap mollassus (sp?) Don't know how you would give it to her as I think it is horrible but maybe someone else has ideas.
Raisins have iron, but even 1/4 cup of them only has 1.1mg - things like kelp, nori (dried seaweed), tofu and soybeans are much higher. Introducing these foods could be helpful, but TBH, I'd still keep trying the meat This summary of the iron values in foods might be helpful - Vegetarian Network Victoria - Complete Nutrient Summary.
We're vegetarian so we're raising a fully veggie kid.
He's a fussy eater at the moment but to get his iron in he eats a lot of nut paste (cashew, almond & brazil nut), multigrain bread (not wholemeal), tahini spread under the nut butter, eggs served with strawberries (he used to eat scambled egg with diced tomato in it and quiche with tomato but not at the moment), kids weetbix (has iron in it), heinz rice cakes with added iron and avocado.
He also used to eat a mexibeans mix I made with 4 bean mix, tomatoes, capsicum but he's not eating any beans at the moment. Oh, and he used to eat soup with lentils. I'm hoping we'll be able to reintroduce these foods and more soon but for now he's showing no signs of anemia so all seems to be okay.
Here is a recipe for "Iron balls" that has been a hit in my mother's group. I haven't made any yet, but I tasted some that one of the other mum's made and they were rather yummo. The recipe says it is high in iron, but I don't know exactly how much...
These sweet little balls are very easy and are packed with iron. They will keep well in lunchboxes for an energy filled morning tea (omit the nuts if the school is nut free) and are an excellent, nutritious snack for you with your morning tea or coffee (better for you than one of those fat laden bikkies). The best news is that just four of them contain as much iron as a cup and a half of spinach. If only Popeye knew about them!
1/2 cup dried peaches
1/2 cup dried apricots
2 tablespoons boiling water
1/4 cup almond meal
1/2 cup dessicated coconut
1 tablespoon orange juice
2 tablespoons wheatgerm
1/4 cup skim milk powder
1/2 cup extra coconut
Place the dried apricots and peaches in a food processor ad pulse until finely chopped. Add the boiling water and leave the fruit to soak for 10 minutes. Add the almonds, coconut, wheatgerm (exclude for gluten free), skim milk powder and orange juice. Blend until it forms a firm dough. Add an extra tablespoon of water if required to bring the dough together. Roll the dough into small balls and roll in the half cup of extra coconut. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge.
They sound good but I doubt my son would touch them! You reminded me that I make choc-chip biscuits with sultanas, rolled oats and quinoa in them for iron too.
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Iron-enriched foods
will eat vegies now
but no meat really.....
into her food, or a food in general?
This summary of the iron values in foods might be helpful - Vegetarian Network Victoria - Complete Nutrient Summary.
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