Iron is a crucial mineral that has a pivotal role in many facets of health.
Iron is required by the body to create hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein found in red blood cells (RBCs) that aids in oxygen delivery throughout the body.
Without enough iron, your child’s organs, tissues, and cells won’t obtain the oxygen they require, and without hemoglobin, the body won’t continue to produce healthy RBCs.
In contrast to bottle-fed newborns, who often receive an iron-fortified formula, breast-fed infants typically obtain adequate iron from their mother’s milk for the first six months. However, as your older infant transitions to eating more solids, they may not consume enough foods high in iron, which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. In this condition, it becomes imperative to feed iron supplements to babies— it is not as easy as it sounds. Small kids often don’t like the taste of dietary iron and have a lot of tantrums while consuming it. So, choosing the toothsome iron supplements is indispensable.
There are several foods containing iron. And including them in your little one can be helpful. Read on to learn NINE unique ways to boost iron in your munchkin’s diet.
Pick Fortified Cereals
Fortified cereals are different from regular old cereals in that they have added iron that can help give your baby extra energy for growing. They also have extra calcium and vitamin D to ensure your baby’s bones are strong enough to support the growing body.
Many kinds of cereal are now fortified with iron so they contain more than the recommended amount of this nutrient for babies. Look for cereals that contain at least 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for infants or toddlers between 4 months and 16 years old.
Reduce On Dairy Meals
Iron is found in red meat, poultry, fish, and beans, but it’s pretty low in dairy products as well. You can limit dairy products or replace them with other foods rich in iron, such as beans or lentils.
Include Vitamin C-Rich Foods In Diet
Vitamin C boosts the absorption of iron-whether it’s consumed via natural foods or iron supplements for babies. Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit; strawberries; bell peppers; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; tomatoes; kiwis; cantaloupe, and honeydew melon are rich in Vitamin C. So, giving them to the little heroes and fairies is a must.
Give Mashed Beans
Mashed beans are a great source of iron, which is why they should be included in your baby’s diet. Iron-rich foods include beans (black, kidney, lima), lentils, spinach, and red meat. If you are not sure how much iron is in your baby’s diet, you can always check with the doctor.
Spinach Soup Is Beneficial
Spinach soup is another great source of iron for your baby’s diet. It also provides calcium and vitamins A and C, which are beneficial for strong bones. Spinach contains almost as much iron as beef! Add some salt to the soup to provide more than enough iron to meet your baby’s needs. Make sure that you boil the water first before adding any vegetables to ensure that there are no bacteria present in the water.
Serve Raisins & Dried Fruits In Snacks
Raisins and dried fruits provide a good source of iron, which alleviates the risk of anemia. If you give your kid raisins or dried fruits with their meals, make sure that you include some green vegetables like peas or carrots as well so he can get an extra dose of folic acid from them.
Give One Hard Boiled Egg A Day
Eggs are one of the best sources of protein and iron. They also contain zinc and selenium, which help maintain a healthy immune system and protect against some cancers. Eggs are low in fat, which makes them easy for toddlers to digest.
Add Small Tuna Pieces In Curry
Tuna is another great source of iron that can be added to many dishes like curries or soups without changing the taste much at all! Just be careful not to undercook it
Tofu Is A Great Iron Source
Tofu, also known as soya cheese, is full of iron. If you want your child to follow a vegetarian diet, giving this superfood will be beneficial to uplift their iron status.
The Bottom Line-:
With the above tips, you can feed the optimum amount of iron to your kids without any hassle. Also, don’t forget to iron supplement your baby after contacting the pediatrician.