High Iron foods for picky 3 year old

[lindsmom]

So DS just went to the doctor, and his iron level is still low (always has been). We have already cut back on his dairy intake, so I need to find ways to add iron to his diet. He is a standard 3 year old picky boy with a limited menu that he will eat. I know, I know...... he should eat broccoli and spinach, and liver, and..... blah.

I just stumbled across a recipe for black bean brownies which I will try - any other suggestions for ways to sneak high iron foods into his menu? He is a protein (white meat) and carb guy. NO juice (we'll be giving him orange juice when he starts the drops next week).

 

[naomi78155]

My super picky 5 year old does not eat any veggies with out a fight. She loves this smoothie I make, I don't have exact measurements, but here it is:
1/2 cup crushed ice, 1/2 cup low fat or fat free Greek yogurt, handful of baby spinach, splash of juice (orange or v8 splash), 1 Tbs flaxseed, and a handful or blueberries. This is very versatile. You can add more or less spinach, bananas, other fruit or whatever.

Otherwise, just try to sneak mashed beans into stuff like ground beef when you make tacos or meatloaf.

 

[kohlby]

Black strap molasses is high in iron. It's not the healthiest due to the sugar, but also the sugar may help a picky child eat it.

How low was his iron? Was it the sent out test or the in-office one? (If it's the in-office prick, then get it sent out. The in-office one is wildly inaccurate).

*About the above smoothie, I'd replace the yogurt with a banana so you don't have to worry about the dairy blocking the iron. I don't know if bananas have iron in them, but they'll make the smoothie creamy without having to use dairy.

 

[theduhaimes]

My DS was low in iron and my doctor actually suggested breakfast cereal. It has a lot of vitamins and iron added to it. Read the labels and push ones that are higher in iron. Good luck!

 

[chris31997]

He will absorb the iron better with vit C, so whatever form of that he will take than do it.

While preggo I was low iron and ate Total cereal with OJ. It upped my count with no issues. Also see if he will take a vitamin with a high iron count and follow it up with a quick shot of oj

Our kids will eat a salad, I know weird kids , but see if he will do that and include baby spinach on that.

 

[snoopy5386]

Get a cast iron pan and start cooking with it!

 

[lindsmom]

My super picky 5 year old does not eat any veggies with out a fight. She loves this smoothie I make, I don't have exact measurements, but here it is:
1/2 cup crushed ice, 1/2 cup low fat or fat free Greek yogurt, handful of baby spinach, splash of juice (orange or v8 splash), 1 Tbs flaxseed, and a handful or blueberries. This is very versatile. You can add more or less spinach, bananas, other fruit or whatever.

Otherwise, just try to sneak mashed beans into stuff like ground beef when you make tacos or meatloaf.

I like the idea of sneaking beans into ground beef. I could put them into meatballs, as those are on his short list of acceptable foods.

I'll also try your smoothie "for me" and let him share. Thanks!

Black strap molasses is high in iron. It's not the healthiest due to the sugar, but also the sugar may help a picky child eat it.

How low was his iron? Was it the sent out test or the in-office one? (If it's the in-office prick, then get it sent out. The in-office one is wildly inaccurate).

*About the above smoothie, I'd replace the yogurt with a banana so you don't have to worry about the dairy blocking the iron. I don't know if bananas have iron in them, but they'll make the smoothie creamy without having to use dairy.

I forget what the number was, but I believe it was only about .7 low. The problem is his count has always been this low, which is why they are putting him on the drops. I didn't realize we could ask to send them out. It honestly isn't something I'm losing sleep about - he's not showing symptoms of lethargy, etc but I would like to get his iron up.

And thank you for the suggestion with banana. He loves banana!

My DS was low in iron and my doctor actually suggested breakfast cereal. It has a lot of vitamins and iron added to it. Read the labels and push ones that are higher in iron. Good luck!

This could be a great idea - he does love cereal, and I have generally not allowed it because I consider them "junk food" but if I can find one that he will eat with the high iron fortified it would be worth it.

He will absorb the iron better with vit C, so whatever form of that he will take than do it.

While preggo I was low iron and ate Total cereal with OJ. It upped my count with no issues. Also see if he will take a vitamin with a high iron count and follow it up with a quick shot of oj

Our kids will eat a salad, I know weird kids , but see if he will do that and include baby spinach on that.

We will give him OJ - I went through this with DD years ago, and luckily she was willing to drink it. Here's hoping he will - otherwise not sure how we'll get them into him

I may try flinstones with iron - the doctor didn't suggest it, but it might be easier in the long run.

Get a cast iron pan and start cooking with it!

She told me this - I love it! She said that nobody in south / central america has problems with iron counts because they use cast iron for cooking! Can I cook chicken nuggets in a cast iron pan? I will start making him eggs that way for breakfast.

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone! Feel free to keep them coming!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Your chicken and eggs are pretty good sources of iron already. Spinach is pretty easy to work into things. We tried slipping it into subway sandwiches for DS and he ended up asking for his sandwiches that way!!

CAUTION...when he starts on iron drops. Be very careful with constipation. It can be a very big issue and then you have to adjust diet for that. Raisins are good for both issues. Might try to work a lot of those into his diet.

 

[Hannathy]

Does he like raisins? Raisins are high in iron.

I would let him eat any cereal he likes and the sugared ones are great for snacks dry.

 

[DarthMama]

This sounds weird, but -- when my son was 3, he loved steamed broccoli dipped in ketchup. (Now he's 8, and he won't touch it.) But maybe try a dipping sauce for veggies? I think part of the appeal for him was being able to eat veggies with his fingers.

 

[Happyjen27]

If you still have a baby food grinder from his early days, you can grind up steak very fine. I add that to gravy and put it over rice, and they don't know they're eating steak, it's just yummy rice and gravy.

My friend cuts off all of the little tops of broccoli and adds that to her taco meat, the same could be done with finely chopped broccoli in meatballs.

It took my son 4 years to eat broccoli. 4 long years of me putting it on his plate, and him ignoring it. I refuse to argue about food, but I left it sitting there long enough, and finally he tried it, now he eats it. Don't give up on the healthy foods because he isn't into them now, stick it out, and he may come around.

Another side effect of iron supplements might be headaches, so ask him about that when he starts.

 

[lindsmom]

CAUTION...when he starts on iron drops. Be very careful with constipation. It can be a very big issue and then you have to adjust diet for that. Raisins are good for both issues. Might try to work a lot of those into his diet.

We went through so many issues when potty learning, I'm already very worried about this. Hopefully applesauce and grapes will help if / when this happpens.

Does he like raisins? Raisins are high in iron.

I would let him eat any cereal he likes and the sugared ones are great for snacks dry.

We had raisins tonight and he liked them. As long as I don't seem to vested in him eating them, he will do it. If he sees me WANTING him to eat a certain food there isn't a chance he'll do it. Such a bugger.

This sounds weird, but -- when my son was 3, he loved steamed broccoli dipped in ketchup. (Now he's 8, and he won't touch it.) But maybe try a dipping sauce for veggies? I think part of the appeal for him was being able to eat veggies with his fingers.

Ketchup! Oy! But I get that - the only way we could get our daughter to eat her veggies was through the magic of ranch dressing. Definitely will try.

If you still have a baby food grinder from his early days, you can grind up steak very fine. I add that to gravy and put it over rice, and they don't know they're eating steak, it's just yummy rice and gravy.

My friend cuts off all of the little tops of broccoli and adds that to her taco meat, the same could be done with finely chopped broccoli in meatballs.

It took my son 4 years to eat broccoli. 4 long years of me putting it on his plate, and him ignoring it. I refuse to argue about food, but I left it sitting there long enough, and finally he tried it, now he eats it. Don't give up on the healthy foods because he isn't into them now, stick it out, and he may come around.

Another side effect of iron supplements might be headaches, so ask him about that when he starts.

Good idea about grinding the steak and broccoli - sounds like he's going to have lots of magical meatballs!

Didn't know about the headaches so thanks for the head's up on that (no pun intended). Will keep an eye out.

 

[amylynne01]

I've been trying to keep my iron intake up to help with fatigue (I have a 6 month old who doesn't sleep well, so I need all the help I can get). I eat multi-grain peanut butter Cheerios every morning without fail. They fall in my healthy but tasty category. One serving (3/4 cup) has 45% of my suggested daily intake. Many cereals and breads have been fortified with iron, which is also important for women of child-bearing age.

I also keep offering foods my kids "don't" like, and occasionally they do try them. Most of the time, they still don't like them, but at least they tried. I also make it fun for them by trying a new veggie or new preparation every week. Last week we tried butternut squash roasted with a OJ and maple syrup glaze. They ate a couple bites, so IMO it was successful. I don't do the "hide the veggies" routine simply because I'm far too lazy for that lol.