Iron

[Tweakster]

So even though I said on Becky's thread I wasn't stressing over the veg situation, I'm stressing a little bit.

Its always been a mystery as to whether DS is low sleep needs or not.  However he's currently super-high needs and it's been going on much longer than a GS.  He always seems tired, even asking for bed at the dinner table!

Doc suggests that he's low iron, probably exacerbated by all the illness we've endured this winter.  We've not done testing because it means drawing blood from a toddler but she suggests more iron rich foods and possibly a supplement.

So how to get more iron into a kid?

The only thing he'll wind down is meat.  So this week I've done beef twice (burgers and then meatballs last night), pork tenderloin, whole grain pasta (seemingly iron enriched) and tonight will be chicken.  I should add that what's good for him to eat is bad for me - red meat not ideal for me.  But I love it and have always needed it to keep my own iron levels decent.

[squeakersmum]

I'm worrying about the same thing Wendy. Ben seems to always be tired at the moment and looks it, with big bags under his eyes. He certainly doesn't embrace veg! He'll eat carrots and peas happily and enjoys courgettes and mushrooms but most others (particularly green ones) he'll eat a mouthful and then declare he doesn't like it.

Just reading along really!

[~inbalance~]

Some good sources of iron:
green leafy vegetables, beets (my kids love these and you can put them in smoothies!), asparagus, grapes, bananas, figs, dried fruits, beans, soybeans, sunflower seeds, meat, fish, poultry, peas, eggs, whole grains, lentils, millet, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and blackstrap molasses.  (got this from my infant/toddler nutrition book).

You can put the molasses in all sorts of things I'm sure if you're creative!

[Mom to M&M]

Also, Vitamin C helps iron absorption - so if he'll have fruit along with meat at meals, or drink OJ or smoothies with spinach, etc added along with OJ that will all help.

[aisling]

Also, Vitamin C helps iron absorption - so if he'll have fruit along with meat at meals, or drink OJ or smoothies with spinach, etc added along with OJ that will all help.

^This.

Our family snacks on organic (non sulpharized they are ugly brown not pretty orange) apricots. Very good iron source.  you can also stew them with water on stove and it becomes a lovely jam/spread for toast. 

Couscous, soybeans, pate, pumpkin seeds (you can grind them in blender to powder and add to smoothie), quinoa, white beans, molasses, lentils and spinach.

For any old timers on here they remember my "swamp mix" in food processor zip up spinach/kale with carrots and keep in fridge a few days.  Sometimes I'll add parsley, basil and zucchini too. Add a few spoons to everything.  Especially soups and stews and sauces. I make my pesto with this mix. I add to egg, tuna, chicken salad too. Great in turkey/chicken meatballs and burgers too. I've done it it in cheesy eggs or omelette as well.  DS has been having this swamp mix since he was 1 yr old.

[Mom to M&M]

Ais - I had totally forgotten about the swamp mix - of course now I remember. That rocks!

[Tweakster]

Apricots - 'no like it'
Couscous - 'no like it'
Edamame - 'no like it'
Smoothies - 'no like it'
Spinach or anything related to salad - 'no like it'

*sigh*
Well you get the idea lol

You have to remember ladies I don't cook my own stuff.  That doesn't mean we eat all manufactured stuff but I do very VERY basic meals.  Like chicken on the BBQ with a few spices thrown on.  Chicken and a side of peas would be a meal for us.  Maybe rice.  Whole grain pasta with plain tomato sauce.  Spaghetti once in a while.  Scrambled eggs.  In summer it's all just meat on the BBQ with a veg on the side.  I think my biggest beef is making something nice and healthy and him rejecting it and it really does just go to waste.  I hate wasting so much food!

I don't make sauces, stews, soups (he won't eat soup), or anything like that.  I am really hoping to master my own tomato sauce but that's about the only sauce we would eat.  I'm just not a cook in any way shape or form.  Baking I do quite well and sometimes enjoy.  But cooking I hate.  I have tried to get better at it for Finn but I'm just really not that good or creative.  I can follow a recipe but I don't really have the time to spend cooking just now.  Maybe when he's older.  All I feel like eating these days is a sandwich for dinner lol

Interesting about the seeds though.  Did not know that.  So I can do a nice trail mix and he might eat that.  Throw some small bits of apricot in and sneak it that way.  It's all about texture for him, if it sticks to his hand or roof of mouth he doesn't like it.  I've gotten backlash from dried fruits, prunes and apricots.  Too big and sticky I think.  He's not had seeds yet so that's the next step.

Aisling I'll have to figure out what stewing is to make jam lol  I'm so naive and virginal when it comes to cooking.  But I used to love apricot jam as a kid apparently.

It's hard having 3 picky eaters in one house lol

Grapes, berries, anything fruit he's really good with.  Well good is a relative term for a toddler.  But we really do serve fruit non-stop at home because he'll eat it and it tends to be a common dessert in our house.  And I did know that tip about vit C.

Molasses means I need to make more gingerbread cookies ;-D

[Mom to M&M]

Does he do pizza? If so, buy pre-made crust (or make your own) and chop spinach and kale REALLY finely and add under the sauce and cheese. Never fails here. DS doesn't notice and I tell DD that it's basil and parsley! If he'll do pesto sauce on pasta you can chop spinach and kale into that too.

As for smoothies, my DS hates them if milk based but likes fruit/juice based one. His favorite is either strawberries or blueberries blended with bananas, apple juice, water and avocado (for good fats) but you can easily add spinach to that too or instead.

[Tweakster]

Great tip about the pizza.  Yes I am going to make my own pizza more often.  I typically see pizza as more of a 'cheat' food for me but I've completely cut back on how often and what I have on it.  I've reduced mainly to cheese only pizza.  So yeah, I could put spinach in there without him really knowing and throw a lot of cheese and sauce on top. 

That smoothie is making me hungry!  So do you put ice in yours too?  Can you give me the measurements (yes I am THAT naive and stupid lol)  I can't just add this and that and have it turn out edible/drinkable.  We also don't readily find good avocados.  We don't have great grocery stores :-(  But spinach is not something I have considered.  I just can't imagine what it would taste like.  And does it turn green?  I am sure he would say 'no like it' if he didn't like the colour.  He's getting picky about how something 'looks' these days, even passing up his favourite, banana, when it didn't look yellow enough lol

[Mom to M&M]

Pizzas are so easy to make and leftovers freeze well too. I typically chop up mushrooms, baby spinach, onion and garlic and sautee it in a bit of olive oil and add that to the sauce and put that on the crust (after spraying olive oil on the crust, then top with a lot of cheese and bake. Sometimes I make my own sauce, sometimes I blend carrots or sweet potato puree in too.

I don't put ice in it because that makes it thicker and DS likes it thin - more like fruit juice. I generally use a 4-6 ounces of apple juice, 10-12 ounces water, one banana and about 5-6 large strawberries OR like 30 or so blueberries. I then add a whole scooped out avocado too but if you are doing spinach instead I'd start out small - maybe 1/2-3/4 cup baby spinach (raw baby spinach is sweeter and less overpowering a taste than frozen spinach). If it tastes bitter or too spinachy, add more fruit - if you can add more spinach go for it! That amount I then use over two days (keeping the rest in the fridge), adding water to his cup if necessary to thin it out (or extend it if he wants more).

The avocado doesn't really turn it green, the spinach a bit more so but still not too much. And I put it in a blue/designed sippy cup and tell Matthew it's his fruit shake. He loves it and would live on it if I let him.

[~inbalance~]

Spinach and avocado don't turn our smoothies green if I put frozen wild blueberries in. 

And make sure it's blackstrap molasses, not just regular molasses. 

[bubbabear1]

Listening in...

xx

[Mom to M&M]

Would blackstrap molasses be OK added to a smoothie without changing the taste or consistency too much? Just found out today that DS tested quite low for iron. A bit scared to do supplement since he has a very sensitive tummy.

[~inbalance~]

TBH I've never tried it in a smoothie.  If I remember to pick some up maybe I'll give it a go and let you know. 

[Khalam's Mama]

Turkey, tuna and salmon are both good sources you could cook on the BBQ
Lots of cereals are also iron fortified so perhaps look at the packets you buy and choose those versions.
You can also put veg puree in things and you never taste them. Broccoli is easily hideable in an egg ommlette or pancakes and not tastable if you put on some cheese or dip in yoghurt/honey respectively. Also the yolk in the high iron bit so maybe make omlettes/scrambled etc with less white and more yolk.
Also have you considered using formula instead of cowsmilk as this has a much higher iron content. Even in porridge etc if he won't drink it straight.

[Mom to M&M]

I bought some blackstrap molasses yesterday afternoon and added it to a fruit shake for him this morning. I used 6 ounces apple juice, 12 ounces water, 7-8 strawberries, one banana and an avocado and then added 1 tbsp the blackstrap to that and blended. Will give him half the shake today, half tomorrow. I find it to be a strong taste but this way the fruit and all really masks it so hopefully he drinks it all down!

KM - he already does well with some fruit purees hidden in things and with Ella's kitchen or Plum Baby puree pouches too and unfortunately doesn't do scrambled egg. SOMETIMES he does challah french toast so next time I make that I'll use double egg yolk. He doesn't drink milk (went off it when we took his bottle away a few weeks ago) but I can't imagine he'd now go for it in porridge. But thanks for the idea!

Wendy - sorry to hijack your post. How are things going?

[aisling]

Oh sorry to hear his iron stores are low.    Let us know how it goes.  

From your other post- Spaghetti squash is on for 89 cents a pound at Superstore this week btw.

[Tweakster]

Eeek Superstore.  I LOVE Superstore but it's a) too big and b) too busy for us to do our regular shopping.  We've got Freshco now and Metro if we have any 'designer' needs.  But that's good to know, Superstore does seem to have everything.

Things are fine here, he's eating 'ok'.  Yesterday we did cheesy eggs for the whole family with a side of OJ lol. It was like breakfast for dinner.  I may still consider getting him tested.  

Karen it's not hijacking hon, I was just putting out a general question to the collective - everyone is welcome to jump on board.  We are but all on the same train!

[aisling]

Freshco and Metro also have them, they are with all the other squash.  Just thought I mention they were on sale at Stuperstore (DS calls it that) this week, they are not a specialty item.

[Khalam's Mama]

DS loves humous and pitta bread which has some iron in if you can tempt him.

[Tweakster]

No spaghetti squash at Metro.  Not even a spot for it.  They have butternut, buttercup, and acorn.  None at Freshco either, don't think they even have squash or I just shopped too late in the weekend :-(. We'll have to go to Stuperstore (tell N I love it!) and just for one thing.

Eating healthy is a hassle lol

Can I hire a chef and personal grocery shopper??!

[C&B&E]

We use little blocks of frozen chopped spinach and I just throw them in so many foods - cheese sauces, spag bol, defrosted and put on pizzas with all the other toppings....anything really.  I like the way it's not noticeable, so we eat it several times a week but without it being something we get sick of!

[Tweakster]

Went to another Freshco and found the big yellow spaghetti squash.  Also some baby spinach which the other grocery store also did not have.

Made our own pizza - Slap Chopped some spinach in.  Was lovely!  Thanks for the tip!!!

[Nauvoo]

Iron testing is routine for 2 year olds in the States.  Finger prick and it's that easy.  My DD is a BIG wimp and didn't even cry with the finger prick.  Her iron levels were good and she hardly ever eats veg.  My niece however never ate veg and her iron levels got so low she was hospitalized so it is definitely something I would advise checking.  My 4 year old niece was put on a vitamin with iron because she eats mac and cheese, cottage cheese, and junk food and that's it.   However, if you can be creative I love the ideas that have been given!!!

[Mom to M&M]

The finger prick is not as accurate though as a real blood draw with ferritin levels checked, though it's a good screen procedure.

Yes Wendy, we do a fair amount of said pizza here. I have one for him for lunch today that has chopped spinach, mushrooms, onion, garlic and browned ground beef all pureed into the sauce. Sometimes I add shredded carrots but he generally does well enough with orange veggies in other sources (carrots in soup, sweet potato "fries", etc).

[Mom to M&M]

Made challah french toast this morning - for two slices I used two egg yolks (saved the whites for my breakfast), a splash of milk, some maple syrup, some vanilla extract and some pumpkin pie spice. He inhaled a whole piece and had some fruit juice smoothie with added blackstrap molasses so hopefully we are off to a good start iron-wise to the day! Supplement should be here by Friday afternoon.