Iron-rich finger food???

[Mom to Molly]

Hi,

My lo is nearly 10 months old and last week at her check-up we discovered she is borderline anemic.  The nurse wasn't too concerned, but I would sure like to get more iron into her because I know it is so important for her development.

I'm finding it challenging to get more iron-rich foods into her because she doesn't eat much solid food and she refuses to let me feed her.  She eats Cheerios (which are iron fortified), frozen whole-wheat bagels, dried peaches & apricots and blueberries.  I've tried to give her tofu, but not much makes it into her mouth.  She just mashes it up.  I haven't introduced meat.  I was hoping to delay or avoid meat as I'm a vegetarian, but if there isn't another way to get her iron up, I'll do it.  What is the best way to prepare/present turkey as a finger food?

Any ideas for non-meat iron-rich finger food?

I know it is best to combine iron-rich foods with foods that are rich in vitamin C, so I've been giving her some mango nectar (lots of Vit-C).  I've tried to give her some pieces of vitamin c rich fruit, but she has a hard time picking it up.  I'll try coating the fruit in Cheerios as I saw was suggested on this site. 

She is breast fed.  If I increase my iron intake will it help her? 

I'd appreciate any suggestions!
allison

[isaac'smom]

Have you tried mixing the tofu in with something? Maybe like a tofu/bulgur/brown rice burger? I don't know much about tofu, to be honest with you!

With the turkey, you could make mini sandwiches. Put meat or cheese between slices of multigrain bread, squish it down and then slice into little finger food sized chunks.

What about cooked beans or lentils, baked potato chunks with skins on, asparagus. brussel sprouts or  bite sized iron-fortified pasta? You can also coat fruit in iron-fortified infant cereal to make it less slippery. Are you still giving her infant cereal? That is a good source of iron as well.

HTH!
 

[Mom to Molly]

Thanks for the ideas.  I had a bit more luck with the tofu today.  I tried lentils, but she wasn't interested.  I'll keep giving her some and maybe she'll come around.  I've tried kidney beans, which weren't a hit, but I plan to try black beans.  If she actually eats them I hope they don't make her gassy.

No,unfortunately I'm not giving her infant cereal because she won't take anything off a spoon and if I give her the spoon and the cereal it is just a mess.  I tried coating pears in infant cereal last night and I think she got a couple pieces in her mouth.  The fact that she finally came around on the tofu gives me some hope that she'll come around on these other foods.

Thanks again for the suggestions.  If anyone else has foods to add to my list, please let me know.

Thanks,
allison