Iron
It is important to note that Toddlers who consume far more than the recommended daily allowance of calcium may be at a greater risk of iron deficient anemia than those Toddlers who drink the recommended amounts. Milk and Calcium have been shown to hinder the absorption of Iron. Toddlers are at risk for Iron deficient anemia due to their overall eating habits and the lack of continual Iron being received from breastmilk and/or infant formula.
"Iron is a vital component of hemoglobin, the carrier of oxygen in the blood. As a young child grows, blood volume increases, and so does the need for iron. Preschoolers and toddlers typically eat less iron-rich foods than they did in infancy. In addition, the iron that children get is usually non-heme iron (from plant sources), which has a lower availability than heme iron (from animal sources). As a result, children up to three years of age are at high risk for iron-deficiency anemia. The RDA for iron for both toddlers and preschoolers is ten milligrams (mg) per day."
Some Iron rich foods are outlined below:
- dried beans
- winter squash
- sweet potatoes
- broccoli
- mushrooms
- meat & poultry (beef, beef & chicken liver, pork, turkey, chicken)
- greens (spinach, broccoli, beet, tomato )
- egg yolks
- dried fruit (figs, apricots, prunes, raisins)
- prune juice
- tofu
- grains (cooked cracked wheat, wheat germ, cornmeal, millet, brown rice, farina, bran, breads, iron fortified cereals)
- blackstrap molasses
- brewer's yeast
shellfish (clams, oysters, shrimp - only after age 2 yrs or older, consult your pediatrician!) - tuna, sardines, canned salmon
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