My 4yo has Syncope disorder (she's a fainter) and lately she's been really pale. She's also been a really finicky eater - not a surprise for her age. Her pediatrician suggested one per day Mix1 drinks (protein drinks with no caffeine, lactose) and she drank them for a couple of days. I bought some Cliff bars and 1/2-1 a day depending on how much she eats is her intake on those.
My question to you is if you have any ideas on iron rich foods or different ideas to help. We will do blood draw in a few weeks if her paleness doesn't improve. She fainted not too long ago and we needed to give her a rest in between (she will faint with blood draw) otherwise we would have done it already.
We've tried fun pasta noodles with all different kinds of flavored cooked chicken (white and dark meat). She won't eat beans, greens or anything else that's iron rich. I'm at a loss.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Will she eat oatmeal? Infant cereal is iron fortified and could help keep her levels up even though she's not an infant anymore.
Oatmeal is iron rich as well as spinach and other leafy greens. My son had an iron deficiency when he was younger and we experimented with including oats in his diet-he'll eat them as long as they're not oatmeal. Since then, I've found the green smoothie girl and have found great ways to get veggies and fruits into my kids. Just google her name and watch a few videos on her website. The smoothies may be green but they don't taste that way!
have you tried blending kale or spinach into a smootie style drink where she can't taste it, but it is in there? I have never done that, but a lot of moms on this site have and swear by it:)
My aunt who suffers low iron recommends watermelon. It's apparently a great source and most kids like it
Put greens into a smoothie - my five year olds eat kale almost daily without knowing it! It does turn the smoothie a bit dark and greenish, but still tastes delicious.
Cook with cast iron pans. Give her lots of red meat. Have her eat lots of eggs (the yolks have tons of iron). Dried fruit has lots of iron too - apricots, prunes, etc. Plus, they're sugary so kids love them!
