Iron deficiency anemia is now not a bad thing that is difficult to treat, including that which occurs in children. The use of supplements, vitamins, and baby foods rich in iron can be recommended to treat anemia in children or toddlers. In addition, there are also blood-boosting foods that can be included in the food consumed by children.
In fact, premature babies may need iron supplementation because they have lower iron stores at birth. In addition, the problem of anemia in children is also quite a problem for children who are picky eaters. In general, children should eat at least two or more iron-rich foods every day. Therefore, know the blood-boosting foods that can be given to the following children!
Blood Enhancing Foods for Children
The following are some blood-boosting foods that can be given to children with anemia:
Oatmeal
The first blood-boosting food is oatmeal which is a nutritious snack that many toddlers love and in one cup of oatmeal, there are 4.5 to 6.6 milligrams (mg) of iron. Oatmeal is also rich in fiber, making it an excellent choice for children with stomach or digestive problems, including constipation.
You can add a sprinkling of cinnamon powder and a pinch of brown sugar on top of the oatmeal to make it more appetizing for the child. Also add a handful of raisins for extra iron.
Meat
All meat products are rich in iron. However, many toddlers often refuse meat, but parents need to use simple strategies to get their children to eat meat. Such as giving chicken nuggets or meatballs. However, be aware that chicken nuggets and meatballs often contain high levels of sodium and saturated fat.
Peanut Butter Sandwich
The amount of iron in peanut butter varies between brands, but typically contains about 0.56 mg of iron per tablespoon. For added iron, make a sandwich using a slice of whole wheat bread which can provide about 1 mg of iron. Peanut butter is also relatively high in protein, making it a great choice for toddlers who don't want to eat meat.
Dark Chocolate
The next blood-boosting food is dark chocolate. It offers antioxidant-rich treats that can help increase a child's iron intake. Besides meat, dark chocolate is one of the most iron-rich foods a toddler can eat, it offers 7 mg of iron per 3-ounce serving.
Some toddlers don't like the bitter taste of dark chocolate. Encourage them to give it a try by melting it and mixing it with peanut butter, then spread it on bread for an iron-rich treat.
Egg
Hard-boiled eggs offer 1 mg of iron. Or if your toddler doesn't like hard-boiled eggs, try scrambled eggs instead. Some kids also like sandwiches that have eggs in them.
Fish
The next blood-boosting food is fish and try to include fish in your toddler's diet because this food is highly nutritious. Fish is also an excellent source of protein, and some fish, such as mackerel and salmon, are rich in heart and brain-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Those are some blood-boosting foods for children with anemia. However, if the symptoms of anemia in children get worse, it's a good idea to immediately check the child to the hospital.
Source : https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/ini-makanan-penambah-darah-untuk-anak-yang-mengidap-anemia
