getting DD to eat red meat??

[lfp2n]

DD was low on her hemoglobin (11.2) at her 12 month check but the ped thought it was because she was BF and wouldn't eat any iron fortified stuff like cereal, so he told me to give her vits plus iron, which I did everyday. So the at the 15 month check she is still 11.2, so now we are worrying a bit more and I'd like to get it higher without her going onto more massive iron doses.
I would like to get her to eat a more iron rich diet, from what I've been reading although many foods are high in iron (fortified bars and cereals, beans, pulses, dark green veg), compared to meat, particularly red meat, your body will absorb about will absorb only 5% of the iron from these other sources, as it will from meat.
The example I read was in terms of uptake, 100g of beef is the same as 2kg of spinach/kale. So I'm trying to get DD to eat more beef but so far she doesn't like my offerings (I don't usually cook , DH does, so who can blame her!). Has anyone got any good recipe ideas for toddler food using ground beef, or any other beef, preferably dishes that could be made in a big batch and frozen.

TIA

Lucy and DD 3/03

[August Mom]

DS generally likes meat, so I probably had an easier time than most, but his first favorite beef was chuck roast cooked in the crockpot all day. I then shredded it for him. It was very tender and he really liked it.

I just take a 2-4 pound chuck roast, put it in the crockpot with red potatoes, baby carrots and some onion slices. I generally rub the roast with salt and pepper. Then, I pour a can of beef broth over it and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Viola!

A lot of toddlers I know like meatballs, generally in tomato sauce. DS likes meatballs over spaghetti.

You can also put seasoned ground beef into quesadillas.

And, DS also liked marinated round steak cut into strips and stir-fryed with bell peppers and onions. I think he likes the marinade - soy sauce, sugar, sherry.

My main advice is to not be afraid to season her foods. A lot of other moms I know made sure that everything was bland. They were concerned about too many seasonings/spices for their babies. And, especially in the meat department, these kids don't eat much meat. Maybe that's just the luck of the draw, I don't know. But, I do know that I like things with flavor better than bland things and I think it makes sense that DS would too. So, I just give DS whatever we are eating.

If you want to try the beef and pepper stir-fry recipe, let me know and I'll give you an exact recipe.

Good luck.

[nitaghei]

DH is the one that cooks meat in our house, and hamburger and meatballs in tomato sauce are two favorites. I don't handle beef in any shape or form for religious reasons.

I definitely want to second the recommendation for seasoning the meat, and other food. My DS loves spicy food, and rejects anything that's bland. DS has the same issue with hemoglobin, so I've been trying to increase his iron intake too. He does love infant cereal, and all greens. I read somewhere that adding fruit to cereal helps with iron absorption, so I give him cereal mixed with fruitsauce. Don't know if you've tried that - as an additional option to meat. I also add cereal to yogurt for DS.

One way DS likes spinach or other greens is sauteed in butter, with salt, cayenne and a dash of nutmeg. I also make spinach quiche for him.

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[Karenn]

One thing I've done is mix purreed baby food meat from a jar with whipped cream cheese and spread it on a sandwich. I don't know if she's old enough for that or not, but my anti-meat DS has never caught on. I've also used a mortar and pestle (sp?) to grind up chicken and done the same with that.

Good luck!

[lisams]

Some of DD's favorites (and she was very picky and did not like meat until about 18 months) are:

meatloaf
meatballs
McDonald's cheeseburgers (for some reason these are the only onesshe will eat, maybe because they aren't thick)
mac and cheese bake with hamburger in it

Also, for the longest time I was afriad about things that had a spicy or strong flavor, well that's what she loves! She loves onions and ketchup in her cheeseburger all the while I was scraping it out!!

HTH!
Lisa

[sntm]

I agree, go for spice. Jack is not a big meat eater, but when he does, he likes barbecued meat and strongly-flavored lamb.

Nita, I'm emailing you for spicy veggie recipes!
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shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03

[houseof3boys]

You are sneaky! I love the ideas and I'm going to try them on my anti-meat eater too. :)

[Drews Mom]

TIA, our son also was low on hemoglobin. Have your pediatrician test your DD for Thal Minor. It won't show up in a regular CBC, it is a special blood test. Some doctors don't know to test for it.

If your DD is Thal Minor, no amount of iron will help that number go up. It sort of a false low number that is not much to worry about, but worth testing so she knows about it when she has children as it may be more serious depending on who she marries.

It is a confusing diagnosis, but I'd have her tested. My DS was at the same age when we found out. I had pushed iron into the poor kid, including suppliments, and all we got were moe hemoglobins in the 10 range.

[Karenn]

:) Desperation breeds creativity!

His meat strike lasted about a year and only ended a couple of weeks ago! I never thought I'd be celebrating the day he downed a box of Chicken McNuggets!

[sntm]

You could do liverwurst that way too. I actually love liverwurst, it's spreadable, and excellent mixed with cream cheese. The taste is different enough that it won't be like other (rejected) meats, it's a fab source of iron, and it is CHEAP.
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shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 13 months and counting