Low calorie, high in Iron.

Cream of Wheat cereal is very high in iron - I always have to bump my iron levels up before I donate blood, and if I eat the cereal 3 or 4 times the week prior to donating, my levels are well above their minimum requirement for donors. And your daughter can eat it too!

My blood center has a list of iron rich foods - hope this helps: http://www.cencalblood.org/IronRichFoods.htm

Edited to add: I just had a bowl of Cream of Wheat - I like to add some plain Greek yogurt and fresh fruit to it for protein & deliciousness.

Spinach, I eat several cups steamed every day. I am also severely anemic and am actually monitored by a hematologist. My body does not absorb the normal amount of iron most people do. I had been put on iron pills, but those didn't work. I now have to get my iron checked every two months and if my iron counts get too low I actually have to go in for IV iron infusions......I monitor the iron on my diet too, but my hematologist said my body will just not absorb much iron absorbed orally.......Doesn't mean I can't try! The less times a year I have to go in for infusions.....Normally at least twice a year.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/health-and-wellness/iron-rich-foods

This page has a list of iron rich foods......

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/top-10-iron-rich-foods

Make a whole-egg spinach omelet with TONS of spinach.

You'll absorb iron more effectively if you eat it along with foods rich in Vitamin C. So have a half a grapefruit along with that omelet.

Another thing I like to do is buy a bunch of cookable greens (beet greens, collard greens, kale, spinach, whatever floats your boat), chop them, cook a cubed chicken breast in a pan or wok, then dump large handfuls of the greens on top and cook them down. Then add garlic (or garlic scapes if you prefer) and whatever else you care to add. The cooked greens are very filling, and have a lot of iron. Asparagus also has a decent amount, as do peas. Brussels sprouts have a little. I think you see a trend - green = likely to have iron.

Also, while it's not terribly high in iron, cinnamon is a decent source. A teaspoon of it adds 5% of recommended daily iron. Use cinnamon more frequently as a spice and it'll help a touch. Pepper also has a little iron in it. So does cumin, garlic, oregano, and a lot of spices. Not a lot, but then again spices tend to be low in calories.

I monitor the iron on my diet too, but my hematologist said my body will just not absorb much iron absorbed orally.......Doesn't mean I can't try! The less times a year I have to go in for infusions.....Normally at least twice a year.

Has your hematologist mentioned eating foods high in Vitamin C in conjunction with your iron to assist in absorption?

Even a little orange or lemon juice concentrate in your spinach can help, supposedly. I doubt it could hurt.

Good for you for trying to medicate through diet change.

The posts mentioning vitamin C are right on. A friend's mother has anemia and was trying to take in more iron through food. She saw no improvement until she upped her vitamin C intake as well. She also gave up soda and coffee.

Bell peppers are an outstanding source of C. They are so yummy raw. Try a spinach salad with cut up bell peppers and some delicious ranch or bacon dressing -- yes, those are both high calorie, but they make spinach a treat. Dress just enough to bring out the taste.

Beans and lentils are also high in iron.

"ITeachinjen~~ I've tried everything, my body just doesn't absorb it....Just frustrating!"



Has your hematologist suggested further testing? My number was down to a 3, and it would not go up. I was doing straight, 5 hour iron infusions and nothing helped. I was close to being hospitalized due to the number decreasing. This went on for a while--over a couple of years. He finally sent me to have an upper and lower GI. I was found to have a very severe hiatal hernia and in turn was causing extreme internal bleeding. I had it repaired last month. My numbers have finally started to rise~~not where they should be, but it's the first time there's been a rise in my numbers!! I can even make it through the day without napping--which is a miracle!!! It's very frustrating to want to lose weight, but with the iron thing I have no energy!!

I will try that.....Thanks! They never went into further testing, I should ask them to!