Kids’ taste buds are undeveloped; hence it’s pretty challenging for parents to feed them a healthy diet. You may be one of those who want to give adequate nutrition to your little one but can’t because of their tantrums. The real challenge is to prepare healthy and tasty food when serving little ones. This sometimes results in iron deficiency in young eaters, and providing chewable iron to kids becomes imperative. However, don’t despair. There are myriad ways to infuse iron in your child—- one is to give delicious iron-rich food in the lunch box that kids enjoy and finish.
Yes, you got that right— many iron-loaded recipes provide optimum nutrition to your child and boost their cognitive and physical health. But before looking at those, you should know about key foods that contain a good amount of iron-:
- Pork
- Red met
- Leafy green vegetables
- Fortified cereals
- Egg Yolk
- Chicken
- Beans & lentils
- Seafood
- Raisins
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Carrot & Avocados
Read on to discover seven fantastic iron abundant dishes that make an excellent lunch for your little munchkin.
1. Cheesy Meat Ball Bomb
Cheesy meatball bomb is one of the easiest and most healthy cuisines that you can prepare for your child’s lunch. Fill the dough balls with cheese, meatballs, Italian herbs, and tomato puree, and bake them for a few minutes. I bet you that your child won’t remain without eating this delicious food. You can also use leftover or frozen meatballs to cook this recipe quickly. The meat and cheese is a lit combination and perfect to treat your child’s taste buds and boost iron content. Bonus tip: serve this cuisine with marinara dip.
2. Chicken Taco Salad
Another way to add some twist to a kid’s lunch is by preparing chicken taco salad. This healthy meal is topped with tasty and crunchy taco shells. And its base is made of creamy avocado pieces and roasted chicken chunks. Chicken and avocados are excellent sources of iron; if they are included in daily meals, your kid will rarely need chewable iron supplements. You can also garnish some cheese to increase the protein content in the salad. Finding this tasty meal in the tiffin box makes your kid feel like getting a lottery ticket.
3. Carrot & Avocado Rolls
Carrots and avocado rolls are ideal for enhancing the iron level of your young one. This recipe is great for toddlers who love to eat something handy during lunch break. This midday hunger killer is quick to make and contains loads of iron. All you need is to mix chunks of avocados and grated carrots with cheeses and herbs. You can also add a little pepper powder to enhance the taste. Wrap them in a tight aluminum warp to avoid spillage.
4. Tuna Rice Salad
If your kids are rice lovers, Tuna rice salad is the best thing you can give them. This recipe is also prepared in minutes. Take cooked rice and spread it in a bowl. After this, put tuna slices onto it and place lattice and grated beetroot on the top. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. This delicious treat will help raise your child well and prevent them from iron-deficiency anemia.
5. Penne Pasta With Green Salads
Whole grain pasta is also a great source of non-heme iron and can uplift the iron status of your child. Simply boil penne pasta and mix some green veggies in it, like broccoli, spinach, and peas. Put a little salt, herbs, and black pepper to enhance the flavor and toss all ingredients together. Microwave this mix for 2-3 minutes, and the iron-rich lunch for your munchkin is ready!
6. Salmon Burger
Generally, small children don’t like salmon solely. But if it is given in a tricky way, you can infuse a good amount of iron in your ward. The best way to feed salmon to kids is by making its cutlet and putting it inside the burger bread with some tomato sauce and cheese.
7. Apple Oat Bars
You can give apple oat bars to young eaters and chewable iron supplements to stay healthy and fit. Apple and oats both contain large amounts of iron and many other nutrients as well. Make a paste of these ingredients and add a little sugar before putting the mix into the oven. Your little one will surely love this sweet, delightful iron-full recipe.
Wrapping Up-:
Start giving the dishes mentioned above to your child and see the change—how quickly they will finish the lunch. Also, don’t forget to give chewable iron supplements to your kids for satisfactory results.