INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS, PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CARERS Increasing your iron intake

You have been found to have anaemia. If your child is under two years, there may This leaflet will help you identify foods be an advantage from using follow-on that are naturally high in iron, and if eaten formula milk instead of cow’s milk, as this may help correct your anaemia. is fortified with iron.

What is iron? Which foods are a good source of Iron is a mineral in many foods. It is iron? needed by the body to help make healthy Animal foods include: blood, which can carry the oxygen we  Offal (liver, kidney, black pudding, breathe in around our body. bacon, tongue, pâté)  Red meats (beef, lamb, pork, beef If there is not enough iron in the body you burger, sausage) may look pale, feel tired, be irritable and  Oily fish (pilchards, sardines, fish you may get out of breath easily. This is paste) described as ‘iron deficiency anaemia’.  Eggs.

Plant foods include: If you/your child has iron deficiency  Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, prunes, anaemia, you/he/she needs to eat more sultanas) foods containing iron. Often you/they cannot get all the iron the body needs  Green leafy vegetables (spinach, from food alone so the doctor will broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts) generally prescribe iron medicine or  Pulses (lentils, kidney beans, baked tablets. beans, nuts, hummous, dahl)  Fortified cereals and breads.

If you/your child has difficulty taking the Other sources: iron medicine, please discuss an  Meat extracts (, Oxo) appropriate alternative with the doctor or  extract () pharmacist. Iron medication may cause  Curry and chilli powder constipation and turn poo dark, or even  Liquorice. black in colour, so don’t be alarmed.

How to get the most iron from in your There are two types of iron in the diet; diet one found in animal foods and the other The body can absorb more iron from is in plant foods. The iron in animal foods foods when they are eaten with foods is more easily absorbed. containing C.

Therefore the aim is to have some food or Vegetarian options: drink which is high in Vitamin C in the  Mixed bean casserole with tinned same meal as iron containing foods. tomatoes Good sources of Vitamin C are:  Lentil loaf, green vegetables and jacket  Fruits (especially oranges, grapefruit potatoes and their juices)  Vegetable and tomato sauce with  Berry fruits (strawberries, raspberries, spaghetti blackberries)  Vegetable curry with brown rice and an  Vegetables (especially potatoes). orange to follow  Soya meat substitute shepherd’s pie There are also substances which can limit with lightly cooked vegetables the absorption of iron from foods, namely  Vegetable casserole with sesame tannins found in tea and coffee. Tea and seeds coffee are stimulant drinks, so it is best  Dahl with rice or chapatti and salad not to encourage young children to drink  Spinach and potato curry with rice these. They will benefit more from drinking milk or limited amounts of pure  Vegetable stir-fry with tofu and brown fruit juice. rice.

If a child drinks excessively, this can If you require further support please reduce their food intake and contribute to ask your GP to refer to a dietician. a low iron intake. Take care your child is Further sources of information not filling up with fluids, especially before NHS Choices: www.nhs.uk/conditions meals, and is not drinking in excess of Our website: www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk one pint of milk daily. Patient Experience Team (PET) Ideal meals: PET is available to help with any of your  Lamb hotpot compliments, concerns or complaints,  Beef curry lamb curry and will ensure a prompt and efficient  Corned beef hash service.

 Liver casserole King’s Mill Hospital: 01623 672222  Pork casserole Newark Hospital: 01636 685692  Lasagne, made with minced beef Email: [email protected]

 Spaghetti bolognese, made with If you need this information in a different minced beef language or format, please contact the  Sardines, pilchards, sprats, whitebait PET (as above).

 Chilli con carne This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant health  Steak and kidney professional would give you. External websites may be  Lamb chops referred to in specific cases. Any external websites are provided for your information and convenience. We cannot  Beef burgers accept responsibility for the information found on them. If you require a full list of references for this leaflet, please email sfh-  Beef stir-fry. [email protected] or telephone 01623 622515, extension 6927. All meals are best served with potatoes, To be completed by the Communications office rice, spaghetti or other pasta, plus a salad Leaflet code: PIL202002-02-III Created: April 2018 / Revised: February 2020 / Review or lightly boiled vegetables. Date: February 2022

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