Iron for Health

Iron is an important and essential mineral.

Iron helps with:

Iron for Health

We get most of the iron we need through the foods we eat.

Sources of iron include:
WIC approved img
WIC approved cereals
Legumes img
Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
Dried Fruits img
Dried fruits
Red Meats img
Lean red meats, fish, chicken, turkey
Green Vegetables img
Dark, leafy green vegetables
Iron for Health

Vitamin C helps your body take in iron. Pair Vitamin C foods with iron rich foods.

Sources of Vitamin C include:

Try these Vitamin C + Iron food combinations

WIC Cereal

WIC Cereal WIC Juice

food combinations

Crackers WIC Peanut Butter Fruit

Iron for Older Babies

Iron fortified infant cereal and pureed or soft meats may be given to infants starting at 6 months. Continue to give human milk until 2 years or beyond. If formula feeding, offer iron fortified infant formula until 12 months of age.
Grains
Vegetables
Protein
8-9 Months
Infant cereal, plain whole grain bread, plain rice, or pasta
Cooked, strained, or mashed, broccoli, peas, kale, and spinach
Pureed, ground, or finely chopped meats or poultry
10-12 Months
Warm cereal, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat

If baby has pincer grasp, try o-shaped cereal

Plain whole grain bread

Plain rice or pasta
Cooked, strained, mashed, or bite size pieces of broccoli, spinach, kale, and peas

Peas can be a choking hazard if not mashed
Chopped or ground lean meat, fish, and chicken

Cooked eggs

Mashed beans

Recipes

cereal

Chocolate Chip Cheerios Muffins

Ingredients

2 cups Cheerios cereal
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1⁄3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400⁰ F.
  2. Place paper baking cups in 12 regular-size muffin cups.
  3. Place cereal in resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Using a rolling pin, crush cereal; pour into a large bowl.
  4. Add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda; mix well.
  5. Stir in remaining ingredients just until moistened.
  6. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
  7. Bake 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown.
  8. Immediately remove from muffin tins.
  9. Cool 5 minutes before serving.
Cereal Mix

Cereal Mix

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp. seasoned salt
4 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 2/3 cup Corn Chex or Cheerios
2 2/3 cup Wheat Chex
1 cup peanuts or mixed nuts
1 cup pretzels
1 cup raisins

Directions
  1. Melt margarine in roasting pan.
  2. Stir in seasoned salt and Worcestershire sauce.
  3. Add cereal, nuts, raisins, and pretzels.
  4. Bake 1 hour in 250° oven while stirring and turning occasionally.

Warning: Children younger than 2 should not be given peanuts, nuts, pretzels or raisins due to choking hazards.

Texas Caviar

Texas Caviar

Ingredients

15 ounce black beans, canned
15 ounce corn, canned
4 medium plum tomatoes
1 stalk green onion
1 medium bell pepper, green
1 medium bell pepper, red
1/4 cup Italian dressing, low-fat
1 medium lime
1/4 cup cilantro

Directions

  1. Drain and rinse black beans and corn. Chop tomatoes, green onion, and bell peppers. Add to a medium bowl and stir.
  2. Add the Italian dressing, the juice from the lime, chopped cilantro, toss to coat.
  3. Serve immediately or chill before serving.
  4. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.


Serve as a side dish or with baked tortilla chips. Use as topping for baked chicken or fish.

Smiley Face

Smiley Face English Muffins

Ingredients

Whole wheat English muffins
Peanut butter
Banana, peeled and thinly sliced
Raisins
Strawberries, trimmed and cut in half
Grapes, each cut into 4 thin slices
Oranges, peeled and sectioned

Directions

  1. Slice muffins in half and toast.
  2. While still warm, spread peanut butter on each toasted muffin half.
  3. Top with fruit pieces to create smiley faces. Use banana slices, grape slices, or raisins for the eye, half a strawberry for the nose, and one section of orange for the mouth.
  4. Use remaining fruit to make more faces, or serve on the side as a fruit salad.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Side Lying Hold

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Cross Cradle Hold

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Football Hold

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Breastfeeding Holds

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Breastfeeding Holds

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when: