For those worried about a vegetarian kid's iron levels....

[veggielove]

Just had my 2 year old tested, since we had to do the 2 year lead test anyway, one stick, two tests. Happy to report her levels were "excellent" and the doctor said "Keep doing whatever you're doing!" :-) I work hard to make sure she gets iron rich foods, and I guess she's absorbing them well!!

[Geoffrey]

That's terrific!

[animallover7249]

Awesome :)

[vegton]

It's funny because before I became a vegetarian I was always anemic. My doctors would always give me a list of foods to eat to bring my iron levels up and it never worked. For different reasons, I went vegetarian and the next time they tested my iron count it was perfect! They told me to "keep doing whatever you're doing". It made me happy. :)

Good to know about your daughter, though. I might have my daughter checked for her levels on everything just to prove to people that she's healthy. :)

[goby]

Great! I have an 8 year old who has never had meat. He is a proud veggie. :)

[karenlovessnow]

Great news!! Two already?? I remember when you were pregnant! :)

[veggielove]

Crazy isn't it???? Time flies!!!!

[Cornflower]

That's awesome! Hooray for a healthy veggie diet!

My kids both had borderline low iron at their 10 month checkups, but they came up to a great level by 2 years without supplementing. I think for them it had more to do with the fact that they nursed for a long time and it took awhile to get to the point where solid foods made up a significant part of their diets. And also, I didn't really consider iron-fortified rice cereal to be a good starting food for solids, so they didn't get that supplemental iron that most babies get.

What iron-rich foods does your daughter enjoy, if you don't mind me asking? What were some of her first solid foods as a baby? I'm 38 weeks pregnant and about to embark on this whole journey again!

[aidansmamma]

That´s great!! Please give me some ideas of what you give her. I have a very picky little boy who doesn´t eat much at a time, and I´d love some ideas.

[IrieMama]

It's funny because before I became a vegetarian I was always anemic. My doctors would always give me a list of foods to eat to bring my iron levels up and it never worked. For different reasons, I went vegetarian and the next time they tested my iron count it was perfect! They told me to "keep doing whatever you're doing". It made me happy. :)

Good to know about your daughter, though. I might have my daughter checked for her levels on everything just to prove to people that she's healthy. :)

Same here. Always anemic until I went veg, than my levels were excellent. I would like to get my daughter checked. She takes a multivitamin and eats LOTs of green veggies so I'm pretty sure I know what the answer would be,

[dirtytreehugger]

My levels are low, but still in the safe range and same with my youngest. I take Floradix now though b/c I'm pregnant and they get really low then, but his are maintained by just a regular (all natural and vegan) kids chewable multivitamin.

[Cattycm]

Proof enough that vegetarians are perfectly healthy