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I have been an ovo-lacto since age 12. I had a baby almost a year ago. I intend to raise him as an ovo-lacto, as well. Since he is 11.5 months old, I started weaning him from milk-based formula and onto whole cow milk at 11 months old. He has now completely switched over. I didn't realize until doing some reading last night that he is probably completely deficient in iron now...... I was naive and thought cow's milk had iron, just like the formula. How wrong I was!! I also realized he has been eating virtually NO foods with iron!
Obviously I need to fix this, and fast!! I intend to make some pea soup, lentil soup, hummus, and start him on things like cashew butter and almond butter. My problem is this... he doesn't like to eat soups or anything from a spoon. He wants to pick things up and eat them with his fingers - a very independent boy already!!
His favourite foods are cheddar cheese and apples. He could eat these all day long - I am not kidding! I was mistakenly thinking he was getting lots of iron from the cheese - instead of zero iron!
He will eat whole grain bread but definitely not a lot of it. He will eat frozen mixed vegetables but I know I cannot get him to eat spinach or anything like that.
I guess I need some tips on what to feed him to meet all his protein and iron needs...
This is the first time I have felt ALONE being a vegetarian. My family does not have experience with this and neither does my doctor, and I fear if I go to them they will say "I guess you'd better start giving him meat!" That's NOT the answer I want to hear. I do, however, want him to be balanced and healthy. I went to bed in tears last night, worried that I have deprived him of iron and other essential nutrients, due to my ignorance. I obviously need to plan better. It is the first time I have doubted my philosophies and it did not feel good. I need to gain confidence in this again so I can feel like I am doing good things for my son as a mother.
Any help out there?

Obviously I need to fix this, and fast!! I intend to make some pea soup, lentil soup, hummus, and start him on things like cashew butter and almond butter. My problem is this... he doesn't like to eat soups or anything from a spoon. He wants to pick things up and eat them with his fingers - a very independent boy already!!
His favourite foods are cheddar cheese and apples. He could eat these all day long - I am not kidding! I was mistakenly thinking he was getting lots of iron from the cheese - instead of zero iron!
He will eat whole grain bread but definitely not a lot of it. He will eat frozen mixed vegetables but I know I cannot get him to eat spinach or anything like that.
I guess I need some tips on what to feed him to meet all his protein and iron needs...
This is the first time I have felt ALONE being a vegetarian. My family does not have experience with this and neither does my doctor, and I fear if I go to them they will say "I guess you'd better start giving him meat!" That's NOT the answer I want to hear. I do, however, want him to be balanced and healthy. I went to bed in tears last night, worried that I have deprived him of iron and other essential nutrients, due to my ignorance. I obviously need to plan better. It is the first time I have doubted my philosophies and it did not feel good. I need to gain confidence in this again so I can feel like I am doing good things for my son as a mother.
Any help out there?
