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Iron and Vitamin C Food Sources

Dyson Pediatrics helps Tucson families make informed nutrition choices for growing children. This page highlights iron rich foods and vitamin C foods that can help support healthy development and everyday nutrition planning.

Iron Support

Iron helps support growth, blood health, and daily energy needs

Vitamin C Support

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron more effectively

Family Friendly Ideas

Simple food choices can make it easier to support healthy meals at home

Why Iron and Vitamin C Matter

Iron is important for healthy growth and development in children. Vitamin C can help the body absorb iron, which is why pairing iron rich foods with vitamin C foods can be a helpful part of meal planning.

If screening shows a hemoglobin level less than 12 mg/dL, iron rich foods combined with vitamin C rich foods should be included in the diet. Possible causes of anemia may include not eating enough iron rich foods, drinking too much milk in place of iron rich foods, sickle cell disease, intestinal parasites, severe illness, and blood loss.

Helpful Nutrition Tip

Combining an iron rich food with a vitamin C rich food may help with iron absorption. For example, families may pair iron fortified foods, beans, meats, or leafy greens with fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C.

Iron Food Sources

Very Good Sources

  • 3 ounces of beef or chicken liver
  • 3 ounces of clams or mollusks
  • 3 ounces of oysters
  • Breakfast cereals enriched with iron
  • 1 cup of cooked beans
  • 1 half cup of tofu
  • 1 ounce of pumpkin, sesame, or squash seeds

Good Sources

  • 3 ounces of cooked beef
  • 3 ounces of canned sardines in oil
  • 3 ounces of cooked turkey
  • 3 ounces of chicken
  • 3 ounces of halibut, haddock, perch, salmon, or tuna
  • 3 ounces of ham
  • 3 ounces of veal
  • 1 half cup of canned lima beans, red kidney beans, chickpeas, or split peas
  • 1 cup of dried apricots
  • 1 medium baked potato
  • 1 medium stalk of broccoli
  • 1 cup of cooked enriched egg noodles
  • 1 fourth cup of wheat germ
  • 1 ounce of peanuts, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, roasted almonds, roasted cashews, or sunflower seeds
  • 1 half cup of dried seedless raisins, peaches, or prunes
  • 1 cup of spinach
  • 1 medium green pepper
  • 1 cup of pasta
  • 1 slice of bread, pumpernickel, or bran muffin
  • 1 cup of rice

Vitamin C Food Sources

Very Good Sources

  • Apricots
  • Beans, yellow snap
  • Bell pepper
  • Blackberries
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Carambola
  • Cauliflower
  • Collard greens
  • Chili peppers
  • Gooseberries
  • Grapefruit
  • Guavas
  • Kiwifruit
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Melon, honeydew
  • Watermelon
  • Okra
  • Onion
  • Orange
  • Papaya
  • Pepper
  • Pineapple
  • Potato
  • Prickly pear
  • Pummelo
  • Radishes
  • Raspberries
  • Rutabagas
  • Spinach
  • Squash
  • Strawberries
  • Sweet potato
  • Tangerines
  • Tomato

Good Sources

  • Artichoke
  • Asparagus
  • Banana
  • Blueberries
  • Carrot
  • Celery
  • Cherries, sweet
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Green beans
  • Mango
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Pear
  • Plums

Possible Causes of Anemia

  • Not eating enough iron rich food
  • Drinking too much milk in place of iron rich foods
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Severe illness
  • Loss of blood

Helpful Related Links

Click any link below to open another helpful page from Dyson Pediatrics.

Questions About Healthy Food Choices for Your Child?

Dyson Pediatrics helps Tucson families with child nutrition guidance, healthy growth support, and practical food ideas for everyday life.

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For non-urgent questions and requests, use the form below. If you have MyChart account, it’s often the quickest way to message us, manage appointments, and take care of forms.

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