PLAN FOR TODAY’S CLASS Will cover 2 topics – Iron and Lead

What does iron do in our bodies?

Play BINGO! Learning food sources of Iron and Vitamin C

Explain dangers of lead exposure to children

WHY IS IRON SO IMPORTANT?

Iron levels in our body are really important to our health

Iron is responsible for carrying oxygen in our blood to all organs and tissues

Oxygen is essential for making energy

Some of you may know about iron from a WIC nutrition contact. Feel free to volunteer

information because someone else may benefit from what you know!

IRON IN OUR BODIES

When iron is low in our blood, we may be anemic.

What are some signs or symptoms of anemia that you’ve heard about from your health care

provider or from someone here at WIC?

IRON AND ANEMIA

Some signs and symptoms of anemia:

Weak Pale Poor appetite Get sick easier, stay sick

longer Children have poor growth Shorter attention span Learning and development

problems

With these symptoms in mind, why do you think it’s especially important for

our children to have adequate levels of iron in their bodies?

IRON AND ANEMIA

IRON AND VITAMIN C

Dietary sources of iron and vitamin C

Why vitamin C?

Foods naturally high in iron: Red meat Poultry Tuna/other fish Liver Tofu Beans Spinach/Greens

IRON AND VITAMIN C

Foods Fortified in Iron Infant Cereal WIC Cereals Enriched Bread Enriched Pasta

Sources of Vitamin C

Sweet Peas

Kiwi

Broccoli Strawberry

Peppers Orange

Tomatoes WIC Juices

Potatoes

IRON AND VITAMIN C

Meals with both: Tacos (meat and vitamin C) Sandwich (bread/meat/vitamin C) Burritos (beans/meat/vitamin C)

BINGO!

WHAT IS LEAD?

A mineral that we can be exposed to without knowing it

Used to be in paint and gasoline

Still found in dirt, water coming out of old pipes and many non-USA made products

Lead can even be found in candy and home remedies from many people’s native countries

CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE TO LEAD

Children are at a high risk of lead poisoning due to:

Small sizeTendency to put things in their mouthsThey are growing

Almost impossible to reverse all effects of lead once symptoms appear

Children Health and Disability Prevention Department recommends annual blood lead test for kids starting at 1 year old

REDUCING EXPOSURE TO LEAD

Do not let your child chew on painted surfaces or eat paint chips

Wash your child’s hands and toys often Feed your child healthy meals and snacks

every day. Include:

Calcium

Iron

Vitamin C

These nutrients help keep lead from hurting your child

Talk to your child’s doctor about testing for lead

REDUCING EXPOSURE TO LEAD

Keep your home clean and dust-free

Keep furniture away from paint that is chipped or peeling

Never sand, dry scrape, power wash or sandblast paint

Do not use dishes or pots made outside the U.S. for food or drinks

Do not let your child put jewelry or toys in his/her mouth

MORE INFORMATION

If you are concerned, please take one of these “Reducing Lead in Your Home” pamphlets, or a lead risk survey

Ask your health care provider about blood lead testing at your child’s next physical or WIC check

HELP ME FINISH THESE SENTENCES

1. Iron carries _______ in our blood to our tissues.

2. When iron is low in our blood, we may be ______.

3. Two symptoms of anemia are _________.

4. Red meat and beans are good sources of _______.

5. Eating ______ helps us absorb more iron

6. One way to reduce lead in the home is ________.

SUMMARY

Today we talked about iron in our bodies, played a BINGO game to learn about iron and vitamin C and discussed the dangers of lead exposure.

More resources are available if anyone is interested.

Does anyone have any questions about anything we discussed?

Thank you for your participation today!