To prevent iron deficiency anemia in children, which dietary practice is recommended?

• A. Increase consumption of sugary beverages.
• B. Avoid excessive milk intake.
• C. Limit iron-rich foods.
• D. Avoid all dairy products.

Answer: (B)

Preventing iron deficiency anemia in children hinges on ensuring adequate iron intake and avoiding factors that reduce iron availability. In young kids, drinking a lot of cow’s milk can lead to iron deficiency because milk provides little iron and can displace iron-rich foods from the diet. There’s also a possibility of small amounts of blood loss in the gut from cow’s milk in some children, which further lowers iron stores. Because of this, the recommended dietary practice is to limit daily cow’s milk to about 24 ounces (roughly 700 ml). This helps ensure the child has room in their diet for iron-rich foods like iron-fortified cereals, lean meats, and legumes, and supports better iron absorption, especially when paired with vitamin C–rich foods. Other options don’t address the problem: sugary beverages don’t improve iron status, restricting iron-rich foods would worsen it, and avoiding all dairy removes important nutrients without solving the iron issue.